Gualeguaychu Carnival rocks Argentina

Splashes of glitter, hordes of diamantes and of course shimmering feathers - it is now the height of summer in Argentina, and as the beat of the drums starts up that means Carnival. As one of the world's longest-running carnivals, the Gualeguaychu celebration never fails to delight spectators.

Every night during the summer 30 thousand people pour into the riverside town of Gualeguaychu for the carnival masquerade parade. It's performed each weekend for more than two months.

Organizers say that this year 70 thousand feathers and 50 thousand sequins have been used to make the costumes of the three competing dance troupes.

Each troupe has a maximum of 3 hundred dancers, including four fantasy-costumed lead performers.

As one of the world's longest-running carnivals, the Gualeguaychu celebration never fails to delight spectators.

They each have a theme, and the Ara Yevi troupe started off the night with a nature-inspired look.

The Papelitos troupe continued the night with a circus theme, its dancers shimming down the huge 5 hundred and 10 metre-long runway or adorning the parade's distinctive monumental floats.

Finishing off the night was the O'Bahia troupe with a tribal theme.

The Carnival will continue until March 9.