Calle Ocho Street Festival is coming. But don’t miss all the other Carnaval Miami events
Miami Carnaval 2020 is just around the corner and to give some details about the event, members of the board of directors of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and sponsors met with media on Friday at legendary nightclub Ball & Chain on Calle Ocho.
The official carnival poster was revealed: Flower Nose & Friends Take Carnival Miami, an original work by Cuban-American artist Víctor García, known as VGA. A video was sent by Kings of Carnaval, Mau y Ricky, was presented. They could not attend the meeting due to prior commitments.
“We are honored to have been named Carnaval Kings of Calle Ocho, where we will be singing with our friends (in) a historic concert,” said Mau and Ricky in the video, after expressing their joy at continuing their father’s legacy, singer Ricardo Montaner, who several years ago was also named King of Carnaval. “It’s a beautiful thing, because for us Latinos, family is everything.”
Among the guests were actor Andy García, uncle of Víctor García, and country music singer Tim Sharom.
Carnaval Miami features a series of activities that attract more than one million people every year.
Organized by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, the purpose of the event is to raise funds that benefit the youth development programs of the Kiwanis Foundation. The big event is the Festival of Calle Ocho, on March 15, which occupies 15 blocks of the popular artery of Little Havana with dancing, concerts, food, competitions and countless activities for the whole family.
On the musical line up this year are Mau y Ricky, Chyno Miranda and Camilo, Alex Sensation & Friends, Elito RV, El Chacal and Manu Manso.
The Miami Carnival activities will began on Feb. 8 at the Manuel Artime Theater, where a group of girls between 17 and 25 will competed for the Miss Carnival Miami crown and a scholarship. Then comes Carnival On The Mile in Coral Gables, where art exhibitions, live music and culinary tastings will be presented on March 7-8.
“We are honored to continue this long tradition year after year in Miami,” said Jorge Fernandez, President of the Kiwanis. “For us it is a matter of pride to have talents with ‘royal blood,’ such as Mau y Ricky, the children of the King of Carnival Miami 1992, Ricardo Montaner. And with Víctor García, who is nothing more and nothing less the nephew of the famous King of Carnival Miami 2016, Andy García. They all represent our Hispanic culture, where the family plays a primary role. ”
Cork & Fork is scheduled for March 7 and 8, a food and wine festival on Miracle Mile where chefs Brad Kilgore, Rick Moonen and Chris Valdés, among others, will participate. Then comes the Domino Tournament in Martí Park in Little Havana (March 9 and 11) and the Ocho Street Festival (March 15) that will occupy the area between SW 11th and 27th Avenues.
During the Calle Ocho street festival, the competitive eaters will go head to head in El croquetazo de Catalina.
And for sports fans, the event has Carnival Soccer 5V5 at Kendall Soccer Park, where players ages five to 18 will compete on April 11.
Details: Miami Carnival 2020. Feb. 8-April 11; 305-644-8888 and www.carnavalmiami.com
