Calle Ocho street festival returns to Miami after 2 years. Here’s what you need to know

After a two-year absence, Calle Ocho Music Festival is back.

Canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the free Miami music festival — you may know it simply as “Calle Ocho” — is set for its 2022 return on March 13 in Little Havana. Prepare to do all the things that make this festival special: Eat. Drink. Dance. And don’t forget to boost the local economy by paying enterprising locals for parking spaces on their lawns.

The festival, which is the largest event for the nonprofit Carnaval Miami, won’t be exactly the same as it has been in years past, says Alexander Perez, president of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, which runs Carnaval Miami. Consider this a stripped-down version of the event. Instead of the usual 13-15 stages, you’ll find seven. The croqueta-eating contest has been canceled (tragic but probably healthier for everybody involved). Expect to see hand-sanitizing stations on the streets, too.

But there will be plenty of food vendors and entertainment, including performances by Albita, Oro Solido, Osmany Garcia, Tito Puente. Jr., El Micha and Timbalive, among others. King of Carnaval Yotuel Romero, the Cuban-born artist whose hit “Patria Y Vida” has become the anthem of the #SOSCuba movement, will perform at 5:20 p.m. on the Kiwanis King of Carnaval stage. The song won Best Urban Song and Song of the Year at the 2021 Latin Grammys.

“This festival has had a long-standing tradition of recognizing the pillars of the Latin community in South Florida,” said Romero in a statement. “To be named among fellow Cuban musical icons like Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan and Willy Chirino is truly humbling. . . . I appreciate the opportunity to further amplify the voice of the Cuban people.”

Because last year’s event was canceled, the festival had no real chance to pay tribute to the movement until now. Getting Romero was fortunate, Perez said.

“Sometimes the stars align,” he said. “It’s a perfect year for this performance.”

Carnaval Miami was due for some good luck. Like all nonprofits, the organization had to weather tough financial times during the pandemic. Costs were cut, staff was downsized. PPP loans helped with payroll costs, Perez said, but it was still a struggle.

He’s relieved and happy that the show will go on again — and not just because it’s a great event that brings the community together.

“It’s fun to go out and celebrate, but not everybody sees the underlying value of the festival,” Perez said. “This organization does so much — camps, back to school programs, scholarships. This event makes all those thing happen.”

Calle Ocho Music Festival

Where: Between 12th-27th avenues on Eighth Street in Little Havana

When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. March 13

Cost: Free; VIP access tickets $100 at https://www.eventbrite.com

Parking: Street parking is available in Little Havana or try the lawns of enterprising locals (bring cash for that). You can also take Metromover to the Brickell City Centre (Eighth Street) station; it’s about a 20 minute walk from there.

Street closures: Southwest Seventh and Eighth streets close from Southwest 12th-27th avenues from 11:59 p.m. March 12 and reopen 11:59 p.m. March 13

More information: carnavalmiami.com

This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM.