On Sunday, March 12, 2023 Nikki Sied, 22, and Lumi Mullahi, 22, enjoy the music performed by Tocando Candombe Miamithe during the marquee event of Carnaval Miami. Calle Ocho Music Festival, the world’s largest Latin music festival in the nation, was held spanning 15 street blocks of Little Havana (SW 8th Street) filled with musical stages, international food, sampling sites, folkloric dances and entertainment for all families, and friends to enjoy.
Carl Juste
cjuste@miamiherald.com
The streets of Little Havana were flooded with music Sunday as hundreds of people danced and appreciated Latin hits during the Calle Ocho festival — the largest Latin music fiesta in the country.
For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic, Little Havana avenues were blocked off and filled with musical stages, international food, folkloric dances and entertainment.
Aymée Nuviola, a Grammy Award-winning Cuban singer who has music in the Library of Congress archives, was this year’s queen of the 2023 Calle Ocho street festival. Nuviola is also known for playing Cuban legend Celia Cruz in the Telemundo series that was broadcast in more than 40 countries.
“Being the queen of Calle Ocho means a lot to me,” Nuviola said. “I have the keys to the city of Miami, and I don’t have the keys to Havana.”
Here are a few snapshots of Sunday’s festivities.
Festival attendee Brian Pastor, 23, left, steps up on stage for the dance challenge with Latin TV personality Carolina Lanza Navarro at the Central American stage during the Calle Ocho Festival on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Drummers with Tocando Candombe Miami, a Uruguayan group, perform as they move west on SW 8th Street Sunday during the marquee event of Carnaval Miami, Calle Ocho Music Festival. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Big crowds fill the streets during the Calle Ocho Music Festival on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
“Oscar’s Latin Band” performs on the Telemudo and NBC6 stage during the Calle Ocho Music Festival on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Silvia Aguilar, 45, jumps rope to Latin music during the Calle Ocho Music Festival, the largest Latin music festival in the nation, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Tocando Candombe Miami, a Uruguayan group, parades west on SW 8th Street during the Calle Ocho Music Festival on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Model Everlayn Borges, 21, sits in a swamp installation waiting to be photographed by Calle Ocho Music Festival attendees on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Among the music, merchandise, and food, a woman and her companions enjoy the street cuisine of Calle Ocho framed by flags and other items for sale on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Calle Ocho Music Festival. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published March 12, 2023 at 7:03 PM.
Grethel covers courts and the criminal justice system for the Miami Herald. She graduated from the University of Florida (Go Gators!), speaks Spanish and Arabic and loves animals, traveling, basketball and good storytelling. Grethel also attends law school part time.
