Miami Carnival has grown from 100 patrons to over 100,000 in 40 years, because of passion, commitment and the buy-in of the region and its people.
Marking its ruby anniversary this October, Director of Marketing for the Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee, John Beckford said, “We are acknowledging and celebrating the milestone, but in the midst of it, we are acknowledging the pioneers, the folks that 40 years ago pooled their resources together and put a second mortgage on their house and started Miami Carnival.”
Growing to a just under US$3 million festival now, from its origins on the corner of 183rd Street and 7th Avenue, Miami Carnival spans across four major events—Junior Carnival, Panorama, J’ouvert, and a costumed Parade and Concert on Carnival Sunday.
“…Between deejays and artistes, I believe 45 people will grace the stage this year as part of the Sunday concert alone,” Beckford said.
But getting to this milestone was not by luck and chance.
Speaking to the legacy, Beckford said that the road to 40 years was laid in love. He explained, “I think the Carnival has been on a path of consistent passion for Caribbean Culture and the need and desire to preserve that.”
He said it may have started with four zealous risk-takers 40 years ago, but now it takes 18 board members and a junior board to fully produce the four events.
Each board member has a passion, he said, adding that “what we also have is diversity in the composition of the Board.”
The Miami Carnival Board, which works to bring together all islands across the Caribbean region, draws on a melting pot of cultures internally. On the Board there is representation from Belize, Tobago, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, and they also visit other Carnivals throughout the year to give back the love they receive to the countries and people who are the heartbeat of the Miami Carnival.
Beckford boasts that the board seeks to ensure that all are welcomed and feel welcomed. He said the committee’s intent to be inclusive and relevant for all is evident in “the beauty and pageantry and the kaleidoscope of colours and what we offer each year.”
“No one island is Carnival, so each year as a marketing team, I take a small team to various destinations throughout the Caribbean and the UK. So we do about six or seven other Carnivals because at the end of the day, we really want to make sure that we are out there supporting other Carnivals,” he said. “In the end, when the tide rises, it raises all ships, so your success in The Bahamas, or Saint Lucia, or Antigua or Jamaica, will ultimately trickle down to success here in Miami. So if folks go to, for example, Jamaica, and while there they see Miami Carnival with a footprint there, then it will pique interest and curiosity.”
Feeding off from that model of conscious support for all islands, Beckford said big things are happening in year 40.
“The Saint Lucia government is sending a delegation and they’re actually doing their international launch of Saint Lucia Carnival 2025 at Miami Carnival. Not only is Saint Lucia doing that, Trinidad is sending a contingency as well, so is Antigua, so is Dominica and the USVI,” he revealed.
“So we have five different countries from the Caribbean that are actually here for the Miami Carnival season with a footprint. They are providing artistes who will perform at the Concert on Sunday….”
One of the highlights of Miami Carnival this year is Trinidadian soca star Machel Montano being given the key to the City of Lauderhill on Friday during Panorama. —MIAMI (CMC)