MIAMI GARDENS – Sharing a united passion for the 2011 Miami Carnival in the Gardens, set to take place on Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 12 noon, the Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee is positioned to produce one of the biggest and most vibrant cultural presentations that the South Florida area has ever witnessed.
With over 20 masquerade bands and 6 steel bands parading and competing for “Band of the Year” bragging rights, the streets of Miami Gardens will be adorned with beautiful, colorful and intricate costumes along with the infectious musical sounds of soca. With a significant impact on tourism, Miami Carnival in the Gardens has become a staple event within the fabric of South Florida.
This year’s sponsors include Carib Beer, Caribbean Airlines, Western Union, McDonalds, Vox3 Communication, NBC, New Times(Broward and Miami), Lauderhill Regional Chamber of Commerce- Expo 2011, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hot 105 and “With the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council,the Miami -Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.”
The Carnival connoisseur has a myriad of signature events to choose from. The season kicks off with a host of celebratory activities that commence with the Miss Miami Broward Carnival Pageant on Sunday, September 24 at the Lou Rawls Center (Florida Memorial University). The pageant in its (6th year), has afforded an opportunity for young women of Caribbean descent to become an ambassador of their rich and multi-cultural Caribbean heritage.
Continuing the legacy of supporting young people, the Jr. Carnival will be held on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at Central Broward Regional Park (3700 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill, FL 33311) from noon to 7pm. This is a free event that will include a parade of bands and masqueraders, bounce house, face painting and other fun activities for the kids.
Saturday, October 8th at Sun Life Stadium, the non stop soca party known as SocaFest (Formerly held at the Coconut Grove Convention Center) will take place from 11pm-4am with an all-star lineup of heavyweights in the Soca music industry including Roy Cape featuring Blaxx, Dil E Nadan, Spectrum Band (USVI), Destra, Edwin Yearwood, Mr. Vegas, Tizzy, and much more
The climax of the week is the 2011 Miami Carnival in the Gardens parade of bands on the streets of Miami Gardens and a live concert in Sun Life Stadium with a line up of soca’s leading performers that includes Alison Hinds, Ongu & Red Hot Flames (Antigua’s # 1 Band), International Soca Artist, Talpree (Spice Island, Grenada) sought out soca/ragga soca artist Benjai, (Trinidad and Tobago) energetic soca artist Skinny Fabulous (St. Vincent and The Grenadines) and the Master, Iwer George (Big Man In Business).
