Courtesy Overtime Media
The recently concluded Miami Broward One Carnival saw the presence of and appearances by various city, county and state officials, all lobbying for re-election, seeking visibility across sectors and ultimately, public favor as they presented various keys, proclamations and awards.
Reigning Calypso Monarch, Machel Montano received both the keys to the Floridian city of Lauderhill on Panorama Friday and the key to City of Miami as well as a Distinguished Visitor Proclamation from Miami-Dade County on Carnival Sunday during the Grand Parade and Concert main entertainment stage. This, even as thousands enjoyed a plethora of Soca and Dancehall parties, fetes and other Carnival events as part of the largest Caribbean Carnival in the USA, which also celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. The passage of Hurricane Milton added more drama, danger and intrigue to the festivities, as well as more presence and participation from those fleeing the Northern Floridian areas affected directly by the natural disaster, which cut across the southern peninsula on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. The Miami Jouvert experience on Saturday morning enjoyed full cloud cover, intermittent drizzles and downpours this year and those attending DJ/Producer Private Ryan’s signature “Soca Brainwash” free drinks event later on caught the full rain package at Florida International University’s grounds all night long saturating hairstyles, outfits and footwear as several oversized dinosaurs overlooked the “Prehistoric” themed fete scene. Meanwhile, further south, the One Fete featuring Dil-E-Nadan, Kes, The A Team band with Soca Queen, Patrice Roberts, Road March King, Mical Teja and other special guests remained dry and safe from inclement weather inside the Miami Dade County Fair & Exposition Center itself.
The same weather conditions prevailed on Carnival Sunday also with Jay Upscale and Private Ryan’s Carnival “Detour” event catching the rainfall, whilst the Miami Broward One Carnival parade and concert saw not even a drizzle throughout the afternoon, evening and night. Inclement weather aside, the Carnival continued its evolution – the vastness of the peninsula allowibg for multiple evebts to occur and be successful simulteneously as younger audiences opted for more fun over functions and formalities and the mature folks stuck with traditions as the burgeoning calls of those participating in the impending US elections echoed across, behind and en roite to and from all Soca stages.
