Miami-Broward Carnival Celebrates 40th Anniversary!

It was pure bacchanal in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale region over the Columbus Day holiday weekend. The Miami-Broward Carnival 2024 extravaganza was a true cultural spectacle, capping off the Caribbean Carnival season with a dazzling display of West Indian music, fashion, and culture.

This year marked a special milestone as the Miami-Broward Carnival celebrated its 40th anniversary, cementing its status as one of the most eagerly anticipated festivals outside the Caribbean Diaspora. Known for its vibrant connection to the heritage and spirit of the Caribbean, the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale region proudly hosts this annual celebration.

South Florida comes alive each year with this carnival, showcasing live music, mouth-watering island cuisine, colourful costumes, and more. In addition to the many masquerade bands vying for prizes, pageantry, bragging rights, and unforgettable memories, attendees were also treated to live performances from top soca stars like Machel Montano, Patrice Roberts (with the A-Team Band), Teddyson John, Mr. Killa, Lyrikal, Preedy, Jamaica’s Walshy Fire (of Major Lazer), and Jamaica’s own Supa Twitch, who set the Dancehall zone ablaze.

The week leading up to the Carnival’s Parade of Bands and Concert Finale was packed with nightly parties across Ft. Lauderdale and Miami—often called the ‘Magic City’. Highlights included the ‘Arrivals’ poolside party on South Beach (hosted by Trini Jungle Juice), the ‘Authentic Jab-Jab & Ole Mas’ Symposium (organised by the Island Space Caribbean Museum), the Panorama Steel Pan Competition at Central Broward Park & County Stadium, and, of course, the Parade of the Bands at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Park. Carnival Sunday concluded with an electrifying concert.