The spectacle of the Caribbean festival known as carnival has triumphantly returned to Miami, Florida after a year’s hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Masqueraders and fete-lovers determined not to be denied, for a second consecutive year, the pleasures of their beloved carnival descended on Miami in mass, and in the words of Bunji Garlin’s song, it was “straight off the jumbo jet, straight from the airport, straight into fete”.

The activities started from mid-week with fetes like ‘Jump Start Miami Carnival’ and others that brought to the stage live performances by many top soca artistes. The likes of Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Patrice Roberts, Nadia Batson, Nailah Blackman, Skinny Fabulous, Iwer George and others who were all in Miami for the festivities. The artistes were very eager to be back on stage in front of their adoring fans and had one main focus, to tear the place up and hype up the crowd for the upcoming carnival, and that they did.

The Miami Broward Carnival committee official events commenced with Panorama on the Friday night of Columbus Day weekend, with Metro Steel Orchestra from New York getting the nod of the judges and the online viewers, beating the five other steelband contestants.

Two surprises of the night were Lord Nelson performing a few of his big songs, and Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters who was asked impromptu to extemporaneously perform. He thoroughly entertained the audience with his ability to compose on the spot and went on to mention that if the okay is given, the National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago is ready to have carnival in 2022.

The night ended with scintillating guest performances by Newton Playboys Steel Orchestra from Trinidad, and the world-renowned Trinidad All Stars. They had the mainly mature crowd on their feet dancing, singing, and jumping to the sweet sound of steel as they went through their redemption of many of the crowd favorites leaving the pan enthusiasts totally satisfied with the sweet sound of steel ‘ramajaying’ in their heads and hearts long after the show had ended.

On J’ouvert, the very next morning, the thirst and hunger for carnival was very apparent in the revelers who descended on Miami Dade County Fairgrounds for the bacchanal. The young and young at heart were in their glee displaying their worst behaviour jumping, gyrating, and singing along to the pulsing sound of soca music blaring from the elevations of big trucks. They were like children frolicking in mud and paint without a care or worry; they were indeed in a ‘Happy Place’.

And when the day of the parade of the bands had come, from mid-morning on that Sunday, as the sun was out in all its glory so too were the masqueraders. Many adding the final touches to their costumes as they readied themselves for the long but delightful journey to their final destination, The Stage! You could see the expression of joy on their faces having once again this unique opportunity to unabashedly let their bodies be free to express themselves under the influence of soca without reservation or guilt. To many this is therapeutic. An effective way to rid the body of harmful penned-up energies. To renew and destress oneself and take a break from the normal routine of hard-working lives; this is the essence of carnival.

Miami Carnival, being held in an enclosed arena has the ability to have the parade of the bands and host an after-party concert in the same venue. So for the price of a relatively small entrance fee patrons can see mas and then party after.

This year the concert was headlined by Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons and the Viking Band. They ‘shelled down the place’ and were later joined on stage by Mr Killa who took the madness to another level as he climbed the barricade and dove into the crowd. Other supporting acts were Destra Garcia, Patrice Roberts, Iwer George, Motto, Nadia Baston, and Voice; all backed by The A Team Band.  Teddyson John & Band, Asa Banton, Sherwyn Winchester, Skinny Banton, and others.

It was indeed a night to remember, bring to a glorious climax to the triumphant return of the Merry monarch in Miami Florida and we hope throughout the Caribbean diaspora as well.

Check out Miami carnival 2021 video playlist for our full video coverage of the carnival