Page 49 - Allison's Magazine ~ Issue #101

“ THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT over $40 million for the community. Its
biggest initiative is to enhance the lives
CARNAVAL MIAMI IS BOTH of underprivileged families and children
in Miami-Dade County, mostly through
UNFORGETTABLE AND
sports programs and educational
UNIQUELY MIAMI—IN ITS programs. Among the donations include
COLORS, ITS FLAVORS, ITS FUN, over 240,000 new toys being provided
AND ITS HEART. to day care centers and schools and over
200,000 supply-filled backpacks being
given to kids for school.

However, what has perhaps impacted
these communities the most is the
here to get the whole flavor of Hispanic 185 croquetas in eight minutes, a world Kiwanis Club’s scholarship program,
culture. There’s no place else we’d have record. “We do nothing small,” Lebeña which has provided over a thousand
Calle Ocho.” adds, with a laugh. scholarships to local students to attend
college. Lebeña says that residents who
This cornerstone event features over COMMUNITY AND KIDS were awarded a scholarship often have
two hundred musicians. You’ll typically Holding an event as massive as Carnaval gone on to graduate and have great
find fifteen to twenty stages set up along Miami takes a great deal of planning careers, and many have come back
Eighth Street, with up to six bands and networking, for which Lebeña to share their testimony of how the
performing at each throughout the day. takes the lead. He and everyone else Kiwanis Club—thanks to Carnaval
“Nothing else in the country comes involved do so as volunteers, so planning Miami—impacted their lives.
close,” Lebeña states. and execution are key. “By April, we
can breathe a little bit. But between The bottom line is that Carnaval Miami
Plus, there are plenty of other things May and the end of September, it’s is both unforgettable and uniquely
People descend on Camila Cuesta is crowned Miss
Carnaval on the Mile. Carnaval Miami 2019. to experience during Calle Ocho. Over very strategic: We start discussing and Miami—in its colors, its flavors, its fun,
four hundred vendors line the streets, planning for how to make it even better. and its heart. “It’s just an experience,”
with everything from art to food—all From October 1 onward, it’s all about Lebeña promises. “You’re going to
Today, Carnaval Miami is the largest Among the Carnaval Miami experiences named the musician Fonseca as its first in an effort, Lebeña says, to continually execution,” he says. witness the coming together of so
Hispanic festival in the country. Sure, is Miss Carnaval Miami, a pageant Colombian-born king. The 2020 kings reinvent the event to appeal to different many beautiful cultures, all celebrating,
Miami’s warm weather brings people that is one of its first events held every are duo Mau y Ricky. types of crowds. He cites a new event Why do they put in so much time and dancing, and eating. You’re going to
in, but what draws people to Carnaval year. In addition, there’s a dominoes in 2019 as an example: “Cubano Wars effort? It’s all about the kids. “We try enjoy live music. And you’re going to be
Miami is the sheer number of innovative tournament, a soccer tournament with CENTER STAGE: CALLE OCHO is a competition to crown the best to incorporate children into all our supporting an organization that cares
events it offers. Among the must-sees, over a hundred teams and thousands of However, the biggest event of Carnaval Cuban sandwich around. Last year’s Carnaval Miami events, and one in so much about giving back. You can’t
according to Lebeña, are Cork and participants, and, later in the spring, a Miami is also one of its oldest. The Calle competition was very exciting and particular, the Book Nook—a new go wrong with it. After it’s over, I want
Fork, a food-and-wine festival featuring golf tournament that has been taking Ocho Music Festival, a free event that fun. People loved it—they were able event in 2019—certainly did,” Lebeña your feet to hurt because you enjoyed
over forty restaurants offering tastings, place since 1982. The Kiwanis Club has first took place in 1977, is the largest to come in, taste different sandwiches, states. “It’s a book fair for kids that dancing so much, your stomach to be
plus celebrity chef demos; Cordials and also chosen a man or woman of Latino Hispanic festival in the country and and vote.” Cubano Wars joined El promotes literacy among children in full because you ate so much great food,
Candy, where you can sample amazing descent to be its official Carnaval Miami takes place along Eighth Street (Calle Croquetazo, a croqueta-eating contest our community. We invited a bunch and, most importantly, to know that you
after-dinner drinks and sweets; and the king or queen each year since Desi Arnaz Ocho) from Twelfth Avenue to Twenty- sponsored by Major League Eating of authors to present their books, talk were part of something that really makes
arts-and-music festival Carnaval on was its inaugural king in 1982. Other Seventh Avenue. “Eighth Street is the (of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating about them, and do book signings. It a difference in this community.”
the Mile. “People want to be part of an past kings and queens include Pitbull, heart of Little Havana,” Lebeña shares. Contest), as the featured food events was a great success.” For more info, visit carnavalmiami.com
unforgettable experience, and that’s what Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz, Andy “It really exemplifies Cuban culture at Calle Ocho. Participants from the
we aim for,” says Lebeña. “It’s nonstop. Garcia, and Maria Conchita Alonso. and Cuban heritage—people from all hot dog-eating contest competed at El In addition, proceeds from Carnaval
And there’s an event for every type True to its commitment to Hispanic over the US, as well as from Europe, Croquetazo, including world champion Miami go to the Kiwanis of Little
of person.” diversity, in 2019 the organization Asia, and other parts of the world come Joey Chestnut—who won by consuming Havana Foundation, which has raised

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