Miami Carnival 2023 – a mesmerizing colorful splendor

Miami Carnival 2023 was nothing short of a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of exciting revelry, riveting music, and a barrage of titillating costumes, that left little to the imagination of spectators.

The masquerade parade of bands was held on Sunday, Oct.8. The moment you entered the zone, you felt the Miami heat, and the exhilarating Caribbean energy that is felt in any carnival atmosphere, whether New York, Miami, or Atlanta.

The high temperature of 90 degrees, made it easy for costume designers to ramp-up revealing creations for adult women whose exposed buttocks, and cleavage, were the highlight of the pieces that dazzled with jewels, sequins, and feathers. The male revelers showed off their bare-chest decorated with tinsel and jewels, paired with shorts.

The beautiful revelers show off intricately designed costumes from Ka Paya Mas during Miami Caribbean Carnival in Dade County, on Oct. 8, 2023. Photo by Tangerine Clarke

For the most part, however, the carnival spirit lived up to the celebration that began with a week of activities, the junior parade, and J’ Ouvert, leading up to the Columbus holiday weekend Sunday, road march.Miami Carnival, a multi-day festival that combines Caribbean Carnival with the beauty of South Beach Miami and the rest of vibrant Miami and its surroundings, according to reports, embrace and celebrate Caribbean culture’s passion, traditions, heritage, art, and music on South Beach.

The parade that started at 11 a.m. showcasing the beauty and pageantry that included kings, queens, and individual costume competitions, ended with a concert of pulsating music, featuring some of the Caribbean’s legendary performers, including KES the Band, Sean Paul.

Euphoria Mas captured the vibrancy of the West Indies in a burst of brilliant colors created in skimpy ensembles, embellished with jewels, and towering high headpieces of feathers.

A group of revelers from Euphoria Mas, told this reporter on the Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds — that they were excited to be a part of the carnival. The ladies were seen, afterwards, posing for pictures with spectators who congratulated them on their spectacular creations.

Masquerader massed with Bajan Fa-Eva costume band at the 2023 Caribbean Carnival in Miami, on Oct. 8, 2023. Photo by Tangerine Clarke

Bajan Fa-Eva, Ka-Paya, Pleasures Mas, Limers International Mas, Freaks Mas, Party Room Squad / Enchanted Mirage Mas / Collective Mas, Break Awae Kru/ Hysteria, D’Junction, Euphoria Mas, Natural Disaster, Dingolay, Gen-X, Ramajay, Mascots International LLC, Savage Mas, Revel Nation, Big and Strong /One Island, Wassi Ones, all, lived up to the carnival hype.

Joan Hinkson Justin, chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee who has been at the helm for 11 years and involved with the carnival, for 26 years, said in a video clip, that after growing pains, the two argininal carnivals, have come together as one.

“Today the board members feel accomplished in some critical goals such as keeping the element of pageantry alive and sacred on Carnival Sunday, storytelling, through costumes, festive and descriptive artistry, and imagery, aligned through a folklore or mythical narrative. Each story (or tale) is carried by a carnival band, it’s leaders, designers, masqueraders and music – poetry in motion.”

Masqueraders proudly display the Trinidad and Tobago national flag as part of her costume during the Miami Carnival, on Oct. 8, 2023. Photo by Tangerine Clarke

“The board has also trademarked a concert at the end of Carnival Sunday, which many attend; some come for the concert only, others for the mas only and many for both,” according to a statement from the organizers.

“In the last four years, this ‘Team Strong’ has also secured live streaming on TV, the coverage, which has helped to engage a wider audience and awareness,” said Executive Director Mario Zamora.

“These successes have created a recognized brand and momentum to help us with our continued and future goals,” added Zamora.

The committee comprises a diverse group of citizens from Belize, Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.