The street routes of Miami Carnival 2020 revellers may go quiet this October, but that doesn’t mean the party has stopped. In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in South Florida, the Miami Carnival 2020 will go virtual for the first time in 35 years from October 8 to 11.
Miami Carnival 2020 Goes Virtual
Hosted at MiamiCarnival.org, the new Miami Carnival virtual experience will offer free access to all the signature events. The online event will feature star DJs, performances by the 2019 Junior Calypso winner, and 2019 Jr. Steelpan winner. Viewers will still get to enjoy the pageantry of the costumes and experience the sweet and melodious sounds of the steel pan. Additional announcements about the online event will be made in the coming weeks.
“Like others, we have been challenged to pivot and reimagine how we can continue to create space for our annual cultural celebration of Miami Carnival,” says Carnival committee chair Joan Justin about the decision. “While we will miss hosting attendees into the South Florida area, we are excited to share Miami Carnival with a global audience this year. We know that we will persevere through this time and continue to support our community to recover from the global crisis with which our world is faced.”
“While the energy of the Miami Carnival 2020 is the in-person connection and feeling the vibration of the beat, the safety of the attendees and all involved are the first priority during this pandemic,” said Connie Kinnard, Vice President of Multicultural Tourism & Development with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Things are evolving, but with the recent worldwide spike of COVID-19, a virtual festival this year is another very effective way to showcase nationally the Miami and Caribbean culture to community and potential visitors. The GMCVB has a long-standing partnership with the Miami Carnival, and we look forward to participating virtually this year and in-person in 2021.”
