Two cities of South Florida, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, celebrate the strong Caribbean roots present in their communities together. The event attracts 50,000 carnival hungry participants a year. Much like carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, Miami/Broward Carnival have a few traditional staples that are known to occur during the carnival season. The steelband competition known as Panorama is held on Carnival Friday. All eyes on the rhythmic troops of the steelpan teams as they beat out popular and traditional tunes. This is as authentic to Caribbean Carnival as it gets. On the same night the competition between the biggest costumes begins during the King, Queen, & Individual costume competitions. Males and females model and dance the most extraordinary and detailed costumed looking like human floats in front of judges. The carnival spirit carries on to J’ouvert Saturday morning where people dance behind music trucks trying their best not to keep clean. Let’s just say the dirtier you get – covered in cocoa, paint, water – the more fun you’ll have. It all ends with the parade Sunday. Masqueraders come out made up, bejeweled head to toe, feathered headpieces tied tight eager for a day of dancing, music, good food and people.
