Calle Ocho Music Festival

Carnaval Miami, is a festive annual celebration of Greater Miami & Miami Beach’s vibrant Latin and Caribbean cultures, and the 49th Calle Ocho Music Festival on March 9 is the marquee event. Spanning 15 city blocks in the heart of Little Havana, it’s the largest street festival in Miami and the largest Hispanic festival in the United States, drawing a million attendees year after year.

Founded in 1978 by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, the fun-filled, family-friendly celebration is an annual tradition with musical performances and folkloric dance on multiple stages as well as international food vendors, arts and crafts, activities and entertainment. Entry is free and open to the public; upgraded VIP experiences grant premium access to backstage lounges and parties.

Music, Art & Dance

Join the party in the streets, where you can dance and sing along to everything from merengue to reggaeton, bachata, balada, salsa, hip-hop, rap, jazz, blues and more. While the official 2025 Calle Ocho Music Festival event guide and music lineup is coming soon, there’s a good chance you’ll catch a performance by the next Latin pop superstar or living legend. Past performers have included Maluma, Pitbull, Tito Puente Jr., Gloria Estefan and Nicky Jam. Revelers can also expect traditional Caribbean dance demonstrations and lessons as well as vendors selling folkloric artwork and crafts throughout the day’s festivities.

The Food

Like any great street fair, food is one of the big attractions of the Calle Ocho Music Festival. Get a taste of home-cooked Latin and Caribbean staples, from empanadas to arroz con pollo and arepas. The festival has hosted El Croquetazo, the World Championship Croqueta Eating Contest and the Cubano Wars, where chefs compete for the title of best Cuban sandwich and attendees get to taste test.

More Carnaval Miami

The Calle Ocho Music Festival is just one part of Miami’s larger Carnaval celebrations. To kick things off on February 22, the Miss Carnaval Miami Pageant will crown its next goodwill ambassador, with prizes that include a college scholarship and paid entry to Miss Florida USA.

Carnaval on the Mile will celebrate its 26th year March 1-2 with its own free, family-friendly street festival on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, featuring live music, international cuisine, local art and children’s entertainment.

Carnaval Miami will also host a golf classic on February 19, a domino tournament March 3-5 and a 5v5 soccer challenge on a date to be announced.

Community Impact

All of this is made possible by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, which was founded in 1975 and has grown into a major service organization with an economic impact of more than $40 million annually. Through its Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation, it funds college scholarships, sports leagues, summer camps and school supplies and also supports families dealing with unforeseeable hardship. When you join the party on the streets during the Calle Ocho Music Festival, Carnaval Miami and other events, take extra satisfaction in knowing it’s all for a good cause.

By: Shayne Benowitz | January 30, 2025