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www.ambiente.us MARCH / MARZO 2008
Calle Ocho Festival 2008
On March 16th 2008, Miami welcomes more than a million revelers for the biggest single-day street party and
largest celebration of Hispanic culture in the United States. The festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary this
year, stretches for 20 blocks of music, partying product sampling and children's activities. More than 30
stages feature merengue, salsa, pop and Caribbean sounds.
Directions/parking: Interstate 95 south to 836 West (towards airport); exit on Southwest 27th Avenue and head
south until you begin to see parking areas at homes and businesses in Little Havana area (from Southwest
Fifth to 11th streets). Charges usually range from $5-$10. Festival runs 11am to 7pm.
Another option is to take Florida's Turnpike to Southwest Eighth Street exit and head east; drive several miles
and approach the festival from the west; parking in businesses and lots along the way, from $5-$10.
2008 Artwork/poster by local Miami Artist David "LeBO" LeBatard
Right in the heart of Miami is an area that
is from a Cuban storybook. Here in "Little
Havana", you can find hand-rolled cigars,
fruiterias, meat markets, herbal stores and
windows with cafecitos for only 25 cents.
Although Miami is new, as far as cities are
concerned, you can walk from downtown
with all of its art deco high rises right into
old-time Cuba. On 8th Street (or Calle
Ocho) between 12th and 27th Avenues
lies a time warp into another reality.
A good place to start your sight-seeing is
(like anywhere in Miami!) with the food!
Calle Ocho offers many authentic Cuban
dishes with wonderful atmosphere;
spend an afternoon browsing the Cuban
memorabilia on the walls.
At Maximo Gomez Park, or Domino Park
as the locals call it, you can see the older
generation of Cubans meet to play
dominoes or chess each day.
There is a large mural depicting the
Summit of the Americas in 1993.
Around the corner, don't miss the Little
Havana Paseo de las Estrellas (Walk
of the Stars). It is reminiscent of the one
in Hollywood, but stars are given to Latin
American actors, writers, artists and musicians.
At the corner of 13th avenue lies a memorial park with monuments to many Cuban heroes. It is a peaceful
place, a nice place for a break. You can see memorials to Jose Marti (poet and revolutionary), Antonio Maceo
(war hero), the Island of Cuba Memorial, and the Memorial Flame (to the heroes of the Bay of Pigs). There is a
large ceiba tree with things around it- don't touch! These are offerings left by patrons affected by the souls
there; to touch or remove these offerings is considered very bad luck.
For an authentic Cuban evening, plan your trip around the end of the month. The last Friday of each month is
known as Viernes Culturales (Cultural Friday). It is a large Latin street party complete with music, dancing,
street performers, food, local artist's wares, and theater. It is good, clean fun for the whole family.
Of course, each March, Calle Ocho is best known as the biggest street party in the country - more then 1
million people from around the world come to this single-day event! In 1998, more than 119,000 people joined
in the world's longest conga line, and the festival still holds its place in the Guiness Book of World Records.
You'll see dancing, eating, partying, costumes, street performers and the biggest latin stars performing. Major
news crews from all over broadcast the event as Cubans from all over the country return to celebrate their
roots.
Whether it's your first time on Calle Ocho or you want to see it with new eyes, whether you are coming for a day
in Domino Park or the Calle Ocho Festival, there's always something new here in Little Havana. It's a piece of
history you have to see to understand.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
Calle Ocho Festival 2008
On March 16th 2008, Miami welcomes more than a million revelers for the biggest single-day street party and
largest celebration of Hispanic culture in the United States. The festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary this
year, stretches for 20 blocks of music, partying product sampling and children's activities. More than 30
stages feature merengue, salsa, pop and Caribbean sounds.
Directions/parking: Interstate 95 south to 836 West (towards airport); exit on Southwest 27th Avenue and head
south until you begin to see parking areas at homes and businesses in Little Havana area (from Southwest
Fifth to 11th streets). Charges usually range from $5-$10. Festival runs 11am to 7pm.
Another option is to take Florida's Turnpike to Southwest Eighth Street exit and head east; drive several miles
and approach the festival from the west; parking in businesses and lots along the way, from $5-$10.
2008 Artwork/poster by local Miami Artist David "LeBO" LeBatard
Right in the heart of Miami is an area that
is from a Cuban storybook. Here in "Little
Havana", you can find hand-rolled cigars,
fruiterias, meat markets, herbal stores and
windows with cafecitos for only 25 cents.
Although Miami is new, as far as cities are
concerned, you can walk from downtown
with all of its art deco high rises right into
old-time Cuba. On 8th Street (or Calle
Ocho) between 12th and 27th Avenues
lies a time warp into another reality.
A good place to start your sight-seeing is
(like anywhere in Miami!) with the food!
Calle Ocho offers many authentic Cuban
dishes with wonderful atmosphere;
spend an afternoon browsing the Cuban
memorabilia on the walls.
At Maximo Gomez Park, or Domino Park
as the locals call it, you can see the older
generation of Cubans meet to play
dominoes or chess each day.
There is a large mural depicting the
Summit of the Americas in 1993.
Around the corner, don't miss the Little
Havana Paseo de las Estrellas (Walk
of the Stars). It is reminiscent of the one
in Hollywood, but stars are given to Latin
American actors, writers, artists and musicians.
At the corner of 13th avenue lies a memorial park with monuments to many Cuban heroes. It is a peaceful
place, a nice place for a break. You can see memorials to Jose Marti (poet and revolutionary), Antonio Maceo
(war hero), the Island of Cuba Memorial, and the Memorial Flame (to the heroes of the Bay of Pigs). There is a
large ceiba tree with things around it- don't touch! These are offerings left by patrons affected by the souls
there; to touch or remove these offerings is considered very bad luck.
For an authentic Cuban evening, plan your trip around the end of the month. The last Friday of each month is
known as Viernes Culturales (Cultural Friday). It is a large Latin street party complete with music, dancing,
street performers, food, local artist's wares, and theater. It is good, clean fun for the whole family.
Of course, each March, Calle Ocho is best known as the biggest street party in the country - more then 1
million people from around the world come to this single-day event! In 1998, more than 119,000 people joined
in the world's longest conga line, and the festival still holds its place in the Guiness Book of World Records.
You'll see dancing, eating, partying, costumes, street performers and the biggest latin stars performing. Major
news crews from all over broadcast the event as Cubans from all over the country return to celebrate their
roots.
Whether it's your first time on Calle Ocho or you want to see it with new eyes, whether you are coming for a day
in Domino Park or the Calle Ocho Festival, there's always something new here in Little Havana. It's a piece of
history you have to see to understand.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
