23 Blocks: Calle Ocho Festival

March 17, 2008 4:07 PM
by

‘Calle Ocho,’ or 8th St. to the non-Spanish speakers, is an area in the city known for its rich Hispanic culture. On a typical day one can drive down the street and stop and grab a bite at the well-known Versailles Restaurant, or bring their A-game and jump in on an intense game of dominoes at Maximo Gomez Park. However, one day a year the traffic ends and an intense celebration takes over 23 blocks of the street as voices echo screams of ‘Arepas,’ ‘Pinchos,’ and ‘Cerveza fria!’

On a day where the heat in Miami peaked and the humidity was unbearable, hundreds of thousands crowded 8th St. to celebrate the annual ‘Calle Ocho’ festival. The overwhelming smell of fried food from the hundreds of stands and Bud Light filled the damp air as seemingly all of Miami’s Hispanic residents came to celebrate their culture and heritage.

The revelers cheered and danced throughout the 23 blocks of the street. Whether it was the Cuban, Puerto Rican or Dominican flags, all varieties of colors were visible either on the decorated food stands or the visitors themselves. Pride was in full force as each country was represented.

“It’s a great way for Cubans to get together and celebrate their heritage,” said 25-year-old paralegal Alana Rodriguez. “Most people can’t go back to Cuba so this is the closest thing they get to a festival in the streets there.”

Walking down the street your senses are transported to a typical Latin American country as the scent of the fire-grilled meat filled the air and traveled into the palates, the humid air caused the skin to perspire, the many variety of Hispanic faces came and went, and the native musical sounds of Latin America blared our of the hundreds of speakers and filled the street with rhythm.

“I wanted to experience the different Hispanic cultures that Miami has to offer,” says 22-year-old University of Miami student Anthony Ficara. “Being a white guy from the North, coming to this is really different. I think it’s really important for everyone to experience the different cultures outside of their own.”

Known for the large-scale festive crowd that attends, this year the festival reached its 30th anniversary. Over 30 music stages are set up and hundreds of street vendors crowded the sidewalk. Performers like Miami native Pitbull and Wyclef Jean as well as smaller acts entertained the nearly one million spectators.

Although many expected trouble to arise from the crowd that indulged in ‘cerveza fria’ (cold beer), the negative aspect of the festival was primarily blamed on the climate of the day.

“I’m surprised that I haven’t seen any fights between Puerto Ricans or Cubans,” says Rodriguez. “But I would say that the only negative part of the day is the heat!”

This year, while two world records were sought after, only one was accomplished. While the world’s longest conga line faded away amidst the colossal crowd, 278 people simultaneously played dominoes at the Old Spice domino tournament. A Guinness Book of World Records representative was on hand to witness the achievement.

Although this year’s festival was one for the record books, it doesn’t take anything away from previous years. Sunday’s event should leave all with even higher expectations for Calle Ocho 09’.