Carnaval on the Mile Time, Party People!

Raise your hands if you love street festivals.  Okay.  I can't see you...but then again, how could I?  Not sure what I was hoping would happen there.  Anywho, that most phenomenal of all street festivals is coming up and you know what that means.  Calle Ocho.  About three quarters of the city will converge on Little Havana for a full Sunday of food, music and more beer on your shoes than in your mouth.  It's a damned good, if somewhat raucous, time.  But perhaps you're looking for a little more breathing room.  Well, Carnaval on the Mile this weekend might be just the thing for you.

If you don't know, Carnaval on the Mile is a weekend-long celebration on Miracle Mile between Ponce de Leon Blvd and Le Jeune designed to kick off the Carnaval Miami festivities and help rev people up for Calle Ocho the following Sunday (kind of like the seven vodka-Redbulls you pound at your friend's apartment before going out).  It commences with a kick-off concert at Ponce Circle Park on Friday night featuring, among others, Conjunto Progreso and DJ Le Spam.  The party continues all day Saturday from 10am to midnight with three stages opening up (Latin jazz on Douglas, Latin Funk on Le Jeune and the main stage on Ponce) and such performers as Oriente, Soul Rebels and Afrobeta scheduled to play.  And the whole thing culminates with Sunday On The Mile, featuring local favorites Umoja Orchestra, Suenalo Sound System and Locos Por Juana...and that's just on the Le Jeune stage!

Head out to Miracle Mile for any or all three days and enjoy great music, food and of course, the opportunity to imbibe during the day in the middle of the street.