Large Family Reunion

One of the pleasures of living in South Florida is that we're a diversified people, so absorb how awesome it is that the money gained from this festival is dedicated to youth stilt dancers. In Florida, we really like to celebrate -- as do the Caribbeans. Expect upward of 3,000...

By Mickie Centrone

October 6, 2011

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One of the pleasures of living in South Florida is that we're a diversified people, so absorb how awesome it is that the money gained from this festival is dedicated to youth stilt dancers. In Florida, we really like to celebrate -- as do the Caribbeans. Expect upward of 3,000 people celebrating the Caribbean culture Saturday at the "V.I. Caribbean American Festival and Reunion" at Miramar Regional Park. You can see kids in their festive clothes: red, black, green, and yellow pants (bell-bottomesque), wearing a mask with feathers attached to the top. The backs of their vest-shirts turn into nifty short capes. Watch them stilt-dance -- before they travel around the U.S., representing both Florida and the Caribbean -- as ambassadors.

The festival celebrates the whole Caribbean and the descendants who may have not been born there. Along with a place for kids to play games, there will be a basketball tournament, which starts at noon. More than ten teams from the Caribbean and the U.S. will compete. Pressure, the Reggae Ambassador to the Virgin Islands, and Jennifer Carroll, the first Caribbean-American woman to serve as lieutenant governor in the State of Florida, will be honored. There will be food and music and cheer from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at Miramar Regional Park (16801 Miramar Parkway, Miramar). Tickets cost $20. Visit vifest.com.
Sat., Oct. 8, noon, 2011

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