Beyond the Parade: A day with a Miami Carnival entertainer (includes photo essay)

By
Rachel Portillo, Daniela Venegas, Elaine Alava and Jaime Rubio
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The highlight of last month’s Miami Carnival events were the parade and concert that ended the weekend of celebration. Samia Aziz as she gets ready and attends the day she looks forward to every year. See the excitement that going through the parade route and stage brings the masqueraders.

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“This is the one thing each year I treat myself to,” said Aziz as she finds the cost for the costumes and attending the parade worth it. The outfit and participation with the cost being around $1200.

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Her costume “Kalamkari” comes from Revel Nationz Carnival. The band’s theme for this year is based on the art styles from ancient Egypt.

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Samia Aziz kids are half Bahamian. She started attending the different Miami Carnival events to create this connection to their culture. Migration Policy Institute says that South Florida is home to around 1.3 million Caribbean immigrants.

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She isn’t Caribbean but she has found that the community is very welcoming to everyone, and she gets to experience a culture she didn’t see growing up.

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The parade starts at 1 p.m. where masqueraders go through Tamiami Park dancing while a DJ plays music on a truck. Miami Carnival has over 18,000 masqueraders in attendance.

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Masqueraders travel from across the United States. According to Miami Carnival, 31% of attendees come from out of state.

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Once going through the parade route bands are called onto the stage in the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition in front of an audience. By costume design and dance, they get ranked by judges. South Florida’s economy has received around $127 million through attendees supporting local businesses, hotel bookings and car rentals.

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15 bands competed to win “Band of the Year”. Ramajay Mas International won 1st place in 2025. Revel Nationz Carnival, Samia’s band, placed in 8th.

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“It’s so amazing every year getting to see the different costumes that the designers spend months working for each performer,” said Aziz. Each costume is tailored to each individual masquerader.

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The Miami Broward One Host Committee aims to make the cost worth the experience. The 2025 budget for the two-weekend event was around $2.5 million.

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Rachel Portillo is a sophomore majoring in digital journalism. After graduation she plans on becoming a photojournalist for political and entertainment events. She is passionate about reporting on politics, culture and art.

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Daniela Venegas is a Colombian digital media and marketing analytics student at Florida
International University. With experience in media, marketing, and nonprofit work in
Colombia and Thailand, she has contributed to projects in tourism, education, and
restorative justice. Passionate about photography and storytelling, she is seeking
opportunities in digital marketing and creative strategies that foster cultural growth and
meaningful impact.

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Elaine Alava is a junior majoring in journalism with a passion for digital storytelling. Skilled in social media management, research, and content creation. Aspiring to build a career in journalism focused on engaging storytelling and a strong media presence. Passionate about music, architecture, and promoting meaningful cultural narratives.

Rubio pilarte, jaime

Jaime Rubio is a third-year student at FIU majoring in digital Journalism, expecting to graduate in 2026. After graduation, Jaime is looking forward to having his podcast channel on social media and ringing a variety of guests that can have an impact on him and the world

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