Hop the islands to celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage Month in Miramar

Brett Shweky, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·2 min read

The city of Miramar is inviting everyone to celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage Month with its inaugural Island Hopping Experience at Shirley Branca Park, 6900 Miramar Parkway, from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 19.

Attendees will have the opportunity to weave their way through the showcase while stopping to enjoy arts, culture and entertainment from different Caribbean islands. Food, drinks and products will be available for purchase from local Caribbean vendors.

The free event is available for those who register at islandhoppingexperience.eventbrite.com. Attendees are encouraged to bring their nations’ flags to represent and show pride for their country.

“This is the first one [Island Hopping Experience],” Miramar Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers said. “We usually celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month in Miramar. June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Getting together with my team, we’re just trying to do something a little bit different. I was like, ‘Why don’t we do like an island-hopping?’ That name came from the idea of being able to visit the different booths and just hop around.”

The Island Hopping Experience also will include live music performances from Kevin Lyttle, MikaBen and The Tennors.

“We happen to have Mr. Kevin Lyttle from St. Vincent, and as we know they’ve gone through a volcanic eruption,” Chambers said. “He’s going to come and perform with his band. We have people from other countries. We have MikaBen from Haiti ... and we have a band representing Jamaica. We might be adding some more folks as well also.”

Donations will be collected by the Miami Foundation and Global Empowerment Mission for St. Vincent Volcano Relief. The foundation will be collecting nonperishable food, water, and sanitary and personal hygiene items.

Hosted by Chambers, the event was made possible by Miramar Mayor Wayne M. Messam, Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne, Commissioner Winston F. Barnes and Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis.

Call 954-602-3178 and visit miramarfl.gov/ for other upcoming Caribbean-American Heritage Month activities.