Gente de Zona Kings of the 2024 Carnival at the Calle Ocho Music Festival in Miami

The Calle Ocho Music Festival stands as a paramount annual celebration in Miami. This year, festivities commence on Sunday, March 10, featuring a celebrated Cuban duo as the Kings of the Carnival.

This gathering showcases a plethora of international artists, with this year’s honor extended to Gente de Zona – a duo comprised of Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom. Their music is a tribute to Latin culture, offering a Caribbean blend of rhythms and melodies that are both rhythmic and infectious.

Held on SW 8 Street between SW 13 Avenue and SW 27 Avenue, the festival runs from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, covering fifteen blocks in the vibrant heart of “Little Havana”. The event features a myriad of activities including gastronomy, crafts, dance, and entertainment.

Gente de Zona will grace the opening day with a dynamic performance, crowned as the Kings of the Carnival 2024, a testament to their significant contribution to Latin music and culture.

Pablo Lau, president of the Kiwanis Club, announced the selection of the renowned Cuban group as carnival kings. The celebration, which started last February, culminates grandly with the onset of the Calle Ocho festivities, enhancing the carnival’s allure.

The music of Gente de Zona is characterized by a fusion of salsa, merengue, reggaeton, and conga, coining the term “cubaton” for its distinctive style. Their collaborations with globally recognized artists have catapulted them to fame, making their performance a highly anticipated highlight of the festival.

The Calle Ocho Music Festival, a cornerstone event in South Florida, draws close to a million attendees each year. The 2024 edition will feature urban music stars like El Micha, Osmany García, Lenier, among others, alongside Puerto Rican Melina Almodóvar, the Salsa Doll, and performances by Mofongo de Plena from Puerto Rico, Mariachi de Guadalajara, Rocío Flores, and Marimba Nica.

Last year, the festival was honored by Cuban Aymée Nuviola, showcasing the richness of Cuban music.

Traffic adjustments include the closure of SW 8 Street eastbound from SW 27 Avenue to SW 13 Avenue starting Saturday, March 9, 2024, with roads reopening on Monday, March 11 at 5 a.m.. Diversions will be in place to facilitate the flow around the festivities.