Miami Carnival: The Pulse Beyond the Feathers
by Weldon Ryan
As the music fades and the last bits of feathers fallen from costumes lay on the ground, what lingers from Miami Carnival is exuberance. The energy of the Miami Caribbean community rests until next October, but its rhythm still hums beneath the surface.
I sat in the car with Richlin and put my head back. We had shot J’ouvert the day before, after driving straight to the event. After a four-hour ride from Palm Coast and the ruckus of the bands doing their thing, we dodged paint and powder, bubbles and water cannons—then showed up bright and early for Carnival day.
Beyond the beauty of light- to dark-skinned people adorned with gems and feathers in elaborate costumes lies a deeper pulse: a living archive of cultural memory, migration, and creativity. This weekend wasn’t merely a parade—it was an affirmation that traditions born from resistance and resilience still thrive, adapt, and unite Caribbean people today.
The Parade: Where Sound Meets Soul
Though the concert, with all its mega musical stars, moves us through the sounds of Soca, it’s the Parade of the Bands that forms the true body of the celebration.
Scores of masqueraders come together to “play mas.” With 15 mas bands taking to the parade route, the energy doesn’t stop until the last group passes the judges. Pulsating music, creativity, wining, and pageantry ring the right note—an unbroken rhythm of joy.
The Stage of Dreams
When the bands complete their route, the energy doesn’t fade—it intensifies. Each group takes to the main stage to be judged by a panel of experts from across the global Carnival industry. Here, masqueraders fully embody their portrayals, telling stories through costume, color, and movement in hopes of capturing the coveted title “Band of the Year” and its grand prize.
Every performance is a testament to creativity and craftsmanship—a spectacle of imagination and pride. It is truly a sight to behold, and not one to be missed.
The Heartbeat of Community
But beyond the feathers and lights, what makes this weekend so powerful is the sense of community that binds it all together. Strangers become family through shared rhythm, laughter, and sweat. Artists, masqueraders, designers, and spectators all contribute to a collective expression of continuity and creative freedom.
At its core, Carnival is an act of remembrance and renewal—transforming history into celebration and survival into joy.
Until We Meet Again
Now that the weekend is over, we reset and look ahead to the next year—when other Caribbean nations begin again, starting with the almighty Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.
I am rejuvenated. Let’s keep the conversation alive. I have great images to paint.
Thank you Richlin for your awesome shots and great artistic eye!
P.s. Life has been hectic these few months. The loss of my brother Ronnie Ryan Sr, has left me with a serious void in my heart. I looked up to him as any little brother does to his older brother. I have a heavy heart especially with the added weight of my 87 yr old mother’s health crisis. Thankfully she’s doing much better.
Hopefully with the joy that I take from shooting Carnival, this will add stronger emphasis in portraying my culture of T&T.
