Roads To Close For Ultimate Latin Block Party: Calle Ocho Festival
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An event billed as the largest Hispanic festival in the nation kicks off Sunday in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.
The Calle Ocho Festival marks the end of the Carnaval Miami celebration and promises to be just as colorful, loud, fun and crazy as in years past.
The annual Latin festival officially starts Sunday at 11:00 a.m and runs until 7:00 p.m..The festival takes place on SW 8th Street from SW 27th Avenue to SW 11thAvenue. During the festival, Little Havana will come alive with salsa music, Latin food, and performances by legendary Hispanic artists.
Big name music artists at this year's event include Pitbull, JenCarlos Canela, Dyland y Lenny, Sensato and dozens of others playing music ranging from reggaeton and hip hop to salsa, merengue, bachata and everything in between.
But along with the partying and good times to be had by all, there will be some traffic tie-ups due to the festival.
Starting Saturday at 11:30 p.m. eastbound traffic on SW 8th Street from SW 27th Avenue to SW 11th Avenue will be closed. Traffic traveling eastbound on SW 8th Street will be detoured north or southbound on SW 27th Ave.
SW 7th Street will remain open westbound until SW 8th Avenue. Westbound traffic on SW 7th Street will be detoured north and southbound on SW 8th Ave.
Residents that live in the area will be allowed access on a "local traffic only" basis to SW 7th Street on the north side or on the south side of SW 9th Street.
Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and to take alternate routes in order to avoid traffic and road blockages. City of Miami Police Officers will be placed along closed roads to provide assistance.
Miami-Dade Transit buses which normally travel along SW 8 Street will also take alternate paths. The following routes will be detoured from 4:00 a.m. Sunday to 1:00 a.m. Monday: Route 6, Route 8, Route 12, Route 17, Route 22, Route 207, and Route 208.
For more information on the routes, check with the Miami-Dade Transit Agency.
The Metrorail will run every 15 minutes on Sunday from 9:15 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Southwest 8th Street will reopen and function normally starting Monday at 5:00 a.m. just in time for the work week.
