Many people wondered what would happen to Carnival after the covid19 pandemic. The very nature of the pandemic stopped events like carnival. There were many webinars positing what a carnival might look like after the pandemic.
But this year, as mass vaccinations take place, globally, the Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee has shot out of the blocks and will host its annual Miami Carnival. Miami, the city in the state of Florida, has been hosting its carnival for more than 30 years.
Its director for international marketing and sponsorship John Beckford believes that Miami Carnival is going to be somewhat of a template for other carnivals coming after.
[caption id="attachment_896630" align="alignnone" width="731"] John Beckford, director for international marketing and sponsorship of the Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee.[/caption]
“How we do what we do as we produce Miami Carnival 2021 will somewhat be a model for Carnivals in 2022.
“Certainly, there is going to be a new normal. We have heard that terminology before and there is no doubt in my mind, going forward in 2022, starting with TT’s Carnival, there will be a new normal.
“It might be some limitation on capacity, it can be (Center for Disease Control) CDC-imposed (or the local body), local government-imposed or self-imposed,” he said in his WhatsApp interview with Newsday.
The carnival will take place over the Columbus Day weekend and will run from October 8-10. Columbus Day is observed on October 11 in the US.
Getting Miami Carnival off the ground was a collective effort, Beckford said. The carnival was held virtually last year because of the pandemic. He said the committee has been working with the local government and its agencies to ensure “that we put on a safe event.” Beckford said there were ongoing meetings since last year in the planning of Miami Carnival 2021.
He said there was no hesitancy in deciding to host the event since the local government wanted to see it produced as much as the committee. But the committee is committed to the safety of everyone producing and participating in the carnival and following the rules and guidelines of the CDC is important to that cause.
[caption id="attachment_896627" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Miami Carnival returns this year from October 2-10. (Photo taken from Miami Brownard One Carnival Facebook page)[/caption]
But more importantly Beckford and the committee are urging anyone interested in being a part of Miami Carnival to be vaccinated. Even outside of that, the committee plans to take extra precaution at its four major events.
Beckford said at its junior carnival, Panorama, J’Ouvert, and costume parade and concert, there will be temperature checks, sanitising stations, people will be required to answer covid19 question protocols and masks will be given.
Beckford said the committee is committed to incorporating and going beyond the CDC’s minimum requirements. At the moment, things remain fluid, he said, as it was too early to give definitive guidelines from mid-
