Calle Ocho Festival: Where Culture, Courage & Community Collide
Written by Aaron G. Beebe | Founder of GonnaHappen.com
📸 Instagram: @gonnahappendotcom

There’s no place like Calle Ocho Festival — where music, family, flavor, and activism all meet in the heart of Little Havana. From the moment I hit 8th Street, I felt the rhythm of Miami come alive through every beat of the drum, every dance in the street, and every soul proudly waving a flag — especially those fighting for the people of Cuba and beyond.

🕊️ This wasn’t just a party — it was a movement.
Cuban-Americans marched with pride, not just to celebrate but to raise awareness of the oppression happening back home. I saw lawyers and activists on-site, making sure immigrants and families were protected and informed — a powerful example of love in action. The support was real, and the community vibe was everything GonnaHappen stands for.

🇨🇺🇵🇷 As a Puerto Rican with roots in the Feliciano family and the Uyematsu family of Hawaii (Japarican pride!), I felt right at home — from the pernil to the congas. My Latin brothers and sisters in Florida have always shown me love, and I’ll never forget how this community embraced me and uplifted each other. ¡Pa’lante siempre!

🎭 Speaking of familia — I’ve also had the honor of knowing the legendary Angel Salazar (a.k.a. Chi Chi from Scarface), who I once helped book shows for during my entertainment hustle days. Not only is he hilarious, but he’s a proud Cuban-American with his own cigar line and a heart as big as his punchlines. Respect always, Chi Chi. S’kay!

🎉 Calle Ocho reminded me that our culture isn’t just about music or food — it’s about freedom, unity, and pride.

🔗 Calle Ocho Festival Info:
https://carnavalmiami.com/events/calle-ocho-music-festival/
🔗 Angel Salazar Bio:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0757514/

Uyematsu Story

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Uyematsu#:~:text=Her%20writing%20mainly%20focused%20on%20the%20discrimination%20she,that%20worked%20towards%20equal%20rights%20for%20Asian%20Americans.

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