Copy of IMG 5957 Shots from the Magic City Caribbean Food and Music Festival Parade at Linn Park (photo gallery) — One woman in full carnival costume shows off the rich, colorful history of the Caribbean at the Magic City Caribbean Food and Music Festival in Birmingham. Photo by Anne Holmes for Bham Now.

If you caught my last article on Caribbean restaurants, you got a sneak peak at some of Birmingham’s Latin gems. Hungry for more, I went to the Magic City Caribbean Food and Music Festival this past Saturday, where I got to eat even more Caribbean food! Check out the pictures I took of the parade:

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Caribbean Traditions

The Magic City Caribbean Food and Music Festival Parade included sights and sounds from all the islands in the Caribbean. Hosted by the Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization, the festival brought traditions of street food, carnival costumes, and Caribbean music to Birmingham. Popup tents around Linn Park offered Caribbean style clothing and jewelry. Kids had the chance to get their face painted, too! We began the day listening to the steel drums in the plaza. Then, the parade came in with the band, the dancers, and the festival beats. Later that night, salsa and reggae characterized the scene.

Loving the Mix

This time, I saw a much broader view of diversity in Birmingham. With food trucks and tents, the Caribbean festival included all of the islands in the fun. From Latin to Jamaican to Cajun meats and treats, the streets of Linn Park were crowded with things to try.