Tampa Bay Festival Brings Barranquilla Carnaval Traditions to Local Community

Tampa Bay Carnaval de Barranquilla will host its main celebration on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Casa 21 in Tampa. Doors open at 5 p.m. The evening features Colombian dancing, the crowning of a queen and king, and performances by singer Paula Sophia alongside a DJ from Barranquilla.

A $20 donation is requested through online registration. It's $25 at the door. Proceeds will support Colombian activities in the area and five nonprofits in Barranquilla, Colombia, that provide shoes, clothes, and school supplies to children who need them.

A second outdoor celebration with about 200 attendees will take place on Jan. 30 at Philippe Park in Safety Harbor, offering families another chance to participate. Casa 21 sits at 4235 W. Waters Ave. in Tampa.

The nonprofit organization has brought Colombia's festival to the region through ties to the original Barranquilla event via the Sister Cities program, creating a bridge between two communities separated by thousands of miles. Patsy Morlando, the founder and leader, started the local celebration more than 25 years ago.

"We are keeping the spirit of Colombia's famous carnival alive and well in Florida and doing it for a good cause, while giving the large Colombian community in the Tampa Bay area an opportunity to engage in the genuine Colombian culture and tradition we all love with our Tampa Bay Carnaval de Barranquilla," said Morlando, according to Tampa Beacon. "It's an exciting way to heat up January in Tampa."

Morlando is a Colombian-born resident of Safety Harbor. She said the Jan. 17 event will be "a night to remember at the Colombian bar and grill Casa 21."

The organizer said imitators have tried to copy the success over the years. Most have disappeared or never reached the same status. This shows what Morlando built from scratch, spanning from Safety Harbor to the heart of the city.

"Tampa Bay Carnaval de Barranquilla is the original and most authentic display of the beloved Colombian festival. We have been serving the Tampa Bay area for over 25 years," said Morlando.

The celebration welcomes people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they came from or what language they speak at home. "You don't have to be Colombian to experience the joy of the Carnaval de Barranquilla. Everyone is invited, whether you are Colombian or not. We're inclusive. We love to share the happiness," she said.

Casa 21 will sell food and drinks separate from the donations that go to charities. The Carnaval de Barranquilla is one of Colombia's most important folkloric celebrations and one of the biggest carnivals in the world.