Tamarac brings paint, powder and soca to the streets with debut Red Road celebration in October
Tamarac, Florida – South Florida’s Carnival season will have a new road to travel this October, and Tamarac is putting itself directly in the middle of the celebration. On Friday, Oct. 9, the city will debut Red Road Fete + J’Ouvert, combining a live soca concert, DJs and a paint-and-powder street celebration in one night.
The five-hour event runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Tamarac Village Amphitheater, 9090 NW 57th St. Under the slogan “The Road Is Calling,” organizers are promising something broader than a traditional concert: the energy of a Carnival fete inside the amphitheater followed by the communal movement of J’Ouvert.
Three major soca artists headline the inaugural event. Alison Hinds, widely known as the Queen of Soca, brings a catalog that includes “Roll It Gal,” “Faluma” and “Togetherness.” Trinidadian performer Bunji Garlin, whose songs include “Differentology” and “Carnival Tabanca,” will also perform.
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Skinny Fabulous of St. Vincent and the Grenadines completes the headlining lineup. A five-time Soca Monarch, he became the first non-Trinidadian to share a Trinidad and Tobago Road March victory in 2019 through “Famalay,” recorded with Garlin and Machel Montano.
Promotional materials also list Travis World, Nocturnal, Ovadose, Zess, Fergie and Patrick the Hypeman among the DJs and hosts.
Red Road arrives during an already busy Carnival stretch in Broward County. A Miami Carnival Pan Jamboree is scheduled for Oct. 3 at Tamarac Sports Complex, while the official Miami Carnival J’Ouvert takes place Oct. 10 at Central Broward Park in Lauderhill. Tamarac’s event lands directly between them.
Ticket packages have included general admission, VIP and a Red Royal option combining Red Road with a GenX Immortals J’Ouvert all-inclusive pass. The official event flyer currently lists Tier 2 tickets at $85. Tickets and updates are available at redroadcarnival.com and through the city’s Red Road event page.
Guests should expect security screening and significant restrictions. Lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, backpacks, smoking devices, fireworks, weapons and several other items are prohibited. Only certified service animals are permitted.
Parking, rideshare zones and the final J’Ouvert route are expected to be announced closer to the event. The city is also recruiting food vendors and accepting ADA accommodation requests through Parks and Recreation at (954) 597-3620.
For Tamarac, the first Red Road Fete + J’Ouvert marks an effort to bring Carnival culture onto its own streets, with one evening built around music, movement and community.
