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Hundreds of festival-goers enjoyed, The Fifth Annual Downtown Miami Riverwalk Festival and Boat Parade- featuring, this year, a Jamaican Folk Festival that took place in Downtown/Brickell) November 10, 2012, from 10:00AM- 4:00 PM - 315-335 S. Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33131.

Festival Mission Statement: “This special multicultural event allows our local residents and visitors to explore and interact among the local arts and culture vendors, while also showcasing the unique surroundings at the mouth of the Miami River.”

The opening ceremony featured Randy Corinthian on sax Soliel Rowe singing the national anthem. City was represented by LT. I. Carroll of the Fire Dept and Officer Fundora of the police Dept. The event was produced by Mr. David Brown of Lumana Global Corp. in collaboration with the presenting sponsor, the Jamaican Tourist Board, and numerous other sponsors including Sandals, Jerk Machine and Ocean Bank, in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Jamaica and the Jamaican Consulate in Miami. Dignitaries in attendance include Jamaican Consul General, Sandra Grant Griffiths, and Miss Universe Jamaica- Miss Chantal Zaky who came from Jamaica to attend the event.

Funds were raised for this year’s featured non-profit: Sierra Norwood Calvary Baptist’s Church Youth Group. The Boat parade with watercraft from local government agencies along with the Coast Guard Auxillary took place after the opening ceremony on the beautiful Miami River.
The Parade of Pageantry included Miss Universe Jamaica, Miss Jamaica Florida Pageant, Florida Miss Miami Tropic, Miss Miami-Dade- Broward Carnival Queen, Miss Runway Florida Competition Free Characateurs by Kyle Kolebrook of MLK Art Center. Over 75 Nice Give-a ways and Raffle Prizes from Macys, WLRN, Lost and Found Saloon, Electric Avenue and many more.

Authentic Jamaican Folk Music by Drumming Fingers, Sierra Norwood Calvary Baptist Church Youth Group, Tallawah Mento Band, Soliel Rowe, Nugent “Bunny” Wince Hewett ( came from Jaamica), Jamaican Carnival Band, Sons of Mystro and Randy Corinthian. Staff of Jungle Island strolled the Riverwalk with a friendly, photogenic Macaw. In the Rum cake competition, four judges named winners including: Aymer Caswell for Vegan Rum Cake, Jackie Douglas for dark Rum Cake, Jean Lindo for Light Rum Cake.