The Arabian Nights Music Fest is returning to Opa-locka for the first time in more than 20 years as part of the city’s centennial celebration.
The festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Sherbondy Park, 380 Bahman St. Gates open at 3 p.m., with performances beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Headlining the event are two-time Grammy Award-winning singer and actress LeToya Luckett and Miami rapper and singer-songwriter Ball Greezy. Additional performers include Deep Fried Funk, Tairon and the Latin Beat, Bushy B, Tierra Traniece, Brisco, Myammee, Bloody Rose, Cee Rich, Dem Twinz, Lace and Shavanique. DJ Shelly Rockstar and Papa Keith of 103.5 The Beat are also part of the festival lineup.
“This festival represents more than great music, it represents the energy, resilience, and cultural vibrancy of our 100-year-old city,” Opa-locka Mayor John H. Taylor Jr. said in a press release.
“Opa-locka has always been a place where creativity and community thrive. The Arabian Nights Music Fest will bring people together to celebrate our 100 years, our culture, support local businesses, and showcase the incredible talent that connects our city to audiences across South Florida and beyond.”
Organizers said the festival will celebrate Opa-locka’s Moorish Revival heritage and multicultural identity through live music, food, art and family programming.
The event will feature several themed areas, including Rhythm Realm for live performances across genres such as R&B, hip-hop, reggae, Latin and Afrobeats; Artisan’s Way, a marketplace for local artists and businesses; and The Spice Court, featuring Caribbean, Latin, African and American cuisine.
Miami rapper and singer-songwriter Ball Greezy.
(Instagram@ballgreezy)
Additional festival spaces include Discovery Den, a family-focused area with storytelling and interactive activities centered on Opa-locka’s history, and The Night Garden, an evening installation featuring lighting and visual displays inspired by Arabian Nights themes.
According to the release, all tickets for the festival have sold out.
The event is sponsored by several organizations and officials, including the Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor, Miami-Dade County Commissioners Marleine Bastien and Juan Carlos “JC” Bermudez, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and several private companies.
Founded in 1926 by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss, Opa-locka is known for its Moorish Revival architecture and has 20 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.