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The Opa-locka Company Administration Building in approximately 1926.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Alex Van Mecl<\/p>\n
It has been far more than 1,001 nights since Opa-locka held its marquee Arabian Nights parade and festival, but the city plans to bring back the once-iconic cultural celebration on Saturday, May 16 in honor of its centennial.<\/p>\n
\u201c We were a city built on the tale of the Arabian Nights. It\u2019s the culture of our community, and it\u2019s always been. We were built to stand out, and we are unique. It\u2019s been my mission to rebirth this festival,\u201d said Opa-locka Mayor John H. Taylor Jr.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1926 by aviation pioneer and developer Glenn H. Curtiss, the Miami-Dade city was named after an abbreviation of the Tequesta Native American word \u201cOpa-tisha-wocka-locka\u201d meaning, roughly, \u201cdry island amid the swamp.\u201d<\/p>\n
Opa-locka was built as a themed city modeled after the fictional world of \u201c1,001 Arabian Nights.\u201d Many of the city\u2019s buildings, including the historic City Hall, were crafted in the style of Moorish architecture with domes, minarets and outdoor staircases. The purpose was to attract buyers and visitors to a city that seemed to be plucked out of a storybook.<\/p>\n
Today, Opa-locka has the largest collection of Moorish revival architecture in the western hemisphere, though many original Arabian-themed homes have been demolished.<\/p>\n
Two men participate in the Opa-locka Arabian Nights parade in 1955. Courtesy of the Wolfson Archives <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Heritage trail celebrates city of Opa-Locka and its architectural gems<\/a><\/p>\n Festival<\/p>\n In honor of the city\u2019s unique theming, beginning around 1927, Opa-locka began hosting an Arabian Nights parade that eventually evolved into a music festival.<\/p>\n Diane Ricke remembers some of the early parades from her youth in the 1940s and 50s.<\/p>\n \u201c Oh, that was a lot of fun. There was even a parade, and then you always had to get dressed up in your Arabian Nights costume. My costume was frilly. I don\u2019t think there were big floats because it was just a small town, but I know it was always fun,\u201d Ricke told WLRN.<\/p>\n