PHILLY’S FIRST KANAVAL BALL WILL CELEBRATE HAITIAN RHYTHMS & THE MUSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

Article Contributed by Elise Brown | Published on Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Free, all-ages festival with live performances from PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND, RAM, BOUKMAN EKSPEREYANS, and NADIA DIEUDONNÉ AND FEET OF RHYTHM

Philadelphia's first Kanaval Ball will serve up all the grandeur, pageantry and fun of Haitian Carnival and New Orleans Mardi Gras when it takes place at The Fillmore Philadelphia on Sunday, March 20, 2022 (rescheduled from January 9).

The festive Kanaval Ball will cap Philadelphia public radio station WXPN’s year-long exploration of Haiti's influence on the music and culture of New Orleans, Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms and the Music of New Orleans, with a recreation of the New Orleans celebrations that take place prior to Mardi Gras. New Orleans-based, world renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the prominent Haitian bands RAM and Boukman Eksperyans, will perform, as will the energetic Haitian folkloric dance company Nadia Dieudonné & Feet of Rhythm.

Haitian food, drink and decor will complete the Kanaval Ball festival ambiance and party vibe. Authentic Haitian cuisine from some of Philadelphia's most acclaimed chefs will be available, including Sylvan Senat, Executive Chef of The Pyramid Club. The Margi Gras-meets-Carnival atmosphere will be enhanced with decor and more from Philly’s own Flygirrl. Costumes are encouraged, but not required.

“We can't wait to bring the joy and celebratory spirit of Haitian Carnival and Mardi Gras to Philadelphia, with performances from amazing musicians from both Haiti and New Orleans,” said WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay. “Attendees will experience the mission of our Kanaval project: to illuminate Haiti’s continuing impact on New Orleans music and culture.”

Doors will open at 4 PM ET on Sunday, March 20 for the all-ages Kanaval Ball, which is free with advance registration here. The Fillmore Philadelphia is at 29 East Allen Street in Philadelphia, PA, 19123. Its safety guidelines can be found here.

Major support for WXPN’s Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms and the Music of New Orleans has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional funding from the Wyncote Foundation. The Kanaval audio documentary was also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

More info about WXPN’s Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms and the Music of New Orleans project is at xpnkanaval.org. Follow WXPN on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For ways to stream WXPN, visit https://xpn.org/about-xpn/ways-to-stream-wxpn.