Opa-Locka to Unveil First-Ever Curated Museum Experience to Kick-Off to Inaugural MENA Fest on April 13, 2024
Miami-Dade’s eighth oldest incorporated municipality will commemorate its founding history with a morning unveiling of the Opa-locka Heritage Trail, followed by an afternoon village showcase, the MENA Fest on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Celebrating the city’s 97-year history and an architectural motiftied to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the inaugural MENA Fest will feature food vendors, authentic Moroccan merchandise, dance and music performances, and more.
Located on the grounds of the historic fire station and city hall buildings at 151 Perviz Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida, MENA Fest will bring authentic Middle Eastern and North African vendors to the historic downtown. In addition to unique culinary experiences, family-friendly activities and scheduled programming will be available, including a belly dancer workshop, musical acts, archery, chess and board games, as well as a guided walking tour of historic downtown Opa-locka. Along the Trail’s path, visitors will be welcomed to the Ten North Arts Foundation exhibit, “Evidence of Contrary Instincts”, a celebration of Women’s History Month.
The Opa-locka Heritage Trail, located along a rectangular route in the downtown business district, is a project of the Opa-locka Preservation Association, funded by Ten North Group, and supported by the City of Opa-locka, is an interpretive historic trail installation created in 15 chapters, reminiscent of the Arabian Nights Entertainments novel of which the architectural identity of the city was informed. With never-before-seen images and untold stories from 1926 and on, the Trail will bring new life and interest in
the industries and people that shaped and made Opa-locka, one of the most exciting places to live in America. Opa-locka’s historic architecture, defined as Moorish Revival, is the largest collection of its kind in North America and was pioneer aviator Glenn Curtiss’ third - and last - themed housing project in South Florida during the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Opa-locka Heritage Trail will begin promptly at 11 a.m. and welcome dignitaries and officials from all over South Florida. MENA Fest will begin thereafter at 12 (noon) until 5 p.m., with programming being scheduled throughout the day.
MENA Fest is free to the public and is being produced by Ten North Group, the City of Opa-locka, and the Opa-locka Preservation Association. For more information and to confirm your attendance click here.
Media Contact:
Suzan McDowell
Circle of One Marketing
305-490-9145
More on Ten North Group
Ten North Group (formerly Opa-locka Community Development Center) is a forty-year-old affordable housing developer and community builder. Ten North is determined to build wealth in under-resourced communities through creative placemaking—the act of using the arts and culture to write the future stories of previously overlooked places. To that end, Ten North actively commissions works of public art, is in the process of offering residency programs in the United States and Africa and is the steward of an important collection of African and African Diaspora modern and contemporary art with over 100 works.
More on City of Opa-locka
The City of Opa-locka is one of Miami-Dade County’s oldest and most unique historic cities rich in architecture, industry, and culture. Boasting a diverse residential and business community that stretches 4.5 square miles in size
and with a population of over 16,500, Opa-locka is strategically positioned as a central hub of South Florida, with access to all major transportation corridors, including the neighboring Opa-locka Executive and Miami International Airports, as well as higher education institutions, including the universities of St. Thomas, Florida Memorial, Barry, and Miami-Dade College. Founded on May 14, 1926 by American aviator Glenn Hammond Curtiss, who earned the
nickname “The Father of Naval Aviation,” Opa-locka has been awarded designations which include being a Main Street America community, Tree City USA, a Bird Sanctuary City and is also a member of the Florida League of
Cities (FLC). Additionally, the city has four parks, a Tri-Rail station connecting to the larger public transit system, and the largest collection of historic Moorish Revival architecture in the country. For more information, please visit:
About Opa-locka Preservation Association
The Opa-locka Preservation Association (OPA) was established to promote, protect, and celebrate the people, stories, and places of the architecturally unique and historic city of Opa-locka. Founded in 2023 as a community
volunteer organization, OPA is committed to offering the community workshops and special events, while advocating for and leading initiatives that benefit the built and natural environments of the city. To learn more, visit