New Year's Wishes From Pitbull and Miami's Big Orange

MIAMI — While many people dream of braving frigid temperatures to stand shoulder to shoulder with revelers in Times Square on New Year's Eve, local favorite Pitbull has been quietly spreading a warmer alternative for the past three years. Thousands of people have been happily choosing this party city instead of the Big Apple and this year was no exception.

Upwards of 100,000 people flocked to Miami's Bayfront Park to watch Mr. 305 ring in the New Year with a free concert on Saturday night along with millions of Americans watching from their homes, parties and bars across the United States.

Thirty-six-year-old Misleads Perez of Miami couldn't pass up an opportunity to see Pitbull and start the new year with a smile.

"I'm here because I want to start the new year off happy and dancing," said Perez, who adds that the story should include the phrase "Dale!"

To Pitbull, New Year's Eve in Miami is all "dale," the singer's catchphrase that he uses in songs and banter with fans on social media.

"It means a lot of things; it depends on how you're using it. It's my way of ­checking out — 'Dale, I'm out of here' — or my way of ­getting started. It's definitely the word I hear most. I travel around the world and run into people that speak no English, no Spanish and they say 'dale,' " he explained in a 2015 interview with Billboard.

The concert was nothing if not dale in the center of Bayfront park, just west of the Claude Pepper Fountain.

Mr. 305 sent out several tweets prior to the big show, including a thank you to his many fans around the world on Saturday.

As in other years, Fox broadcasted "Pitbull New Year’s Eve Revolution," to a national audience, which pitted the Magic City head to head with "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2017" on ABC, "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" on NBC and "New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin" on CNN.

Vincent Carala moved to Miami from France. He too came to take in the celebration.

"Music and people," he said. "It's nice."

Twenty-one-year-old Juan Giron of Miami came with his friends to enjoy the fireworks, but mostly Pitbull, whose New Year's Eve show has become something of a tradition for each of the past three years."I grew up here in Miami as well," he explained, adding that he has also been to Times Square.

"It was cold, cold, cold," he recalled. "I was wearing two sweaters."

This year's Miami event was hosted by Queen Latifah and Snoop Dogg. It also featured performances by Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty by Nature, Biz Markie, Coolio, Tone Loc and Rob Base.

Unlike that other New Year's Eve celebration, here in Miami the “Big Orange Ball,” rises at midnight — rather than falls — to a spectacular 13-minute fireworks display just across Bayfront Park along the facade of the Intercontinental Hotel.

he fireworks are shot off from a barge anchored in scenic Biscayne Bay.

Officer Christopher Bess of the Miami Police Department told patch that safety was paramount for officers here just as it is in Times Square.

"Miami police officers will be strategically deployed along Biscayne Boulevard to assist with traffic and pedestrians," Bess said prior to the event. "Miami Police will also be deployed within the event to ensure the safety of the citizens attending the event."

The fireworks were followed by more musical performances until 12:30 a.m.

This year's event also included Pitbull's VIP Food & Wine Party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., which required a paid admission.

Pitbull's "New Year's Revolution" is made possible by the Bayfront Park Management Trust, a limited agency of the city of Miami, the mayor and the Miami City Commission.

Additional support is provided by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade mayor, the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, the Greater Miami Host Committee and Bayside Marketplace.

Photos by Paul Scicchitano