Cuban influence is evident throughout Miami, but it is most predominant in the southwest quadrant of the city: Little Havana is a distinctly Cuban neighborhood. Calle Ocho, Spanish for Eighth Street, is the essence of Little Havana. Lined with Cuban shops, cafes, restaurants and music stores, Calle Ocho is the epitome of a true Cuban experience in Miami. Every year Little Havana hosts America’s largest celebration of Hispanic culture. The Calle Ocho Festival, also known as the Little Havana Festival, takes place in early March and spans 23 blocks - the world’s largest street party. Calle Ocho is shut down and filled with excitement, celebration and lots of noise. Food venues, musical stages, Latin music performers, and an average of one million people crowd the streets each year. Hotels are booked months in advance for the Calle Ocho Festival, so travelers planning to visit Miami during the festival should be prepared to plan well ahead of time.