Allapattah is throwing a party for the plantain.

Festival del Plátano returns to Juan Pablo Duarte Park on Sunday, Nov. 15, from noon to 6 p.m. The Allapattah Collaborative CDC, a neighborhood nonprofit, is putting it on. "We unite cultures around one delicious staple, plátanos," the group says in its event listing.

The park itself is named for Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic.

What to eat

Plantains are the star. A food court of trucks and vendors will sell plantain dishes, both sweet and savory.

Across the Caribbean and Latin America, the plantain shows up in many forms. Green ones get smashed and fried into crispy tostones, also called patacones. Ripe ones turn soft and sweet as maduros. Boiled and mashed, they become mangú, a Dominican breakfast staple.

The Plátano Showdown is a cook-off where local cooks put their favorite plantain dishes in front of judges, with prizes for the winners.

What else is happening

Bands, dance showcases and community performers will be on stage through the afternoon. An art display shows carnival masks made by young people and seniors, according to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau listing.

Kids get their own corner with games, arts and crafts, and demonstrations by the City of Miami Police and Fire departments.

Local artists and small businesses will also set up with food, goods and handmade items. Vendors can find sign-up information through a QR code on the organizer's flyer.

Before you go

Sunday, Nov. 15, noon to 6 p.m.: Festival del Plátano at the mini-pitches area of Juan Pablo Duarte Park, 1776 NW 28th St., Miami.

Bring a hat or sunscreen, comfortable shoes and a refillable water bottle. A lawn chair or picnic blanket is optional. The park is outdoors, and the organizer says it has accessible paths.

Admission is free, but reserve a ticket on Eventbrite so organizers can plan. The listing doesn't give parking details.

The tourism bureau's listing gives the end time as 5 p.m. The organizer's own listing and flyer say 6 p.m.

Looking for more food weekends? Read our guide to the South Florida Seafood Festival in Wynwood this Sunday, and revisit the Wynwood Día de los Muertos ofrenda trail.

Bunches of ripe yellow plantains
Ripe plantains, the base for sweet maduros. Source