Life is a Carnival: West Indian Day Parade Celebrates Pride and Diversity
It was a warm and beautiful day to show off Caribbean pride in the streets of Brooklyn. For the 51st year, Brooklyn played host to the New York Caribbean Carnival Parade. Held on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 4, and hosted by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), the event drew an impressive crowd of attendees dressed in festive and colorful attire that honored the culture.
All day, Eastern Parkway between Schenectady Avenue and Grand Army Plaza bustled with activity. The parade, which began around 11 a.m. and ended by 6 p. m., was a culmination of WIADCA’s New York Caribbean Carnival Week that included concerts, dance and Saturday’s Junior Carnival Parade for the children.
Elected officials and community leaders attending the parade included Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Letitia James, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, City Councilmember Jumaane Williams and Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network.