Come to the West Indian Day Carnival and Parade

To celebrate the role of the labor movement in the U.S., come to the West Indian Day Carnival and Parade in Brooklyn, New York.

The Carnival and Parade itself began in Harlem in the mid-1930s; in the 1940s, organizers began to hold it on Labor Day (Click here for a comprehensive history of the holiday from the U.S. Department of Labor). Less a celebration of the U.S. labor movement then a proud showcase of Caribbean culture that occurs on Labor Day, the parade was moved to Brooklyn in the mid-1960s. It is one of New York City's premier cultural events, generating an estimated $200 million dollars in economic activity.

The Parade, known for its colorful floats and music - calypso, soca, and steel pan, among others, begins at 11:00 a.m. The costumes are definitely a sight to see, all extremely ornate and vibrant. Grand marshals have included politicians such as Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor David Paterson, and U.S. Congressman Charlie Rangel, and academics such as Medgar Evers College Provost and award-winning novelist Dr. Elizabeth Nunez.

The music and the pageantry are certainly strong selling points, but I can tell you that the food is probably the best part. It is delicious, no matter if you sample fare from Trinidadian, Guyanese, Jamaica, Bajan, or other onsite vendors. From codfish cakes and conch fritters to jerk chicken and oxtail stew, if you love West Indian cuisine or just great food in general, you will have a good time.

One of the best ways to enjoy the parade is to view it from an apartment building along Eastern Parkway; if you have a friend who lives along that long street, decamp at their place, and watch from the window. It can get very hot and sticky very quickly, as the parade can draw over a million attendees easily. Like most parades, the West Indian Day Parade can get crowded and raucous quickly, so if you can manage to watch from a nearby apartment window, venturing out just to grab some food and some fresh air every so often, you will have a great time.

The parade is organized by the West Indian American Carnival Day Association, which has up-to-date information on performers and celebrity guests. The parade is usually preceded by a weekend's worth of events celebrating and highlighting West Indian culture; check the WIACDA site for up-to-date details.

This year's celebration will be held on Monday, September 7, 2009. For more information call 718-467-1797 or email info@wiadca.com.

There are multiple subway stops that can get you to the parade, which runs along Eastern Parkway between Utica Avenue and Grand Army Plaza. Take the 2 or 3 to Grand Army Plaza, the 2, 3, 4 or 5 to Franklin Avenue, or the 3 or 4 train to Utica Avenue. There is very heavy traffic around the parade site so driving to and from is unwise.

Sources

Elaine Norman, West Indian Carnival, Our Brooklyn