New York Carnival 2024, (called Labor Day Carnival by New Yorkers), is a full Caribbean Carnival in the Trinidadian “Mother of Caribbean Carnival” tradition cherished across the Caribbean and around the world. It is a family celebration of the West Indies’ unique African, Indigenous, and East Indian heritage, and most of all ~ FREEDOM!
New York Carnival 2024
Carnival is not just a parade. It is a series of community events. New York Carnival includes a Soca Concert, Soca Fest, Youth Fest and Junior Carnival Parade, a Steel Panorama, and a Dancehall Concert. It all builds to a climax at the West Indian Day Parade on Labor Day.
“Soca” is a Trinidadian blend of African and East Indian musical traditions. Trinidad’s largest ethnic community is of East Indian descent. Soca developed in the 1970s as sort of Trinidadian soul music.
Most Americans focus on the Parade, but preparations begin six months ahead. If you really want to experience Carnival, join a mas (masquerade marching group). Then you’ll know and love Carnival in its fullness as a family and community celebration. You will have an unforgettable experience and make lifelong friends.
Vibes With Voicey Soca Concert
New York Carnival presents the Vibes with Voicey “Graduation Tour” of West Indian soca featuring Voicey (Aaron “Voice”‘ St. Louis) and over 15 more soca artists; at the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Park; on Thursday, August 29, 2024, from 4pm – 12am. From $45. wiadcacarnival.org 🇹🇹 ~ 🇩🇲 🇬🇩 🇯🇲 🇳🇬 🇰🇳 🇻🇨
The Dress Code for the Graduation Tour is college attire with a touch of red.
The concert features:
- Voicey (Aaron “Voice”‘ St. Louis) 🇹🇹
- Nadia Batson 🇹🇹
- Kerwin Du Bois 🇹🇹
- Skinny Fabulous 🇻🇨)
- Asa Bantan 🇩🇲
- Mical Teja 🇹🇹
- Lyrikal 🇳🇬
- Ravi B (chutney) 🇹🇹
- Nailah Blackman 🇹🇹
- Pumpa 🇰🇳
- Adam O 🇻🇨
- VGHN 🇬🇩
- Jadel 🇹🇹
- Boyzie 🇬🇩
- Wadicks 🇹🇹
- GBM Nutron 🇹🇹
- Ding Dong (Jamaican dancehall) 🇯🇲
- Rane Blackman 🇹🇹
New York Carnival SocaFest
New York Carnival SocaFest features over 15 soca musicians at the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Park; on Friday, August 30, 2024 from 8pm – 3am. From $75. wiadcacarnival.org 🇹🇹
New York Junior Carnival Parade & Youth Fest
New York Carnival and the West Indian Day Parade are important teaching moments when we pass our communal heritage to our American children. Knowing where they come from serves young people throughout their lives. It actually makes them better Americans.
The New York Junior Carnival Parade marches from Kingston Avenue and St. John’s Place, through Crown Heights, to New York Carnival Youth Fest at the Brooklyn Museum; on Saturday, August 31, 2024, from 9am – 3pm. That’s a lot of parade. Wow! FREE to watch. Sign up for Youth Fest to march. 🇹🇹
The Junior Carnival Parade route is:
- Assembles at Kingston Avenue and St. John’s Place.
- West on St. John’s Place.
- South at Franklin Ave.
- West on President St
- To Youth Fest at the Brooklyn Museum
New York Carnival Youth Fest features live performances, mas characters, Junior King and Queen, and a back-to-school giveaway; at the Brooklyn Museum on Saturday, August 31, 2024, from 9am – 4pm. $12. eventbrite.com 🇹🇹
The Youth Fest entrance is on Eastern Parkway.
New York Carnival Panorama
New York Carnival Panorama, one of America’s largest steel pan competitions, is at the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Park; on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 7pm. $50. eventbrite.com 🇹🇹
Dancehall & Reggae Concert
The New York Carnival Dancehall & Reggae Concert features Sizzla Kalonsji, Spragga Benz, and YG Marley backed by The Firehouse Band; outdoors at the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Park; on Sunday, September 1, 2024 at 3pm. eventbrite.com 🇯🇲 🇯🇲 🇯🇲
- Sizzla Kalonsji (Miguel Orlando Collins) is a popular reggae singer from Kingston, Jamaica. @therealsizzlakalonji 🇯🇲
- Spragga Benz is a dancehall DJ from Kingston. @spraggabenz3 🇯🇲
- YG Marley is musical royalty, the American son of rapper Lauryn Hill and grandson of Bob Marley. @ygmarley 🇯🇲
J’Ouvert NYC
NYC’s J’ouvert Parade 2024, the main event of J’ouvert NYC 2024, marches from Nostrand Ave at Midwood St, to Empire Blvd, into Prospect Park, to Grand Army Plaza in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; on Labor Day Monday, September 2, 2024, at 6am. 🇹🇹
J’ouvert is a Caribbean Carnival celebration with French Trinidadian influences on the morning of Carnival Day. Basically people throw paint or colored powders on each other and just have a ball together. J’ouvert NYC is produced by New York City with the New York Police Department (NYPD).
West Indian Day Parade
The 57th West Indian Day Parade Brooklyn 2024 marches on Eastern Parkway from Lincoln Terrace Park to Grand Army Plaza with a presentation in front of the Brooklyn Museum. It’s in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; on Labor Day Monday, September 2, 2024, from 11am to 6pm. FREE. 🇹🇹
Sidewalks along the parade route become one giant West Indian street fair. The air smells delicious. The punch, jerk, and curry goat are excellent! Bring cash for great West Indian food, drinks, and artisanal crafts.
Trinidad Carnival
Trinidad Carnival is the “Mother of Caribbean Carnival” which is now loved around the world. Caribbeans love to joke and make fun. Trinidad Carnival began at home as families mocking the Mardi Gras masquerade balls held by French plantation owners. Trinidad has French influences from the time when the Spanish government invited settlers because it was afraid other Europeans would invade the empty land. Entire plantations moved to Trinidad from Haiti. When abolition arrived in 1838, Trinidad Carnival flowered into the beautiful celebration of freedom that we know today.
It’s a traditional Pre-Lenten festival, but February is too cold to wear carnival costumes outdoors, and the Carnival vibe cannot be confined indoors. New York City also has an English heritage, and many former English colonies celebrate Carnival away from Lent.
New York Carnival
New York Carnival (also called Labor Day Carnival) celebrates both Carnival and Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day which was August 31, 1962. Trinidad Carnival itself is a celebration of African heritage and freedom which arrived in full on the islands on August 1, 1838. It may also be related to the yam festivals of West and Central Africa that take place in August or September. All of this is part of why Black August is a celebration of freedom fighters.
The Festival brings around two million people to Brooklyn. You should go at least once in your New York life.
Every region, country, town, community, and family has its own unique Carnival traditions, but New York Carnival will be familiar to people throughout the Caribbean, including South America’s and Central America’s Caribbean coasts. The festival both draws on and influences many Caribbean traditions including: Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and Granada, Guyana, Suriname, and Belize.
By the way, “Trinbagonian” is the correct term for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. We use “Trinidadian” because that is what most Americans use. Tobago is a unique island with its own culture. You should definitely visit if you go to T&T.
Tickets and Information
New York Carnival is produced by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association.
Facebook @newyorkcarnival
Instagram @newyorkcarnival