The West Indian Day Parade is the main part of New York City’s Caribbean Carnaval. It’s a series of events at and around the Brooklyn Museum over Labor Day Weekend that draws around two million people.
The Caribbean culture of the West Indian Day Parade is from Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and Grenada, Guyana, Suriname and Belize.
It’s Caribbean culture with French, Dutch, English and East Indian flavor. Soca, the popular music of Trinidad, is a blend of Caribbean calypso and East Indian rhythms.
- Thursday, August 29
Reggae Afrobeats Soca concert - Friday, August 30
Summer Jam Youth Fest concert
BrassFest - Saturday, August 31
Junior Carnival Parade
Steelband Panorama - Sunday, September 1
Dimanche Gras Carnival Sunday - Monday, September 2
8:30am VIP Breakfast
11am Parade
Shows are at the Brooklyn Museum. Prices go up on the day of.
Get tickets at wiadcacarnival.org
One of the most interesting events is the Catch Di Vibe Bus Tour of the local Mas Bands and Pan Yards the week before the Parade on Friday, August 23 at 7:30pm. $40
Reggae Afrobeats Soca concert
A concert of Jamaican Reggae, West African Afrobeat and Trinidadian Soca.
Tamara Ivey and Glitteratie host an Unda Di’ Stars show with Wayne Wonder, Nessa Preppy, Run Town and many more musicians. DJs too.
Thursday, August 29
6pm
$40+
Summer Jam Youth Fest concert
Young Devy hosts rising stars and popular DJs.
Friday, August 30 day
10am-1pm
FREE
BrassFest
Performances by KES, Skinny Fabulous, Farmer Nappy, Patrice Roberts, Lyrikal and more.
Friday, August 30 night
6pm
$65+
Junior Carnival Parade
Jemma Jordan hosts live performances by Junior Kings, Queens and band characters. This is how we pass the culture to our kids.
Saturday, August 31
9am to 4pm
$5
Junior Parade Route
From St. John’s Place at Kingston Avenue, to Franklin Ave to President Street ending at the Brooklyn Museum. Enter on Eastern Parkway.
Steelband Panorama
Nine of New York City’s finest steel orchestras compete for the 2019 Panorama Championship.
Invited bands include: Adlib, Casym, Despers USA, D’Radoes, Harmony Music Makers, Pan Fantasy, Philadelphia All Stars, Pan Evolution, and the Crossfire Steel Orchestra.
Saturday, August 31
Doors 6pm
Show 7pm to 3am
$45
Dimanche Gras
It’s Carnival Sunday “Dimanche Gras”.
The big party features kings and queens of the band, Ole’ Mas’ costumes, Panorama steel band champions, and Kaisokah Moko Jumbies.
The headliners are Calypso Rose, GBM Nutron, Tallpree and Lavaman.
Sunday, September 1
6pm
$35
Grand Marshals VIP Breakfast
Meet and greet NYC’s carnival community.
Monday, September 2
8:30am
$135
West Indian Day Parade
It’s the big event.
Monday, September 2, 2019
11am to 6pm
Parade Route
Food, drink and hand made products are for sale along Eastern Parkway. So bring some cash. It’s fun to walk around and try things. The curry goat is the best.
- Eastern Parkway
- Forming on Schenectady
- Grand Finale at the Brooklyn Museum
- Disbursing at Flatbush Avenue
Parade Tickets
You can watch the Parade for free along the route or get tickets to the VIP Luncheon in the Brooklyn Museum’s Glass Pavilion at 1pm for $110
