Caribbean Carnival In New York City Gets Underway Today

The 2013 queen of carnival Kay Mason, from the band Borokeete, portraying “Celebration of Darkness to Light thursday night at the Brooklyn Museum. Thecostume was designed by Follette Eustace. (William Farrington/WIADCA Photo)

News Americas, BROOKLYN, NY, Thurs. Aug. 28, 2014:  Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will today help kick-off the beginning of the annual five-day celebration of Caribbean carnival in New York City – the West Indian American Day Carnival.

North America’s largest carnival turns 47 this weekend and will get underway officially at 3 p.m. today with ‘The Stay in School Youth Fest,’ a free program, presents an opportunity for young people to showcase their artistic talents on stage to approximately 3,000 attendees.

This evening, the party will commence with the ‘Caribbean Woodstock’ on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum at 200 Eastern Parkway, featuring some of the best Caribbean talent including Skinny Banton of Grenada singing his hit single ‘Saltfish;’ Adrian Dutchin of Guyana; Problem Child of St. Vincent singing his Vincy Ragga Soca tune ‘Obsession;’ Ricardo Drue of Antigua; Surette Bon Bon of Haiti; Mickey and Statement of Barbados; Zouk & the Gang from Guadeloupe; Mr. Famous from Trinidad and Jamaica’s own reggae superstar Tarrus Riley. Showtime is 7 p.m. – 1 a.m. and gates will open at 6 p.m.

Tomorrow night, Friday, August 29th, the celebration of Caribbean music continues with Brass Fest, featuring for the first time from Ghana, Blakk Rasta (Barak Obama) and from the Caribbean, Teddyson John and the TJ Project, Red Fyah Band, Skinny Fabulous (Behavin’ de Worse), Lyrikal (Conquer Meh), Patrice Roberts, Farmer Nappy (Big People Party), Rayzor (Sponsor Meh), Da Big Show, Mr. Killa (Rolly Polly) and headliner Machel Montano HD (EPIC, Ministry of Road).  Showtime is 8 p.m. – 3 am and gates on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum at 200 Eastern Parkway will open at 6 p.m.

Chyna Cambridge, 13, parading on Franklin Avenue with the D’Midas Internation costume band, saturday, in the Childrens Carnival, part of the West Indian Labor Day celebrations. (William Farrington/WIADCA Photo)

On Saturday morning, August 30th, it will be time for the children of Caribbean immigrants and the Caribbean to showcase their culture with the Kiddies Carnival Parade from Kingston Avenue and St. John’s Place to Franklin Avenue and President street at the Brooklyn Museum from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Steel pan enthusiasts are in for a treat as Panorama 2014 takes the stage on Saturday night on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum as the finest steel orchestras in NY gather to present a competitive steelband show down to win the 2014 Panorama Championship crown. The Gate will open at 6 pm and show time will be 8 p.m. – 3 a.m.

On Sunday night, August 31, WIADCA will present the final concert on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum at 200 Eastern Parkway, Dimanche Gras. It will feature the King and Queen of the Bands competition, winners from previous nights, and featured  performances from Caribbean living legends, The Mighty Sparrow, King David Rudder and Lord Nelson along with Lima Calbio, Leon Coldero, Lennox Picou, Jeromy Rodriguez, T&T’s Junior Soca Monarch 2014, Something Positive Dance Troupe and the Sunshine Band.

Showtime is 7 p.m. – 1a.m. and gates will open at 6 p.m.

The crown jewel, the annual New York Caribbean Carnival, will get underway on Monday September 1, Labor Day Parade 2014, from Eastern Parkway and Schenectady Avenue to Flatbush Ext. with a fascinating display of carnival costume bands, masqueraders, moko jumbies, floats, delicious Caribbean cuisine and much more from , from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s carnival invited grand marshals are Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio, Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson and Monique Nelson, CEO at Uniworld Advertising Agency.

Founded by Trinidad-immigrant Carlos Lezama in 1967, the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association, (WIADCA), the carnival has annually taken over the neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, from Eastern Parkway and Schenectady Avenue to 200 Eastern Parkway & Washington Avenue in Brooklyn, home to millions of Caribbean nationals and Caribbean Americans.

For more information on the 2014 West Indian American Day carnival log on to https://wiadcacarnival.org/ or call 718-467-1797.