The Labor Day Parade (or West Indian Carnival) is an annual celebration held on American Labor Day (the first Monday in September) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
The main event is the West Indian Day Parade, which attracts between one and three million participants.[1] The spectators and participators watch and follow the parade on its route along Eastern Parkway. Some of the Caribbeanislands represented in the parade include Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and Grenada. Also represented are South American countries such as Guyana and Suriname and Central American country known as Belize.
Starting around 2-4:30 AM this September 1st, newly gentrifying residents of Crown Heights will be awoken to the loud sounds of steel pan drums, whistles, bells, and various other percussive instruments. Thats right, it’sJ’ouvert! The 45th West Indian Labor Day Parade (aka Carnival) kicks off with the early morning celebration of J’ouvert, (from Grand Army Plaza to Nostrand Avenue and Linden Boulevard) followed by the main parade at around 11 AM, starting Eastern Parkway from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza.
As the largest carnival celebration in the United States, participants know it’s all about celebrating life, happiness, and soca trucks with all your caribbean neighbors! If your not down for that, we suggest ear plugs, an early night in on Sunday, and avoiding the 2-5 trains in Brooklyn. Enjoy the fête!
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