MAIN Holidays & Observances Labor Day Carnival Parade

Catch all the color and excitement as millions of Brooklynites & New Yorkers line up along Eastern Parkway for the Brooklyn Labor Day parade on Monday, September 2, 2013.

This year, the West Indian American Day Parade & Carnival celebrates its 45th anniversary as it continues to enjoy the distinction of being New York City's biggest cultural festivals by far.

As in the past, count on crowds to be waving flags from Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, and other Caribbean nations in a joyful expression of ethnic heritage and cultural pride.

You don't have to be from the West Indies

Everyone's invited to take part in the spectacle of thousands of marchers in colorful costumes 'jumpin' down the parade route to the sounds of reggae and calypso.

A special added-attraction : the aromas of native foods like Jamaican jerk chicken, Bajan fried flying fish, and other soul-satisfying treats at the city's biggest street festival.

And that's just on Labor Day.

Takin' the weekend off

In fact, the entire weekend is devoted to special events — with a special Kiddie Carnival on Saturday, a Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday) celebration, and an early Monday morning (starting around 3AM) J'Ouvert parade, a celebration of steel pan drums that kicks off the main parade beginning at 11AM.

Around the Web, learn more about the West Indian Labor Day Carnival & Parade featuring history & fun facts, details and directions to the parade route, and tips & advice on best viewing areas ...as Brooklyn rocks to a Caribbean beat this Labor Day weekend :

West Indian American Day Carnival Association - The official site of the parade organizers, offering facts & information on the parade's history, this year's schedule & directions, news & press releases, picture gallery.

West Indian American Day Carnival & Parade - The full story at Jim's Deli including tips & advice on viewing along the parade route, best bets for food & drink, subway directions, contact details.

Our Brooklyn - West Indian Carnival History - Brooklyn Library fact sheet including a lovely overview, fun facts on parade music, Caribbean food vendors and background information on parade preparations, related photos.

Labor Day Carnival - Overview of parade history, related resources & photos from Wikipedia.

also see -> Caribbean Travel Guides

also see -> Black History Month | Cambridge Carnival

Junkanoo | Labor Day Sales