West Indian American Day Carnival & Parade
Schedule &
Directions
Monday September
4 2006
Eastern Parkway between Utica
Avenue & Grand Army Plaza | Brooklyn
Subway 
to Grand Army Plaza or Franklin Avenue 
to Grand Army Plaza or Franklin Avenue or Utica Avenue 
to Franklin Avenue or Utica Avenue 
to Franklin Avenue | There is no service to the Eastern
Parkway-Brooklyn Museum stop during this event
Getting off the subway at Grand Army Plaza
puts you at the end of the parade route in one of the most crowded
and controlled areas. Better choices are the Franklin or Utica
Avenue stops
Do Not Drive!
Info 718-467-1797 | West
Indian American Day Carnival Association
The Carnival and
Parade
The West Indian American Day
Carnival is the biggest parade, street fair or festival in New
York City, simply the biggest cultural event of the year. Hundreds
of floats and sound trucks, tens of carnival krewes in
rainbow-hued, peacock-feather-enhanced costumes and hundreds of
food and goods stands make this celebration of an ethnic
community's life in New York the highpoint of the festival year.
And it's not just on Labor Day, there are four days of events
and activities leading up to the big parade, most of them
including calypso and steel bands in one form or another
Viewing Some
people think the best place to view the parade is between the
Brooklyn Museum and Grand Army Plaza. True, this area gives some
great views, but you miss half the fun. We much prefer getting off
the subway at the Franklin Avenue stop and walking East along
Eastern Parkway for a few blocks, crossing over to the North side
of the Parkway, then walking back West toward Grand Army Plaza
Patience The going
is slow, very slow. It's estimated that 2 million people visit the
carnival sometime during the day; occasionally the police crowd
control barriers don't quite facilitate traffic and long lines of
people are forced through small openings. When you get a bit
frustrated grab a cold beverage and step back out of the way for a
few moments to catch your breath
Food and Drink
There's plenty of both. Stands line the North and South service
roads of the Parkway -- a huge West Indian street fair. See the
sights and sniff the smells: jerk chicken, fried chicken and
chicken stew; jerk pork, pork stew; BBQ beef, beef stew, oxtail
stew; collard greens and salads; rice and beans, red beans and
rice, rice and peas, chick peas and rice, black beans and rice;
curried goat and roti; conch fritters, fried flying fish, codfish
cakes, salt fish, baked fish; johnnycakes, callaloo and souse;
baked macaroni, macaroni and cheese, macaroni pie and macaroni
salad; cakes, pies and coconut bread. There's no alcohol at New
York City parades anymore, but you can still refresh yourself with
a ginger beer, mauby, sorrel drink or one of many fruit juices
Just an observation: West Indian
and other island food vendors appear to be among the most sanitary
conscious in the City. Trays of food are always covered and that
makes it awkward for those a bit unsure of trying something for
the first time. Don't be shy! Ask, point, talk. This is New
York City where for decades the people of the melting pot have
said: Try some of our food so you can get to know us a little
better
Other stands are
dominated by flags and banners of all West Indian countries, tee
shirts ("Trini Girls Are Best," "Grenada Numero Uno,"
"Belize Baby"), handicrafts and native art. There are
some of the usual street fair booths, but not many
The people are all
out for a great time and there are not many of the disturbances
that have been associated with other parades in the past few
years. Most folk seem to go out of their way to avoid problems --
everyone knows that it's hot and sticky and crowded and noisy --
and they make the best of it
Hint The sound
trucks are LOUD! Take along a pair of earplugs
Find
Out More
Do you really like carnivals? The folks at
Carnival.com have a great resource featuring events around the
country. Here's what they
have to say about the Brooklyn
West Indian American Day Carnival
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