Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photo: Sensational Costumes & Exultant Dancing Shine At The West Indian-American Day Parade
By
Scott Lynch
Published Sep 8, 2015
Modified Sep 8, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Scott Lynch / Gothamist
View all 77
By
Scott Lynch
Published Sep 8, 2015
Modified Sep 8, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
More than one million people poured onto Eastern Parkway yesterday for the West Indian-American Day Parade, the annual celebration of Caribbean heritage, culture, food, music and dance. To put that number in perspective, that's about as many people who live in the entire state of Montana, all throwing down on a three-quarter-mile stretch of Brooklyn, from Buffalo Avenue to Grand Army Plaza.
There was plenty of twerking and daggering, of course, and the music blasting from the trucks accompanying each of the specularly costumed crews was fantastically loud. Groups of giddy teenagers ran around flirting and laughing, lots of painted and powdered people were keeping the party going from last night's J'Ouvert festival, and "pop-up" food tents lined the avenue selling traditional Caribbean fare.
After violence before and during the J'Ouvert pre-parade street party, there were no reports of incidents along the route— though the NYPD was out in full force, occasionally slowing the pace of the parade by blocking the entire road with orange kettling nets.
The parade began with politicians, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Senator Chuck Schumer, who marched in a kind of random position away from the other VIPs, with an entourage of sign carriers. (De Blasio's and Cuomo's distance may have been strategic.) Next up were the corporate floats and, then, finally, more than two hours after the scheduled start, the big dance crews that make the Carnival such a popular spectacle.
Tagged
brooklyn
Crown Heights
twerking
west indian american day parade
west indian day parade
Scott Lynch
Photojournalist, food writer, preschool receptionist. Love NYC.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
An excellent and diverse month of concerts are in store for October.
By
Hank Shteamer
Published Oct 2, 2026
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .