The West Indian Day Parade/Carnival,also known as the West Indian Labor Day Parade attracts millions of people each year to Brooklyn,NY. The celebration which is held annually on the first Monday in the month of September, attracts not only spectators of Carribean heritage,but people of all backgrounds from around the world. The biggest parade in New york city,The West Indian American Day Carnival will awaken one's cultural senses with colorful peacock-feathered enhanced costumes,mouth-watering Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken and friend plantains, and infectious music. Here are a few guidelines to make your parade day experience a wonderful one:
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- Come out early. The parade gets bigger each year with over 2 million participants on the[Easten Brooklyn] Parkway. Police crowd barriers make it difficult to walk around, so you should find a good spot early where you can see clearly. You should be very patient; the thickness of the crowd makes things move slowly.
- Dress comfortably. Wear shoes that you can walk long distances in. people will be stepping on your toes so open toe sandals are not recommended.
- Drink plenty of water. The sun will be on your head for hours, coupled with the crowds; it is easy to get dehydrated. Some people have been known to faint from being overwhelmed with heat so it is important to stay cool.
- Bring your flag! Represent your country with your national flag or rag.
- Get plenty of rest. People have suffered from exhaustion and dehydration in the past.
- HAVE FUN! Carnival time is a time for celebration. There is no room for sour faces. Come out and enjoy yourselves[Guidelines provided by WIADCA]
In the 1920s, immigrants from Trinidad and other Caribbean islands with a carnival tradition began celebrating Carnival in private spaces in Harlem. These celebrations took place during the traditional pre-Lenten period. In the mid-1940s, Trinidadian Jesse Waddle (sometimes spelled Wattle) organized a street festival held on Labor Day, on 7th Avenue in Harlem. The parade permit for Harlem was revoked in 1964 following a disturbance. Five years later, a committee headed by Carlos Lezama obtained permission to parade on Eastern Parkway. That committee became the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association, now a well-established organization(SOURCE)
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