The West Indian American Day Carnival and Parade filled the streets of Brooklyn this Labor Day with music, color, and traditions rooted in Caribbean culture. "This is the 58th anniversary, and it's Vive Le Carnivale for 2025, giving life to carnival and the Caribbean culture," said Cecille Ford, board secretary of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, in an interview with CBS News. The celebration featured a Soca music festival, the Junior Carnival Parade, and the Panorama steelpan festival.
An ABC7NY report noted that last night’s Panorama in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights featured steelbands competing and bringing together people from various backgrounds. Anselma Joseph, originally from Trinidad, attended for the first time, stating, "I'm so excited, because I've never been to Panorama in Brooklyn. This is my first time, so I'm overjoyed. I'm excited to hear the pan." The event, held before the main parade.
The festivities were estimated to attract over a million spectators along a two-mile route beginning at Utica Avenue and ending near the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park. In response to prior security concerns, officials implemented more than a dozen checkpoints. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the operation as "the largest police deployment of the year." According to CBS News, this year’s NYPD presence was intended to exceed the levels typically seen during New Year’s Eve and July 4th events.
Local businesses also prepared to serve Caribbean cuisine during the festivities. Wayne Coc of Gee's, known for its Caribbean dishes, told CBS News, "Everything that you miss in the Caribbean, we have it." The West Indian Day Parade featured food, music, and dance, highlighting Caribbean traditions in Brooklyn.
