Caribbean Fever: Breaking Down the West Indian American Day Carnival

Discover the rich history, the colorful costumes and more.

Celebrate Good Times - Every August, millions of revelers from around the world descend on Brooklyn, New York, to celebrate the annual West Indian American Day Carnival. The five-day cultural festival features live concerts, colorful costumes and authentic cuisine, demonstrating a rich Caribbean legacy and the vibrancy of the region’s people. Keep reading to learn more about one of the country’s largest cultural celebrations.—Patrice Peck(Photo: ANDREW BURTON/LANDOV)

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Celebrate Good Times - Every August, millions of revelers from around the world descend on Brooklyn, New York, to celebrate the annual West Indian American Day Carnival. The five-day cultural festival features live concerts, colorful costumes and authentic cuisine, demonstrating a rich Caribbean legacy and the vibrancy of the region’s people. Keep reading to learn more about one of the country’s largest cultural celebrations.—Patrice Peck(Photo: ANDREW BURTON/LANDOV)

A New Home - The New York City West Indian American Day Carnival was birthed in the 1920s by Caribbean immigrants eager to continue their celebratory pre-Lent traditions. By the mid-1940s, the celebrations moved from private, indoor spaces to Seventh Avenue in Harlem, becoming a street festival held on Labor Day.(Photo: Daniel Barry/Getty Images)

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A New Home - The New York City West Indian American Day Carnival was birthed in the 1920s by Caribbean immigrants eager to continue their celebratory pre-Lent traditions. By the mid-1940s, the celebrations moved from private, indoor spaces to Seventh Avenue in Harlem, becoming a street festival held on Labor Day.(Photo: Daniel Barry/Getty Images)

Welcome to Brooklyn - When the city revoked the parade’s permit in 1964 following a disturbance, the festival moved to its current home, Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, in 1969. As president of the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), Carlos Lezama led the now well-established organization through many years of continued growth until he retired in 2001 at the age of 78.(Photo: Courtesy of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association)

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Welcome to Brooklyn - When the city revoked the parade’s permit in 1964 following a disturbance, the festival moved to its current home, Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, in 1969. As president of the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), Carlos Lezama led the now well-established organization through many years of continued growth until he retired in 2001 at the age of 78.(Photo: Courtesy of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association)

Changing of the WIADCA Guard - Yolanda Lezama-Clark, his daughter, was subsequently elected president, but quit in 2011 on the heels of a controversy involving NYPD officers posting hate messages on Facebook about the parade. Thomas Bailey replaced Lezama-Clark in 2012 and continues to head WIADCA today.(Photo: Courtesy of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association)

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Changing of the WIADCA Guard - Yolanda Lezama-Clark, his daughter, was subsequently elected president, but quit in 2011 on the heels of a controversy involving NYPD officers posting hate messages on Facebook about the parade. Thomas Bailey replaced Lezama-Clark in 2012 and continues to head WIADCA today.(Photo: Courtesy of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association)

A Jam-Packed Weekend - A number of events targeting a wide age range are held annually from the Thursday before Labor Day through the weekend, culminating in the jubilant parade on the holiday itself. Check out the WIADCA website for a detailed schedule of official events.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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A Jam-Packed Weekend - A number of events targeting a wide age range are held annually from the Thursday before Labor Day through the weekend, culminating in the jubilant parade on the holiday itself. Check out the WIADCA website for a detailed schedule of official events.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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The Early Bird Gets the Party Started - Although not organized by WIADCA, J’ouvert marks the unofficial start to the parade, kicking off around 2 a.m. on Monday. Pronounced “Joo Vay,” the predawn celebration—named after the French word for daybreak—features hand-pushed steel bands, other percussionist instruments, masqueraders wearing mud, powder, paint and oil and dressed up like celebrities and other costumed characters.(Photo: ANDREA DE SILVA/LANDOV)

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The Early Bird Gets the Party Started - Although not organized by WIADCA, J’ouvert marks the unofficial start to the parade, kicking off around 2 a.m. on Monday. Pronounced “Joo Vay,” the predawn celebration—named after the French word for daybreak—features hand-pushed steel bands, other percussionist instruments, masqueraders wearing mud, powder, paint and oil and dressed up like celebrities and other costumed characters.(Photo: ANDREA DE SILVA/LANDOV)

A Winding Route - The colorful parade can be viewed from Utica Avenue, where it proceeds along Eastern Parkway to Grand Army Plaza. Decked in extravagant costumes tailored months in advance, thousands of masquerade bands and camps, better known as mas, dance for miles atop and alongside themed floats as bystanders celebrate from the sidelines.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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A Winding Route - The colorful parade can be viewed from Utica Avenue, where it proceeds along Eastern Parkway to Grand Army Plaza. Decked in extravagant costumes tailored months in advance, thousands of masquerade bands and camps, better known as mas, dance for miles atop and alongside themed floats as bystanders celebrate from the sidelines.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Island Tunes - Music plays a significant role in the carnival. Calypso, soca, rap, reggae and several genres stemming from Caribbean culture connect the U.S.-based event to the islands from which it blossomed. During the popular Panorama competition, steel bands battle one another in the biggest and most skilled steel drum rivalry outside of Trinidad.(Photo: Alexandra Winkler/Landov)

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Island Tunes - Music plays a significant role in the carnival. Calypso, soca, rap, reggae and several genres stemming from Caribbean culture connect the U.S.-based event to the islands from which it blossomed. During the popular Panorama competition, steel bands battle one another in the biggest and most skilled steel drum rivalry outside of Trinidad.(Photo: Alexandra Winkler/Landov)

Some Food and Fashion on the Side - Set-up along the sidelines, vendors sell a wide-offering of Caribbean foods, such as rice and peas, jerk chicken, escovitch fish, oxtail, aloo pie, sugar cane and more. Clothing, artwork and other items from or inspired by the Caribbean and Africa can also be found from sidewalk sellers.(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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Some Food and Fashion on the Side - Set-up along the sidelines, vendors sell a wide-offering of Caribbean foods, such as rice and peas, jerk chicken, escovitch fish, oxtail, aloo pie, sugar cane and more. Clothing, artwork and other items from or inspired by the Caribbean and Africa can also be found from sidewalk sellers.(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Around the World - The West Indian Day Labor Day parade in New York City is one of many carnivals that take place year-round around the world. In addition to being held in Chicago, Cambridge and Baltimore, these annual events also take place in France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and other countries with large Caribbean communities, not to mention the nations from which carnival originated.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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Around the World - The West Indian Day Labor Day parade in New York City is one of many carnivals that take place year-round around the world. In addition to being held in Chicago, Cambridge and Baltimore, these annual events also take place in France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and other countries with large Caribbean communities, not to mention the nations from which carnival originated.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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The Cops and Carnival - The NYPD has also received its fair share of criticism regarding officers’ controversial involvement in the events over the years. After the 2011 parade, a video emerged showing several officers dirty dancing with festival dancers the same day that nine people were shot at or near the parade route. And nearly 20 police workers were punished for posting racist comments about the parade on a Facebook page in 2012. (Photo: ANDREW BURTON/LANDOV)

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The Cops and Carnival - The NYPD has also received its fair share of criticism regarding officers’ controversial involvement in the events over the years. After the 2011 parade, a video emerged showing several officers dirty dancing with festival dancers the same day that nine people were shot at or near the parade route. And nearly 20 police workers were punished for posting racist comments about the parade on a Facebook page in 2012. (Photo: ANDREW BURTON/LANDOV)

Violence Eclipses Past Parades - Fatal shootings, stabbings and other violence have marred the parade’s public image in recent years. In 2012, two were stabbed to death, while two others were shot. City officials and neighborhood communities have offered differing reasons for the notorious crime happenings, like personal disputes and alcohol. The police department has also accused the media of exaggerating the violence(Photo: ANDREW BURTON/LANDOV)

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Violence Eclipses Past Parades - Fatal shootings, stabbings and other violence have marred the parade’s public image in recent years. In 2012, two were stabbed to death, while two others were shot. City officials and neighborhood communities have offered differing reasons for the notorious crime happenings, like personal disputes and alcohol. The police department has also accused the media of exaggerating the violence(Photo: ANDREW BURTON/LANDOV)

Stay Safe and Have Fun - Traveling in a group, bringing fully-charged phones, dressing comfortably and avoiding confrontation are some of the advised methods of staying safe while enjoying the parade on Monday. Whether you are strutting down the Eastern Parkway or celebrating from the sidelines, the explosive cultural extravaganza that is the West Indian American Day Carnival is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.(Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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Stay Safe and Have Fun - Traveling in a group, bringing fully-charged phones, dressing comfortably and avoiding confrontation are some of the advised methods of staying safe while enjoying the parade on Monday. Whether you are strutting down the Eastern Parkway or celebrating from the sidelines, the explosive cultural extravaganza that is the West Indian American Day Carnival is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.(Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)