Celebrating its 17th Annual Folk Festival Family Fun Day on Sept. 2, the Guyana Cultural Association New York, Inc. (GCA), will for the first time, present a children’s costume band to celebrate Guyana’s rich cultural heritage under the theme “Spirit of our Festivals.”
Claire A. Goring, expert costume designer and cultural director of GCA, told Caribbean Life, that the costume band will consists of “Mashramani — We Come Out to Celebrate,” “Deepavalli — From Darkness Comes Light,” “Phagwah — Winter is over,” “Nature Rejoices” and “Crouching Dragon Hidden Dragon.”
Goring, who has over 50 years in the designing arena, leads a team that includes Mwanza Glen, Clive Prowell Grace Hale, and seasoned Trinidadian designer, Preston Paul. She said the group experimented with a wide color palette to create the pieces that express the perennial stories of “our festivals.”
Created for kids between the ages of 6 – 14 with 15 pieces in each section, will depict national community festivals, within the Festival Arts of Guyana.
Goring, known for her intricate and innovative creations, will bring the theme to life with a burst of glitter, sequins, beads, and streamers, matched with beautiful headpieces, befitting the embellished costumes, that are cut from colorful fabric.
The parade that will assemble at 10 am at Canarsie Park, at Remsen and Seaview avenues in Brooklyn, will depart at 11 am, and make its way along Seaview Avenue, to Pardegat Avenue North and into the PacPlex Complex.
Revelers will then display the festival pieces on the PacPlex ground where the family fun day will include performances and other festivities.
The team is inviting parents to call as soon possible to obtain one of the limited historic pieces that will light up the streets as part of GCA’S weekend of activities.
The committee wishes to thank sponsors, Fly Jamaica Airways, Con Edison, MetroPlus, New York City Council on the Arts, NY Tutorial Support Group, the Bishop’s High School Alumni Association NY Tri-State Chapter, and NYC Council Member Mathieu Eugene, Jumaane Williams, and Alan Maisel, for their continued support.
Organizers could be reached at any of these numbers 718-209-5207, 347-451-2663, 718-930-9256, and 718-775-4956, for costumes.
