Ready to party on the Parkway

Ready to party on the Parkway|Ready to party on the Parkway|Ready to party on the Parkway|Ready to party on the Parkway
Photo by Sean Murphy|Photo by Sean Murphy|Photo by Sean Murphy|Photo by Sean Murphy

The carnival festivities are almost here.

The newly created Brooklyn-based carnival band StronJeh International debuted the launch of their band with a carnival preview at the Floyd Bennett Legion Campus in Mill Basin on May 19. The band’s “Party on the Parkway” event showed off the new styles they have in store for the West Indian American Day parade in September and what they could create together, said the organizer.

“This is our first band launch joining under the name StronJeh — we decided this was best instead of hopping around different bands and doing our own thing, and see what we can bring together,” said executive costume designer Edward Connor.

The new styles made their debut at the event, giving guests a chance to see what trends will be at the West Indian American Day parade.
Photo by Sean Murphy

About 41 costumes and designs were modeled, and many were eye-catching and colorful but there was one particular look that the guests loved, said Connor.

“All the costumes got a different reaction but Buenos Dias individual — the crowd roared from the beginning to end,” he said.

And even the models enjoyed a great time wearing the designs, said a representative with StronJeh.

High brow: Several of the designs are very elaborate and eye-catching.
Photo by Sean Murphy

“The models were very excited backstage and happy to wear and show the pieces,” said Sonia Forde.

Guests were also thrilled with the new styles, said Forde, and she also said that the varying designs gave potential buyers diverse options to choose from this summer.

“A lot of people were very excited with every costume and seeing all the colors come to life,” she said. “There’s a new look every summer and everyone wants a costume to match.”

Queens of the Parkway: The jazzed and bejweled costumes expected to be seen on Eastern Parkway on Labor Day.
Photo by Sean Murphy

Reach reporter Alexandra Simon at (718) 260–8310 or e-mail her at asimon@cnglocal.com.