Get ready for New York Caribbean Carnival 2015! On Thursday, Sept 3, the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) will kick off New York Caribbean Carnival, with a unique Caribbean Freedom Festival, featuring KES the Band, costume competitions and Herbet Holler & the Freedom Party NYC.
On Friday, Sept. 4, the annual Stay In School Concert and College Fair begins at 10 am and the popular Brass Fest concert (8 pm) features Ricardo Drue (2015 Antigua Soca Monarch), Lyrikal (Trinidad), Skinny Fabulous (St. Vincent 2015 Soca & Power Monarch), Pressure Busspipe (Virgin Islands), Ravi B (Trinidad 2015 Chutney Soca Monarch) and headliners Bunji Garlin (2013 Soul Train Award recipient), Soca diva Fay-Ann Lyons & the Vikings Band, hosted by DJ Redman (107.9FM) and MC Wassy.
Saturday, Sept. 5, starts off with Junior Kiddies Carnival (9 am) then enjoy sweet steel pan music at the annual Panorama showcase (8 pm), where 11 steel orchestras vie for the 2015 Steel Band Champion title. On Sunday, Sept. 6 WIADCA will showcase the legends in Caribbean music with performances by the Mighty Sparrow, David Rudder, Swallow (Antigua) and Edwin Yearwood (Barbados 2015 Sweet Soca Monarch) and others, plus the King & Queen of the Bands Competition and Something Positive Inc. All events will run through Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day), ending with New York Caribbean Carnival, North America’s largest street parade/dance party on Eastern Parkway from 11 am – 6 pm.
This year’s Grand Marshals include: Hon. Sylvia G. Ash, Supreme Court Justice & Chairperson at the Municipal Credit Union (MCU), Kenneth E. Mapp, Governor of the US Virgin Islands and Earl Phillips, Secretary/Treasurer/TWU Local 100. Other notables expected to walk in the line-up are: NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo, NYC Mayor Bill deBlasio, Brooklyn DA Kenneth Thompson, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, Speaker of the NY City Council Melissa Mark-Viverito, WIADCA’s President Thomas Bailey, members of the Caribbean Consular Corp, several corporate sponsors and many others.
WIADCA sponsors are: Guinness, Con Edison, Healthfirst, Delta Airlines, Emblem Health, MoneyGram, Brooklyn Museum, NYSCA, WBLS 107.5FM, TWU, CUNY, Caribbean Life, UFT, WPIX-11, Irie Jam Media 93.5FM, 103.9FM, Daily News, MCU, Bacardi USA, McDonald’s, Bartenura, Hot 97FM, Interfaith Hospital, XM Rum, MYX, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NY City & NY State Parks & Recreation and NY City Council.
“We are delighted to have the support of all of our returning and new partners for our 48th Annual New York Caribbean Carnival festivities. These relationships help to highlight diversity, strengthen our presence and reinforce our commitment to the community by celebrating the contributions of Caribbean heritage and showcasing our Caribbean cultural pride to the world. WIADCA’s contributions over the years have proven to be a dependable and successful annual economic stimulus, generating over $100 million in revenue and profitable opportunities to local businesses throughout Brooklyn, the City and State of New York,” says Thomas Bailey, WIADCA’s president.
For information, vending, volunteer, please call 718-467-1797 or visit wiadc
* “WIADCA on the MOVE” presents Pop-up, Carnival in Coney Island (Friday, Aug. 7, Sept. 11 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm) and Brooklyn Bridge Park (Friday, Aug. 21 from 6 – 8 pm).
