CROWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WPIX)—
The sounds of steel drums and smells of ethnic food flows down Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway on Monday in celebration of the 42 Annual West Indian American Day Parade and Carnival.About 1 to 3 million spectators waving the national flags of Grenada, Trinidad and Barbados, among other countries, are expected to line the street on Labor Day in city's biggest celebration of Carribbean pride and culture.
Revelers were also able to sample ethnic foods from the island countries, like Jamaican jerk chicken and Bajan fried flying fish.
But the West Indian heritage festivities began on Saturday with a special Kiddie Carnival, which was followed by a Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday) celebration.
Monday's parade was prefaced with a J'Ouvert Parade, an homage to steel pan drums beating to the native rhythms calypso and reggae of at 3 a.m., which will continue on until the parade's kickoff just before noon.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. on Schenectady Avenue and runs along Eastern Parkway to Grand Army Plaza. Along with music and food, paradegoers can expect to see dancers clad in colorful, elaborate handmade costumes going down the Brooklyn street.
The parade is one block shorter than last year and will end at about 6 p.m.
