West Indian American Day Parade 2020: Labor Day Carnival Goes Virtual Due To COVID-19 Pandemic

The Labor Day Parade or West Indian Carnival is an annual celebration held on American Labor Day on the first Monday in September in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York City. West Indian American Day Parade 2020 will fill a “virtual road” this year rather than the streets of Brooklyn on September 7.

The main event is the West Indian Day Parade, which attracts between one and three million participants. The observers and participators watch and follow the parade on its route along Eastern Parkway. Some of the Caribbean islands represented in the parade incorporate Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Saint Vincent, and Grenada, alongside some Afro-Panamanians. mainland Caribbean nations, for example, Guyana, Suriname, and Belize partake also.

The West Indian American Day Carnival Association has declared plans for two virtual events to supplant its usual Labor Day Weekend parade through Crown Heights.

That is in case you’re one of the assessed a huge number of revelers that turn out every year to march in the Labor Day Parade – a blast of color and music celebrating Caribbean legacy along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. This year, parade organizers and lawmakers are asking that you celebrate from home.

The virtual celebrations will let revelers participate in the Caribbean Carnival from a safe distance as the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency keeps on restricting enormous in-person events.

“You can expect the same festivity, the same energy, that vibrancy that is typically associated with the feel of a carnival,” said Shyka Scotland, general member of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association.

The group has organized a series of virtual events throughout the weekend that are intended to reproduce the feel and look of the parade from the security of home. Zoom parties will be held – costume required on the off chance that you want to be featured – and local lawmakers, including Council-member Laurie Cumbo and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, are as of now in the spirit.

“[It’s] an experience that requires No curtain, No fancy stage, just pure LOVE, and Vibes,” organizers wrote.

The celebration will commence with a virtual music festival on Friday evening and proceed with a day-long event on Monday.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have canceled the lively event, yet the party despite everything lives on. The celebration of Caribbean culture will take center stage virtually over 10 hours.

Not even COVID could stay quiet about all the ability as children pre-taped their performances for the Carnival youth event this year as it was broadcast online beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday.

From 5-16 years of age, the youthful stars sang and danced and played their hearts out. Each of the 25 productions was taped a month ago, edited, and afterward streamed today.

While it’s not a live performance with all the energy of groups cheering on, the silver lining is that watchers, fans, and family from far away could watch the virtual talent show – and there was a ton of ability to show.

“They are the future of keeping this culture alive. Essential we were able to showcase them this year on a virtual platform,” said event organizer Shyka Scotland.

On Monday, the 53rd Annual West Indian American Day Carnival parade will occur, yet as opposed to filling Eastern Parkway with the colors, sounds, and tastes of the islands, the show will go on virtually on Zoom – the new normal for 2020.

“Tune into tomorrow to see how we turn something that should be on the streets to a virtual world,” added Scotland.