West Indian American Day Parade steps off in Brooklyn under beautiful Labor Day conditions
J'Ouvert and the West Indian American Day Parade and Festival returned to Brooklyn on Monday.
Organizers said this year's theme was "MAS," which stands for music, action and soul.
An estimated 1 million people took part in the festivities under beautiful Labor Day conditions. There were flashy feather-covered sights and flags of more than 12 nations and territories as far as the eye could see.
"The food, the music, dancing, everybody just meeting different people from different cultures. That's the best thing about," parade goer Munir Griffin said.
"The weather is beautiful. The vibes are immaculate. I'm having the best time," said Anaya Dawkins, a tourist from England.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani was up early and had breakfast message to organizers and the public.
"It is a mosaic of a diaspora that has given this city so much. To show that this city would not be the city we love were it not also for this diaspora. Thank you all so much," Mamdani said.
When is the West Indian American Day Parade?
J'Ouvert, an early morning celebration signaling the start of Carnival, took place from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the parade stepped off immediately after. It was scheduled to last until 5 p.m.
The events are held each year on the first Monday in September, coinciding with Labor Day.
Street closures in Brooklyn on Sept. 7
The city Department of Transportation has announced the following street closures:
West Indian American Day Parade Route
- Eastern Parkway between Ralph Avenue and Plaza Street West
J'Ouvert Festival Route
- Eastern Parkway between Ralph Avenue and Plaza Street West
- Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza and Empire Boulevard/Ocean Avenue
- Empire Boulevard between Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Avenue
- Nostrand Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Rutland Road
Additional Embargo Location(s):
- Grand Army Plaza (Entire Circle)
- Butler Place between Grand Army Plaza and Sterling Place
- St. Johns Place between Underhill Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
- Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza and Caton Avenue
- Washington Avenue between Sterling Place and Lincoln Road
- Bedford Avenue between Eastern Parkway and Empire Boulevard
- Rochester Avenue between East New York Avenue and Sterling Place
- Buffalo Avenue between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
- Ralph Avenue between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
- Ocean Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Parkside Avenue
- Nostrand Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Linden Boulevard
- Eastern Parkway (Main & Service Roads) between Plaza Street East and Howard Avenue
- Lincoln Place between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
- Rockaway Parkway between East New York Avenue and Kings Highway
- East New York Avenue between Howard Avenue and Utica Avenue
- Parkside Avenue between Park Circle and Flatbush Avenue
West Indian American Day Parade security
There were 13 entry points where spectators were screened for prohibited items, such as alcohol, weapons, drones and more. Those entry points opened at 2 a.m.
City officials said there were more than 300 emergency officials and community safety volunteers were deployed to hotspot locations along the parade route.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said NYPD officers were positioned along the route, and aviation units, mounted units, the bomb squad, counterterrorism teams and NYPD drones were also on hand.
The NYPD increased security measures for this year's events after violence in years past. In 2025, five people were shot and two were slashed in the hours after the parade, and in 2024, one man was killed and four others were hurt in a shooting during the parade.
There were at least two shootings and four stabbings near the parade route on Monday, police said.
