Saint Lucians were among more than one million people who descended on the Eastern Parkway, New York, on Monday, for the annual Labour Day Carnival Parade in New York. Now in its 58th year, the West Indian parade is one of New York’s biggest summer festivals, celebrating Caribbean culture through music, food, and Carnival traditions.
Organised by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), the Labour Day weekend was filled with festivities, concerts and barbecues, unfolding into J’Ouvert morning at 2 a.m. ahead of the September 1 parade.
The theme for 2025 was “Vive Le Carnivale”, and according to Cecile Ford of WIADCA, “The Labour Day parade gives life to carnival and Caribbean culture.”
Among the attendees was New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has been attending the parade since he was 15.
Many Saint Lucians living in Brooklyn and other areas attended the Labour Day Parade, as well as others who had flown in for the holiday weekend. Saint Lucians typically congregate near Troy Ave and Eastern Parkway. This year was no exception as many savoured the Caribbean dishes on sale, with some bringing food prepared at home.
While Saint Lucia did not have an official truck or contingent as part of the parade, some participated in the various costumed bands. Shontelle, a Saint Lucian reveller, said that she looked forward to the event every year.
“My mom, who is from Saint Lucia, used to bring me here since I was about six, and as soon as I turned 18, I knew I had to be part of it. There is so much energy and excitement here that connects us all back to our roots in the Caribbean.”
