West Indian Day Parade 2019: What You Need To Know

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — The West Indian Day Parade will bring calypso music, floats and hoards of feather-clad revelers stomping down the Streets of Brooklyn Monday afternoon.

The daylong festival will bring calypso music, paint-throwing and long line of colorful floats to Eastern Parkway on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 2, city officials said.

Here's what you need to know:

When and where is the West Indian Day Parade?
The West Indian Day Parade officially kicks off at noon and will proceed on Eastern Parkway from Ralph Avenue to Grand Army Plaza, according to the NYPD.

What should I expect at the West Indian Day Parade?
The parade will bring a long column of floats with people dressed in colorful costumes and Caribbean music playing. Official vendors will sell West Indian food, clothing and goods. Find out more on the West Indian Carnival Association website.

What kind of security will there be and why?
Top-level security measures will be in place this year following years of fatal shootings — including that of Andrew Cuomo's aide Carey Gabay — at the pre-dawn festival.

As they did last year, the NYPD will set up 13 secure entry points to screen for weapons and alcohol and to insure festivities do not begin before 6 a.m. Backpacks and large bags will not be allowed and the NYPD will install extra security cameras along the two-mile route.

The formation area and parade route will be closed Sunday evening.

How do I get there?
You can take the 2, 3, 4, 5, Q and shuttle trains to various points along the parade route, but crowds and the MTA's holiday schedule might mean the trip takes longer than you'd expect.