J'ouvert & NYC West Indian American Day Parade 2024 in Brooklyn today. See the route map, street closures & more.
NEW YORK -- New York City's annual West Indian American Day Carnival and Parade is taking over the streets of Brooklyn this Labor Day.
We have everything you need to know about the route map and street closures, as well as the start time and the meaning behind what's considered the biggest party in Brooklyn.
Map shows West Indian Day Parade route 2024
The parade marches along Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. It starts at Utica Avenue near Lincoln Terrace Park, then heads west to Grand Army Plaza near the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park.
The route stretches about two miles along the parkway and typically attracts more than a million spectators.
The NYPD says police will have a strong presence, with 13 security checkpoints and drones above. They're also coordinating with local faith leaders and crisis management groups to keep things safe.
West Indian Day Parade street closures in Brooklyn
The following streets will be closed Sunday and Monday for the festivities.
- Grand Army Plaza (Entire Circle)
- Buffalo Avenue between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
- Rochester Avenue between East New York Avenue and Sterling Place
- Ralph Avenue between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
- East New York Avenue between Howard Avenue and Utica Avenue
- Eastern Parkway between Howard Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
- Washington Avenue between Sterling Place and Lincoln Road
- Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza and Caton Avenue
- Ocean Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Parkside Avenue
- Butler Place between Grand Army Plaza and Sterling Place
- St. Johns Place between Underhill Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
- Rockaway Parkway between East New York Avenue and Rutland Road
- Parkside Avenue between Park Circle and Flatbush Avenue
- Bedford Avenue between Eastern Parkway and Empire Boulevard
- Empire Boulevard between Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Avenue
- Nostrand Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Linden Boulevard
- Lincoln Place between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
What time does NYC West Indian Day Parade start?
The parade started at 10 a.m. on Sept. 2, following the pre-dawn celebration known as J'Ouvert. It's held each year on Labor Day, the first Monday in September.
Last year's event drew a large crowd of spectators taking in the colorful costumes, flavorful foods and sounds of calypso and steelpan bands.
This year's parade is expected to last several hours, ending around 6 p.m.
What is the meaning of J'Ouvert?
J'Ouvert is the early morning celebration that's held each year before the parade. It started before dawn, around 6 a.m., but some started celebrating Sunday night.
Its name comes from the French words, "jour ouvert," meaning daybreak or morning.
J'Ouvert signals the start of Carnival, a festival celebrating the vast Caribbean diaspora with street band music, dancing and more.
Celebration of West Indian countries and culture
This Brooklyn tradition dates back more than 50 years. It aims to foster a sense of unity and joy among attendees.
The West Indies are made up of three parts: the Greater Antilles, including Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico; the Lesser Antilles, including the Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia, Barbados and Grenada, among others; and the grouping of islands that includes the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago and Aruba.
Caribbean pride has been on display all weekend long, kicking off with a Junior Carnival for kids on Saturday morning, followed by the annual Panorama steelpan festival, the largest steelpan competition in North America.