J'ouvert street closures start Sunday night before West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn on Monday
NEW YORK -- The pre-dawn celebration called J'ouvert that leads into the West Indian Day Parade is just hours away and many participants were busy Sunday night with last-minute preparations.
CBS2's Thalia Perez has more from Grand Army Plaza, where the festival will take place Monday.
The celebration is back in Brooklyn for the first time since the pandemic began. Police barricades were up Sunday night as preparations continued.
Police are promising the festivities will be safe for the thousands who are expected to participate.
During the final hours before the festivities, seamstresses were putting the finishing touches on the costumes the people in their group will be wearing.
"It's my first J'ouvert here in New York. I am originally from Trinidad," seamstress Marilyn Gaymes said.
Gaymes said more than 100 men and women in her group will wear the outfits inspired by Afro-Brazilian culture. They're portraying the "Lavagem," or cleansing festival.
Ebony Jewels was trying on her costume for the first time.
"I'm just going to be one of the masqueraders. My top is a crop top that matches this with lots of pearls lots of white and nice beautiful flower headpiece," Jewels said.
READ MORE: NYPD outlines security for J'ouvert and West Indian Day parade in Brooklyn
Cotton, tulle, lace and flowers are among the materials being used. They are the J'ouvert traditions organizers told Perez date back to the 1880s in Trinidad and Tobago.
"We started working on this a year ago. It takes some time to source the material and research," lead costume designer Kandell Julien said.
"I'm hoping and praying that we have a great J'ouvert, that everyone is safe and that everybody has a good time because that's what we want to happen," Sandra Bell said.
Gun and gang violence has marred the celebration in years' past. Security will be tight for the festival. Officials say there will be 13 entry points with metal detectors, and everyone will be screened for weapons and alcohol, something that began during the last official J'Ouvert -- pre-COVID -- in 2019.
The West Indian Day Parade is expected to step off at 6 a.m. and march southbound on Flatbush Avenue.
