The annual West Indian Day Parade is one of New York City’s most colorful and popular celebrations, drawing an annual crowd estimated in the millions. Painted, plumed and spangled participants celebrate along Easter Parkway from Schenectady Avenue to Grand Army Plaza.

The parade tradition started as the Trinidad Carnival Pageant in 1947 in Harlem, but moved to Brooklyn in 1969 — a few years after New York City revoked the parade permit in Manhattan. Crown Heights has been a center of Caribbean culture in the city since the 1930s, and with the parade move to Eastern Parkway it expanded to include foods and traditions from other Caribbean islands. A separately organized pre-dawn street party, J’ouvert, has also became part of the Labor Day tradition.

In response to the tragic events of last year, the NYPD increased the police presence from 1,400 last year to over 3,400 officers at this years events. However, violence once again broke out near J’ouvert with four people shot, two killed.

Despite the early morning tragedy, the afternoon parade went on as scheduled. After viewing colorful images from the day, here are our top Instagram picks.


10. Stilt Walker
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ89udQjKvD/?taken-by=dianeallford”]


9. Body Painting
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BKA1pxkjQ5G/?taken-by=sespin”]


8. Joyous Parade
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_nuu0DFhI/?tagged=brooklyncarnival”]


7. Bejeweled Profiles
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BKAKHNohUBT/?taken-by=iampetercooper”]


6. Brilliant Plumage
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_5gntDe-N/?taken-by=louis_jphotos1″]


5. Jamaican Portrait
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_p97yDKOq/?tagged=westindiandayparade”]


4. Brilliant Flame
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_ssN1jGmU/?tagged=westindiandayparade”]


3. Happiness
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_bG1DjfoL/?taken-by=santimejia_”]


2. Swirl of Color
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_gqFxgmeL/?taken-by=galbores”]


1. Man in Green
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_m9CbBL1g/?taken-by=milohessphoto”]

Related Stories
Photos From This Weekend’s Spectacular West Indian Day Parade
History of the West Indian Day Parade and 1028 St. Johns Place
J’ouvert: See the Party Before the West Indian Day Parade (Photos)

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