Vibrant Revelry at the West Indian Day Carnival Parade (Photos)

Brilliantly bedecked revelers danced in the streets on Monday in the annual West Indian Day Parade, one of New York City’s most colorful and popular celebrations. Millions of participants and observers celebrated in Crown Heights along the parade route, 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. This year, in response to tragic events of previous years, the start time for J’ouvert was moved forward to 6 a.m. and security was increased to improve safety.

After viewing hundreds of vibrant images from the day, here are our top Instagram picks.

10. Snapshot
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYqKvG5hGBe/”]

9. Glittering
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYpC4DsBKii/”]

8. Little Revelers
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYoete_nX5T/”]

7. Masked Bystander
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYoLsnBH288/”]

6. Brilliant Glow
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYnsRGwHyDn/”]

5. Bejewelled
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYolc3qH5E3/”]

4. Taking Over the Street
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYpCvumAG0N/”]

3. Brilliantly Feathered
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYotOH4nCmy/”]

2. Dancing in the Streets
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYpIf0zFLBV/”]

1. Sea of Purple
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYqG22Qg6XD/”]

Related Stories

• Joy, Plumage and Dancing at the 2016 West Indian Day Carnival Parade (Photos)
• Photos From 2015’s Spectacular West Indian Day Parade
• History of the West Indian Day Parade and 1028 St. Johns Place

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