Dancing revelers sparkled and shone in brilliant colors, sequins and feathers on Eastern Parkway on Monday at the annual West Indian Day Parade, one of New York City’s most dazzling and popular celebrations. Thousands — some put the count at about a million — 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 and 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, the festivities 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. Last year, 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. Feathers and Shades
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnStRb0nEEf/”]


9. Clear the Way
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnSCXDmjMtO/”]


8. Waiting Patiently
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRVb7en97t/”]


7. Burning Up the Parkway
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnSYPLzAArt/”]


6. Bold Statement
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnSjbjYHJOY/”]


5. Ready to Go
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRlpSpgEhY/”]


4. J’Ouvert Arrivals
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnSoR13jwlQ/”]


3. Color Mist
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRv5A3nKhb/”]


2. Getting Ready
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnR-CziFVML/”]


1. Bejeweled
[instagram_embedding url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BnR7R3uha5a/”]

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