Bronx Natives Boogie Down in Brooklyn at the West Indian Parade

By Isha Thorpe, Bronx Journal Reporter

This year’s West Indian Day Parade was another big hit, with thousands of people coming from all over New York City to join in the festivities. Set in Brooklyn, the parade inspired people from Manhattan, Queens and even the Bronx to come and represent their origins in the Caribbean. With its bright, festive colors, body swaying, foot-tapping music and great Caribbean food, the parade made an impression on all that attended.

Located on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, the parade really started hopping on the corner of Nostrand Avenue.

On the left, a beautiful Trinidadian woman struts her stuff down the parkway. On the right, Haitian drummers beat to the rhythm of the music and sing at the top of their lungs.

This Haitian marching band, with a variety of drums, trumpets and shakers in hand, gets the parade jumping! When asked about the parade, a Bronx native, who wanted to be known as Shemar, replied, “I know plenty of people that live in the Bronx who attend the parade." Asked what country he represented, Shemar said, “I represent Jamaica all the way" and that his favorite part of the parade was “when the Jamaican float came by.”

A man representing both Trinidad and Jamaica shows off his snake to the camera.

This colorful participant was one of several leading men at the West Indian Day parade who had all spotlights on them as they walked alongside floats. Beautiful!

A Vincentian man shines a huge smile for the camera as he walks with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines float.

A parade participant poses for the camera.

Repping Guyana and Jamaica hard, these Guyanese and Jamaican parade dancers back it up and show people how they really get down!

Grenadian dancers wave the Grenada flag with pride as they dance down the street.

Well what do you know? Senator Chuck Schumer pays the West Indian parade a visit!

Another amazing set of wings walks down Eastern Parkway.

Caribbean members of the National Association of Black Accountants joined in the festivities as well.

Even Ronald McDonald showed his support at the parade, waving both an Antiguan and a Trinidadian flag. I'm lovin' it!

Great costumes, music and dancing weren't the only things that attendees of the parade had to look forward to. Delicious Caribbean food was on offer down Eastern Parkway.

And there you have it! Brooklynites weren’t the only ones partying at the West Indian parade, with the other boroughs joining in. Perhaps one day, the parade can come to the Bronx. Until then, it looks like the Boogie Down will have to keep taking the party to the BK!