Hundreds of thousands of revelers flocked to Crown Heights on Sept 1. to shake a tail-feather and scarf a jerk-chicken leg or five as part of the annual West Indian American Day Parade.
Borough President Adams presided as grand marshal and Mayor DeBlasio and his family marched down Eastern Parkway among dancers, dragons, and the many flags of the Caribbean. The first family took a moment mid-march to reprise their “Smackdown” group dance routine, the palm-licking, ground-slapping number first unveiled at last year’s parade in the run-up to the 2013 election. Gov. Cuomo was also spotted hoofing it with the procession and pressing the flesh along the barricades just eight days ahead of this year’s Sept. 9 primary.
The West Indian Day Parade tradition began in Manhattan in the 1920s and moved to Crown Heights in the late 1960s, where it has remained ever since. It regularly draws upwards of a million participants and spectators, and features the costumes, street food, and booming music of numerous Caribbean islands and countries on the Caribbean coast of South America.
Reach reporter Noah Hurowitz at nhurowitz@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4505. Follow him on Twitter @noahhurowitz
CUOMO-TION: Gov. Cuomo and Mayor DeBlasio meet and greet revelers taking in the West Indian American Day Parade.
Photo by Paul Martinka
LEADERS OF THE PACK: The DeBlasio–McCray family marches in the parade that drew hundres of thousands to Crown Heights.
Photo by Paul Martinka
SMACKDOWN: The first family shows off their patented dance routine.
Photo by Paul Martinka
FLAGS TO RICHES: Harmony Williams and her cousin Maya Webster wave Guyanese and American flags.
Photo by Paul Martinka
GALS ON PARADE: Women strutted their stuff in elaborate feather costumes
Photo by Paul Martinka
DRAGONFORCE: A dragon roars along the parade route. And get a load of the dragon commander’s gold lace down to his shoes!
Photo by Paul Martinka
FEATHER THE STORM: She’s more than just channeling a peacock — she’s wearing one!
Photo by Paul Martinka
STUDS AND DUDS: A dancer incorporated punk rock spikes and studs into her elaborate costume.
Photo by Paul Martinka
HE’S GOT GAME: This guy got in on the action, too.
