The 2013 West Indian Day Carnival

http://www.wiadca.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BrooklynLaborDayCarnival

I think the event on EP is among the largest, but there is a whole schedule of carnivals that happen throughout the year:

http://carnivalinfo.com/2012/10/caribbean-carnival-dates-2013-3/

I don't know if they are interested in issuing Press Credentials, so much as wanting to woo potential people who are going to write about them with a free dinner.

I imagine they want to create an opportunity to impress such people that they are doing everything they can to work closely with the police and make this a safe event, and distance themselves from the armed, intoxicated, young men who marr it.

I will.

I am confident I can remain objective despite any free, yummy, jerk chicken they may bestow upon me.

I'll send what they sent me to your inbox.

As a woman, you may stand a better chance of remaining objective in the event that the person serving said jerk chicken is covered solely by sparkles.

Tomorrow is the aforementioned event. In this instance, "special guest" means "curious onlooker":

West Indian American Day Carnival Association Launches New York Caribbean Carnival 2013

Brooklyn NY, July 11, 2013—The West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) now in its 46th year, is set to launch its five-day Caribbean Carnival schedule for 2013. The events which are carded for August 29th through September 2nd, will feature cultural displays and entertainment from all the Caribbean Islands.

President of WIADCA, Thomas Bailey, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz; Caribbean-American elected officials; corporate sponsors and special guests are expected to attend the official launch at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn on Thursday 11th July, 2013 at 12:00 noon, where the theme and format for this year's events will be revealed. A networking reception will follow later that afternoon hosted by WIADCA with its partners, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and St Francis College and will be held at St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights at 6:00 pm.

This annual event has become the largest cultural festival in the country, drawing over three million people each year. New York residents and international visitors all assemble to attend one of the greatest shows on earth that kicks off annually on the Thursday before Labor Day. These events features live performances, King, Queen and individual masqueraders of the band competitions, a night dedicated to Steelpan (Panorama) competition and concludes with a colorful parade of the bands on Labor Day, where thousands of masqueraders in elaborate costumes followed by gigantic music trucks and scores of colorful floats take to Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Zouk, Latin, Chutney and Steelpan can be heard throughout the five days of festivities. Additionally, the air is filled with tantalizing aromas of delicious Caribbean Cuisine from hundreds of vendors that line both sides of Eastern Parkway. The Carnival Parade begins at 11 am from Schenectady Ave to Grand Army Plaza, ending at 6:00 pm.

The events leading up to the Carnival Parade include:

1. Caribbean Woodstock - Features masquerade competitions and performances by artists from over a dozen Caribbean Islands, performing Soca, Calypso, Reggae, Zouk and Latin music.

2. "Stay in School” - Youth Talent Show - FREE for all children

3. Brass Fest – An electrifying musical performance with headliner Machel Montano HD and others

4. Steelpan Panorama competition - Featuring a special guest performance by New York University's Steel Orchestra.

5. Junior Carnival - Masquerade parade and competition for children under the age of 16

6. Dimanche Gras - Features world renowned panists - Robert Greenidge, Andy Narell and Liam Teague, along with an exciting all-star cast and much more.

WIADCA is a 501 © 3, tax-exempt not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting Caribbean culture to enrich our communities and engages in year-round educational, social and cultural activities.

WIADCA Website is: www.wiadcacarnival.org. Email: [email protected]. Telephone: 718-467-1797. Address: 323 Rogers Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225.

This event is merely ONE of many events which attempts to define the organization's role in the scope of the overall weekend.

Every year, the organization has an epic PR task. Some year's, it is more successful than others...

WIADCA is now sending out daily press updates, emphasizing that they are sponsoring a variety of events, and demonstrating that they are not to be defined by J'ouvert (an event that they have nothing to do with), or the parade (an event they have something to do with, but no one is really in control of...)

MEDIA RELEASE

Caribbean Carnival 2013 launches in Brooklyn NY

Monday 15th July, 2013: Awestruck spectators and scores of press representatives thronged the courtyard of Brooklyn Borough Hall this past Thursday as dozens of costumed masqueraders in a hue of colors paraded on the plaza and steps to the sweet rhythm of steel pan music. The show was staged by the West Indian Day American Carnival Association (WIADCA) to launch the 46th production of the annual 5-day cultural Festival.

Government officials and business persons were present to endorse the event, which was MC’d by Ian ‘Goose’ Eligon who introduced the exuberant Borough President, Marty Markowitz, followed by elected officials Jumaani Williams, Letitia James, Frank Seddio, Chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party and others. Deputy Consul General of Antigua & Barbuda Omyma David represented the diplomatic corps at the speakers’ podium along with Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s President & CEO, Carlo Scissura, who pledged the Chamber’s support to WIADCA and Brooklyn business-woman Dolly Williams. This will be the first year that the Carnival, (which goes down Eastern Parkway and generates a lot of business for Brooklyn), will have a partnership with the Chamber. Mr. Scissura, explained “the Chamber would help raise money for the Carnival, by encouraging merchants to offer Carnival-related deals and help sponsor events.

Thomas Bailey, President of WIADCA announced the theme of the Carnival “Celebrating Caribbean Pride and Culture” and encouraged the New York business and general community to get involved in sponsorships, or volunteering time and resources. He listed the impressive line-up of events for 2013 including:

1. Caribbean Woodstock – Thursday Aug 29th at 7pm

2. Stay In School Youth Talent Show – Friday Aug 30th - Daytime

3. Brass Fest – Friday 30th Aug 2013 at 8pm

4. Kiddies Carnival – Aug 31st - Daytime

5. Steelband Panorama – Aug 31st at 8pm

6. Dimanche Gras – Sep’t 1st at 7pm

All shows will be held on the grounds of Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York.

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Bailey recalled that the group started the Carnival after requests from musicians, crafts people, artists, and others who were nostalgic for their homelands.

Some years, the mood is calm and the parade meets my definition of "family friendly".

Many years, it is marred by violence.

When the parade is violent, the organizers (namely WIADCA) seem to state that the coverage of the violence is sensational and out of proportion. In response, someone then publicly accuses WIADCA of not caring about violence.

In response, some entity says that it is the NYPD (not WIADCA) that doesn't care about violence, and then comes the predictable apex of the drama: Someone perceives this as being all about race and states that none of this would happen if everyone could just be the same hue as them.

In response to this predictable outcome, it seems like the parade becomes the large elephant in the room that NO ONE wants to talk about.

For example, the Chamber of Commerce and WIADCA seem to be encouraging the media to gear their coverage toward the events behind the museum, because those are the ones they have the most influence over:

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/west-indian-american-day-carnival-getting-brooklyn-chamber-of-commerce-boost-1.5671084

While well run, these events are attended by only a tiny fraction of the people who attend the parade. Hence, I think most people are going to continue define the celebration as the parade ...and blame WIADCA for "controlling and planning it", despite WIADCA efforts to differentiate itself from it.

I don't know how we will ever get to a point in which someone in a position of authority bravely, clearly and convincing states:

"No one dislikes the events behind the museum; Stop talking about them.

We want to talk about the various factors that go into creating the entire weekend and we are mature enough to know that the organizers and police have limited control over that."

Everyone plays a role. No one is therefore in charge.

I am in charge of seeing co-workers dressed in only sparkles, and then assuring them I won't think of them differently when I see them next at work.

August 1. About four weeks to go.

The mainstream press begins:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/gearing-labor-day-carnival-article-1.1410824

The comments at the end are the ones we hear every year..

As discussed above, the WIADCA is throwing the "events behind the museum".

For the first time, it seems as if they have real competition; The Barclays arena has also stepped up to accept cash and credit cards in exchange for entertainment:

photo: Daily News

Daily News wrote: Riding high on the waves made by the annual Labor Day Caribbean festivities, the star-filled, three-day Caribbean Fever Irie Jamboree Music Festival will be debut at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, opening Aug. 30 and continuing through Sept. 1.

Creole sounds, reggae, dancehall, soca, calypso and more will be reverberating in the Barclays Center during the Caribbean Fever Irie Jamboree Music Festival.

A hot lineup of top-ranked creole, reggae, dancehall, soca, calypso and worldbeat music stars will be appearing at the festival, beginning with the opening “International Night,” starring Wyclef Jean, Kassav, Tabou Combo and Djakout #1. Aug. 31 is “Carnival-Mania,” and features the best calypso and soca performers, such as Alison Hinds, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons, Iwer George, Edwin Yearwood and Tallpree.

And “Irie Jamboree,” the reggae and dancehall segment of the festival, will be held on Sept.1, starring Damian Marley, Shabba Ranks, I-Octane and others.

Door open at 7 p.m. and shows start at 8 p.m.

For tickets, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, visit online at www.ticketmaster.com or call (646) 474-9048 for information.

source: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/west-indian-american-day-carnival-evolves-article-1.1430076#ixzz2cNe05AhC

Game on....

BTW, here's a historical account of NYC's West Indian Day Parade:

http://maap.columbia.edu/place/54

Aug 22:

In preparation for the large parade, the parks people have begun putting up those wooden fences around the plants in the median of Grand Army Plaza.