West Indian-American Day Carnival, Labor Day Parade | NYC

From its humble beginnings as an indoor costume party in the 1930s, the New York Labor Day Parade has transformed into one of the most attractive carnival celebrations around the globe. The parade begins at daybreak with J’ouvert, similar to the carnival parade later that Monday, feters take to the street to dance behind boisterous music trucks. J’ouvert is all about dirty mas or dirty fun. Instead of costumes these early morning feters are covered with powdered paint and smiles. The parade-goers after J’ouvert adorn themselves with their glittering, feathered costumes prance down well-known New York streets. As millions of spectators, New Yorkers and tourists alike watch and dance along the sidelines. Vendors’ homemade Caribbean food along the parade route quench the hunger of the spectators. Though it’s impossible to satisfy that calling itch to party along with the colorful masqueraders.