42nd Annual West Indian Carnival Festival - Sept 3rd to Sept 7th, 2009

   

THE WEST INDIAN AMERICAN DAY CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
Celebrates 42^nd Annual West Indian Carnival Festival Sept 3^rd to Sept 7^th, 2009

The West Indian American Day Carnival Association (W.I.A.D.C.A) kicks off their annual West Indian Carnival Festival & Parade, Thursday, September 3^rd. The 42^nd annual festival will commence with events and live concerts, held at the Brooklyn Museum grounds and culminate on Monday September 7^th, with the renowned Labor Day Carnival Parade on Eastern Parkway in Flatbush, Brooklyn. This year WIADCA joins with the American Cancer Society and the US Census Bureau with the theme “Jump for the Cure, Jump Up and be Counted, “in an effort to highlight the importance of regular cancer screenings and Census tracking in the Caribbean community. “I am committed to harnessing the titanic power of the millions of people on Eastern Parkway by putting the spotlight on important causes in our community” says WIADCA’s President, Yolanda Lezama-Clark.

The Labor Day Carnival Parade showcases the unique, vibrant and energetic Caribbean cultural heritage in New York City. Grand Marshals for 2009 are: New York State Governor David A. Paterson, General Colin L. Powell (Ret), Mark Cornell, CEO-Moet Hennessy USA, Hon. Yvette D. Clarke, US Congresswoman, NY Senator John Sampson and Joseph J. Esposito, NYPD Chief of the Department.  The lead event for the parade festivities is a VIP Awards Breakfast for sponsors and Grand Marshals. Immediately following, WIADCA’s president, Yolanda Lezama-Clark will join New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor David A. Paterson and Grand Marshals to cut the symbolic ribbon at Utica Ave & Eastern Parkway at 11am. The line up includes Grand Marshals, VIPS, Sponsors, over 70 Floats and thousands of colorful masqueraders depicting spectacular and breathtaking creations amidst the tantalizing aromas from vendors selling all types of Caribbean delicacies like: curry goat, jerk chicken/pork, curry chicken/roti, pelau, stew ox-tails, fried fish, pepper pot and much more.

Kicking off the weekend’s events will be the Clash of the Calypso Titans on Thursday September 3^rd. Also slated for a jam-packed weekend are performances by some of the Caribbean’s most exciting Soca & Kaiso super-stars from many of the Islands, alongside younger calypsonians, steelband panorama competition, junior carnival and king & queen of the bands competition.

Millions of revelers and spectators are expected to attend again this year. Visitors from all across the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and other international locations attend the five-day festival annually as part of their vacation–fuelling over $200 million into the City’s coffers.  Last year, an estimated 100,000 individuals attended the live concerts events at Brooklyn Museum grounds.

WIADCA also supports and promotes higher education and is supported by CUNY & Coca Cola to again offer five Scholarships in three categories: Arts & Culture, Medicine, Law & Business.  More than 98 College student recipients has benefited to date bringing the total to 103 for 2009.

The West Indian-American Day Carnival Association, Inc. (WIADCA) is a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization established in 1967 and is the driving force behind the West Indian Carnival Festival Parade in Brooklyn. While WIADCA is most known for the affectionately named, “Labor Day Parade,” its main focus is to develop, teach and promote Caribbean arts and culture in the New York Metropolitan Area. WIADCA is the organizer and registered property owner of the West Indian American Day Carnival in New York City.

 Brought to the Caribbean by French settlers in the 1700’s, Carnival migrated with immigrants from Trinidad & Tobago to New York in the 1920’s. The celebration is a time of jubilation and wild abandon and continues to draw greater audiences each year as people naturally gravitate to this happy and joyful occasion. The occasion also serves to validate an immigrant community that is flexing its muscle internationally in every sphere.

THE WEST INDIAN AMERICAN DAY CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION, INC.

Industry News – Biz Bash has named the Carnival Parade as one of the top five happenings in New York City.

All Concerts are held at the Brooklyn Museum grounds, 900 Washington Ave, Brooklyn. For more information go to www.wiadca.com For general information, call: 718-467-1797.

Pre-Labor Day weekend festival:

1. Event: Clash of the Calypso Titans: Featuring 24 of the greatest calypso & soca artists
Date-Thursday September 3^rd, Showtime-7:30 pm:
Artists: Featuring some of the most popular and talented vintage calypsonians in the Caribbean:
Lord Nelson, Sparrow, Rose, Hunter (Dominica), Explainer, Baron, Dense Plummer, Scrunter, Winston Soso, Becket, Swallow,
Gryner and many more.

2. Event: Stay in School Cultural Concert
Dates- Friday September 4^th, Showtime 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Showcasing Young Talented Artists
WIADCA instituted this program some 20 years ago stressing the need for young people to continue with their education, while staying away
from drugs, juvenile delinquency and gangs.

3. Event: Brass Fest
(Evening Show), Showtime- 8:00 pm
Artists: Featuring some of the most popular and exciting performers in the Caribbean:

Machel Montano HD & The HD family, Fayann Lyons & the Asylum Band, Bunji Garlin, Patrice, Kes The Band, KMC, Iwer George
and many more.

4. Event: Junior Carnival
Dates: Saturday September 5^th, Begins at 9:00 am and Ends at 3:00 pm:
Street Route: Kingston Ave & St. Johns Place, to Franklin Ave South, to President Street, into Brooklyn Museum Grounds for at
Washington Avenue for competition.

5. Event: Panorama Competition
Showtime -8:00 pm
Featuring some of the most popular Steel Orchestras in the USA:
2008 Champs-ADLIB, Pan Sonatas, Sesame Flyers, CASYM, Despers USA, Pantonics and others…

6. Event: Dimanche Gras
Dates: Sunday September 6^th, Showtime 7:00 pm
Artists: Featuring some of the most popular and exciting artists in the Caribbean:
The Mighty Sparrow, David Rudder, 3 Canal, Tigress, Kenneth Salick, Tassa & IndianDancers, Panorama Champs 2009,
King & Queen of the Bands and Old Mas competition, Something Positive Dance Troupe, plus much more.

ABSOLUTELY NO CAMERAS OR UNAUTHORIZED TAPING & RECORDING EQUIPMENT ALLOWED AT MUSEUM SHOWS!

TICKETS & INFO: Doors open one hour before Showtime- 9/3-9/6

For advance tickets please call (718) 467-1797 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE NOW
Tickets to WIADCA Events can now be purchased online. To Purchase your ticket On-Line NOW and Save, click the link below:

For directions: Website: www.wiadca.org

WIADCA Address: 323-325 Rogers Ave (btwn Sullivan Pl & Montgomery St) Bklyn, NY 11225.

For Media credentials: Available by request only; subject to approval. Limited to accredited media and select days. Please contact Shavonn Pearce at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it