Meet the Ganjactivist.com Team in New York City for West Indian Day Carnival Parade. – Ganjactivist.com

Who says you can’t run your business and have fun at the same time. That’s what we’ll be doing on September 4th at the West Indian Day Carnival Parade in New York City! The Caribbean carnival was born on the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago. The original event takes place on the island and is a precursor to the Lenten period. Carnival ends when lent begins. The tradition has been carried with Trinidad and Tobagbonians across the Caribbean region. Most notably, Barbados- Crop Over, Jamaica- Jamaica Carnival, Spice Mas in Grenada and a few more. Its incantation in New York began in the 1930’s according to our sources and Wikipedia. This year’s Labor Day Parade/ West Indian Day carnival takes place on September 4th. Ganjactivist.com will be on the ground with magazines and merchandise and available to discuss opportunities in the cannabis industry in NY and across the Caribbean. 

“Jessie Waddell and some of her West Indian friends started the Carnival in Harlem in the 1930s by staging costume parties in large, enclosed places like the Savoy, Renaissance and Audubon Ballrooms due to the cold wintry weather of February.[2] This is the usual time for the pre-Lenten celebrations of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival and other related celebrations around the world. However, because of the very nature of Carnival, and the need to parade in costume to music, indoor confinement did not work well.[3]

The earliest known Carnival street parade was held on September 1, 1947. The Trinidad Carnival Pageant Committee was the founding force behind the parade, which was held in Harlem. The parade route was along Seventh Avenue, starting at 110th St.” – Wikipedia

The carnival and single-day parade has actually evolved into a week-long celebration of Caribbean culture. This culminates into a weekend of carnival activities, such as the Panorama Steel Band competition, J’ouvert, and the kiddies carnival, for the younger generation. Another tradition carried over from the Trinidad and Tobago carnival. This all culminates into the well known Labor Day/ West Indian Day/  Caribbean Carnival street parade. Participants, known as “revelers” will be  dressed in colorful costumes, and will assemble at the corner of Schenectady Ave and Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn with their bands. The procession of the various Carnival Bands/Troupes will continue along Eastern Parkway to Grand Army Plaza and Flatbush Ave. The revelry ends at 6 PM.

There are a number of events that will take place during the week of August XX- September 4th. Here are a few activities hosted by the West Indian Day Carnival Association (WIDCA)

• Youth Fest – Caribbean Talent Show. 
• Brass Fest – A melting pot event that features Soca, afrobeat, Reggae, and Kompa. 
• Panorama Steel Pan competition – A global competition for the best steel band symphony. 
• Dimanche Gras – An event that showcases traditional Mas that connects to African folklore and plantation life. 
• Children’s Carnival Parade – A Carnival parade for children 1 – 17 years old. 
• Jouvert Parade – A predawn Carnival parade with mud, oil, and powder. 
• Labor Day Carnival Parade (Adults) -North America’s largest Carnival Parade.

For more information about where we’ll be, sign up for the Ganjactivist.com Quarterly Magazine Newsletter or check back on our website for more information. 

If you are a brand and would like to get Ganjactivated in NYC for the carnival event, contact is directly on our contact form here.