UNITED STATES-New York Caribbean Carnival Week kicks off 59th anniversary celebrations.

NEW YORK, CMC – New York’s Caribbean Carnival Week is underway as the Brooklyn-based West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) celebrates 59 years of Caribbean culture with a week of food, music, mas, steelpan and other activities.

Festivities kicked off at the Brooklyn Museum parking lot, dubbed the “New York Carnival Village”, with lunch offerings on Thursday and Friday.

“This year marks the launch of the first New York Carnival Village Food Court,” WIADCA said in a statement. “Come get your eats and treats and lunch with us!”

Blockomania took place on Thursday night, featuring Blacka Dan, Edwin Yearwood, Iwer George, Rikki Jai, Jadel and Anika Berry.

Friday’s Socafest featured KES the Band, WCK, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann, and Viking Band.

The Youthfest and Junior Carnival are scheduled for Saturday, with live performances showcasing young Caribbean talent and Junior Bands.

The Junior Bands include Sesame Carnival, Branches Mas, Tropical Taste Mas, Gemz of Egypt, Jump Up Production, On Your Toes, Platinum/Chaos Kids, Rendezvous Mas, Seaside Mas, D’Midas International NYC, 1199SEIU Mas, Soca Royals Mas, Spice Island Shortknee, Stronjeh International, NYPD Youth Dancers and Kaisokah Moko Jumbies.

Panorama will also take place on Saturday night, featuring defending champions Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra, along with Despers USA, Metro Steel Orchestra, Steel Sensation, Pan in Motion, D’Radoes, Pan Alley and Philadelphia Pan Stars.

On Sunday, WIADCA will host what it describes as the “biggest Brunch Fete in the heart of Brooklyn”, in collaboration with Milk & Honey/Brunch and Soca.

The carnival parade takes place on Monday, Labor Day, a public holiday in the United States.

Participating adult bands include Sesame Carnival, Branches Mas, Tropical Taste/Dynasty Mas, Greenz United, I Am Caribbeing, Rendezvous Mas, Seaside Mas, Utopia Mas Band, Kagie 22, Revelation Soldiers, Belmont Baby Dols, Ignite Mas, Suga Candy Mas, The Spirit of Ayiti/Creole Jam, Vibez Mas International, Sky Maxx Mas, D’Midas International NYC, 1199SEIU Mas, Wicked Feterz Mas Band and Da Set United Mas.

WIADCA said Parade Grand Marshals are Shaun Francois of Labor Union Local 372; Julian John, the Trinidadian-born CEO of New York City Health and Hospitals/Metropolitan; Herman Hall, the Grenadian-born publisher of Everybody’s Caribbean Magazine; Sesame Flyers International; and Clyde Durant, former owner of Moods Steel Orchestra.

Honorary Grand Marshals are Jamaican reggae artist Buju Banton and Trinidadian soca artist Kees Dieffenthaller of Kes the Band.

Junior Grand Marshals are Sanai Londyn Cox and Sir Halo Maximin.