Here Are The West Indian Day Parade And J'Ouvert Street Closures

It's Labor Day weekend, which means it's time for one of the city's biggest gatherings: The West Indian American Day Parade, which turns Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn into a huge party.

The action is mostly on Monday. The pre-parade celebration, J'Ouvert, used to take place before daylight but will now start at 6 a.m. on Monday. The change is attributed to previous years' violence, notably the two fatalities last year and the 2015 death of Carey Gabay, an aide to Governor Cuomo, from a stray bullet.

Some have noted that the violence has occurred outside of the actual J'Ouvert parade and that city officials aren't focused on the real problem, accusing the city of "picking apart" the West Indian culture. Prospect-Lefferts Garden resident Anton Gold said the new start time, plus checkpoints and other restrictions, are misdirected, "I disagree with them right to the very core. It’s so naive to think this is a J’Ouvert problem. New York City and the entire country has a gun violence problem and guns are the problem."

Then, at 11 a.m. on Monday, the West Indian American Day Parade and Festival begins, with a million spectators along route (and maybe as many performers!).

If you're ready to get into the spirit, the West Indian American Day Junior Carnival is on Saturday during the day, while many of the steel drum bands will be competing at Panorama at the Brooklyn Museum.

Members of the Greenhouse Jab Jabs hold a jam session at the Grenada Carriacou and Petite, one week ahead of J'Ouvert. (Scott Heins / Gothamist)

Here's the schedule:

Saturday September 2

WEST INDIAN AMERICAN DAY JUNIOR CARNIVAL 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Street closures:

Formation:
St John's Place between Kingston Avenue and Brooklyn Avenue

Route:
St John's Place between Kingston Avenue and Franklin Avenue
Franklin Avenue between St John's Place and President Street President Street between Franklin Avenue and Washington Avenue

Dispersal:
President Street between Classon Avenue and Washington Avenue Into Brooklyn Museum

Closure: Same as location

PANORAMA 7 p.m.

200 Eastern Parkway (Brooklyn Museum; ticket details)

Monday, September 4

J'OUVERT EVENT 5 a.m.-10 a.m.

Note the new rules; street closures:

Formation:
Grand Army Plaza
Eastern Parkway between Washington Avenue and Plaza Street East
Route:
Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza/East Drive and Empire Boulevard
Empire Boulevard between Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Avenue
Nostrand Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Midwood Street

Dispersal:
Nostrand Avenue between Midwood Street and Rutland Road

Reviewing Stand:
Empire Boulevard between Mckeever Place and Bedford Avenue
Empire Boulevard between Bedford Avenue and Rogers Avenue
Nostrand Avenue between Sterling Street and Lefferts Avenue

Closure: Same as location

WEST INDIAN AMERICAN DAY PARADE AND FESTIVAL 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Street closures:

Locations:
Buffalo Avenue between Eastern Parkway and Rutland Road
Rochester Avenue between East New York and Sterling Place
Ralph Avenue between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
East New York Avenue between Howard Avenue and Utica Avenue
Eastern Parkway between Howard Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza and Caton Avenue
Ocean Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Parkside Avenue
Butler Place between Grand Army Plaza and Sterling Place
St Johns Place between Underhill Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
Rockaway Parkway between East New York Avenue and Rutland Road
Parkside Avenue between Park Circle and Flatbush Avenue
Bedford Avenue between Eastern Parkway and Empire Boulevard
Empire Boulevard between Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Avenue
Nostrand Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Linden Boulevard
Lincoln Place between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue

Closure: Same as location