2014 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade Highlights | New York
New York West Indian Day Carnival 2014 Highlights
Julianspromos was on the road in Brooklyn for the 2014 West Indian American Day Carnival, capturing the Soca, costumes and Caribbean pride of New York City’s massive Labor Day celebration.
The 47th annual West Indian American Day Parade took place on Monday, September 1, 2014, transforming Eastern Parkway into a moving celebration of Caribbean culture as masquerade bands, musicians and revelers made their way through Crown Heights toward Grand Army Plaza.
For the 2014 road experience, Julianspromos joined Sesame Flyers International, with Julian Hackett and Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson providing original media coverage. Vivaa also played mas with Sesame Flyers in the Royalty section of the band’s 2014 presentation, “Bollywood,” wearing a costume designed by Akin & Caprice.
On the Road With Sesame Flyers
Sesame Flyers brought its Bollywood presentation to Eastern Parkway with vibrant costumes, feathers, jewels and Soca accompanying the band throughout the Labor Day parade.
With Vivaa participating in the mas and Julian documenting the experience, Julianspromos captured New York Carnival from inside one of Brooklyn’s long-established Caribbean Carnival organizations.
The footage combines road coverage, music and interaction with masqueraders to give viewers a firsthand look at the energy surrounding Sesame Flyers during the 2014 parade.
The Sound of Eastern Parkway
Music on the Sesame Flyers truck was provided by a strong lineup of Caribbean DJs and radio personalities including Massive B’s Jabba and Bobby Konders, Freeze International, DJ Spice, Elite Squad and Vibesman Redman.
The original Julianspromos coverage also preserves a snapshot of the Soca and Caribbean music moving the Parkway during the 2014 season.
Featured music included releases from Destra Garcia, Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Kerwin Du Bois, Lead Pipe & Saddis, Farmer Nappy, Mr Killa, Lyrikal, Blaxx, Lil Rick, Fadda Fox and others.
The soundtrack moved beyond Soca as well, incorporating Caribbean hits from artists including Konshens, Mr Vegas and Vybz Kartel, reflecting the wider musical mix heard throughout New York’s West Indian Carnival.
Young Voice on the Road
The original Julianspromos coverage also featured Young Voice, including his Sesame Flyers version of “Bass” as well as an interview and performance captured during the parade.
That combination of mas, music and artist interaction reflects the multimedia style Julianspromos was developing during this period, documenting Carnival while also connecting viewers with the personalities and songs driving the culture.
West Indian Carnival Takes Over Brooklyn
The West Indian American Day Carnival has been a major Labor Day tradition in Brooklyn for decades, bringing Caribbean communities from across New York and the wider diaspora together along Eastern Parkway.
The 2014 parade began near Eastern Parkway and Schenectady Avenue and traveled west toward Grand Army Plaza, with crowds gathering along the route to experience elaborate costumes, Caribbean food, music and national pride.
The wider Carnival weekend included several days of cultural events leading into the Labor Day parade, including concerts, Junior Carnival, Panorama and Dimanche Gras.
New York Carnival 2014 in Photos
The original Julianspromos coverage also preserved a collection of photographs from the 2014 West Indian Day Carnival, documenting Sesame Flyers, the Bollywood presentation, Vivaa on the road, masqueraders, costumes and the atmosphere along Eastern Parkway.
A selection of those original images is preserved here as part of the Julianspromos historical archive, offering another look at the people, mas and Caribbean culture that shaped the 2014 celebration.
Original Julianspromos Coverage
New York Carnival was an important part of Julianspromos’ early multimedia history.
By 2014, the company was already combining original video production with on-the-road hosting, artist interaction, photography and Carnival participation. With Julian behind the camera and Vivaa inside the mas, the Sesame Flyers coverage captured the parade from a participant’s perspective rather than simply documenting it from the sidelines.
The experience formed part of the expanding Carnival coverage that would eventually develop into Julianspromos’ first formal Multimedia Carnival Tour in 2015.
From the Julianspromos Archives
New York West Indian Day Carnival 2014 Highlights is preserved as part of the Julianspromos Archives, documenting years of original Soca, Carnival and Caribbean entertainment coverage.
Explore more original Carnival footage, artist performances, interviews, photography and cultural moments from throughout the history of Julianspromos.
