Brooklyn will host its first Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day Parade on Aug. 30, bringing steelpan, music, food and family activities to Flatbush Avenue as the borough continues to celebrate its Caribbean communities, according to Complex.com.
Presented by J’Ouvert International for Arts and Culture and sponsored by Jujuterry, the parade will begin at 2:00pm at Church and Flatbush avenues before heading toward Prospect Park.
The event will include steelpan performances, food and family activities under the theme “Our Culture. Our People. Our Freedom.” It will take place one day before Trinidad and Tobago marks the 64th anniversary of its independence.
The celebration comes weeks after Brooklyn hosted its inaugural Jamaican Day Parade along the same corridor, adding another Caribbean cultural event to an area with strong ties to the region.
The Trinidad and Tobago parade gives residents and visitors an opportunity to celebrate the culture and national identity of the twin-island nation.
The event also marks a milestone in Trinidad and Tobago’s history. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom on Aug. 31, 1962, under Prime Minister Eric Williams, after decades of political and social movements toward self-government. Trinidad and Tobago became a republic in 1976.
The country’s independence celebrations also have a longstanding tradition at home. Each year, Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain hosts a national Independence Day parade featuring military ceremonies alongside music, dance and other cultural traditions.
Brooklyn’s celebration will bring elements of that national tradition to Flatbush Avenue through a community-focused parade and picnic.
Residents and visitors can attend the event beginning at 2:00pm on Aug. 30, with the festivities offering a local way to mark Trinidad and Tobago’s independence while showcasing its culture and heritage.
