The 2014 West Indian Day Parade in pictures

west indian day parade 2014 — Welcome to the good times! Photos by Bibeka Shrestha

On a sweltering Labor Day in a summer that seems to only be getting started, politicians and dancers alike waved and shimmied their way across Eastern Parkway for the annual West Indian Day Parade (a special kudos to gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout for her standout dance skills). With piña coladas and nutcrackers in hand, the crowds took in the swirling colors, danced along to soca and reggae beats and chowed down on jerk chicken, collard greens, and other Caribbean and not-so-Carribean fare. Sen. Chuck Schumer tried to pump up the crowd with “Go Jamaica! Go Barbados!” New York’s finest slapped the bongos. Ronald McDonald showed up for some reason. But once the semi-trucks rolled in and throngs of costumed dancers came roaring through the streets, the real party began.

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