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The Queens Carnival Is Still Rocking For The Caribbean After 7-Years In
Far Rockaway
Far Rockaway
By Gail Johnson, Associate Publisher
The Southeast Queens Scoop
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| By Gail Johnson |
Where do you celebrate a Caribbean Carnival in Queens? On the longest big-city beach in the United States, the 7-miles of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, on the Rockaway Peninsula in Downtown Far Rockaway.
The Queens Carnival, formerly the Rockaway Caribbean Carnival, now in its 7th year is a full day of free, family-friendly fun. On the 2nd to the last Saturday in August, the weekend before Labor Day, State Senator James Sanders, Jr. (D-NY), Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC), REMA 4US, New York Career Training School, City Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers and State Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson bring the Caribbean to Queens.
On Saturday, August 23rd, the festivities began at Jamaica Bay and ended on the sands of the Atlantic Ocean. The paint and powder jump-up, kiddie masqueraders from Jewel Jewel kicks off the Carnival in Bayswater Park (7-01 Bay 32nd Street). That starts the parade down the streets of Far Rockaway. Floats filled with friends and supporters are stacked with speakers that fill the air with merengue, reggae, soca, mas, calypso, reggaeton, zouk, ska, dance hall, parang, pichakaree, rapso, punta, cumbia, bouyon, bachata, baithak, gana and bachata.
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Article On How The
Queens Carnival Is Still
Rocking For The Caribbean
After 7-Years Continues Below...
Queens Carnival Is Still
Rocking For The Caribbean
After 7-Years Continues Below...
Community members, down-for-the-day tourists, and other onlookers experience the celebrations of the rich Caribbean islands culture on display, both the big and the little islands.
The whip master, the Jab Jab Mas from Trinidad and Tobago or the Diablos Cojuelos of the Dominican Republic, snaps a long rope whip, clearing the way, making a path for the parade, by cracking a long rope whip at the onlookers. The cracking snaps of the whip, once a symbol of pain under slavery, is reclaimed as a symbol of resistance, as it announces the arrival of the Carnival parade, is meant to clear the way, chase away evil spirits and the dark forces of the world.
The “moko” (healer/spirit) “jumbie” (ghost/spirit) stilt walkers symbolize the guardians, the ancestors, the ancestral protector spirits, with the spiritual power to see far, warding off evil spirits and bringing joy and protection to the community.
“The three guiding principles of the Queens Carnival are quality, diversity and community” according to Lisa George, Chair of the Queens Carnival.” In its 7th year, the Carnival continues to grow each year” she stated.
“There were 2 Grand Marshalls this year,” said State Senator Sanders, Jr., “Tiria Mason of Blumenfeld Development Group and Atiba Edwards, the first Black man to be the CEO of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in it’s 125 year history. A child of parents from St. Vincent’s and the Grenadines, who grew up in Brownsville, visiting the Museum as a child, he is now privileged to lead the same institution that sparked his love for learning and curiosity.”
He continued saying “this Queens Carnival highlighted the country of Suriname, one of the smallest, yet the most ethnically diverse countries in South America,
He continued saying “this Queens Carnival highlighted the country of Suriname, one of the smallest, yet the most ethnically diverse countries in South America,
on this the 50th anniversary of their independence.”
The Braata folk singers, known for their diverse artistic expressions of Caribbean arts and culture through music, stories and movement, opened the concert on the stage at O’Donohue Park (Between Beach 15th and Beach 17th Streets) with folk songs and dances from Suriname while displaying the nation’s flag.
There were many calls to “raise your flag” throughout the concert series by the various performers, both singers, Jadel, Anslem Douglas, GBN Nutron, Soca Villian & Island Prince, Zaylan and RicoChae, who sang his new hit song “We Vamp It” and the many official DJ MC’s.
Jet Blue , one of the many sponsors, gifted one lucky attendee with a pair of airline tickets and City Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, concluded the event with a fireworks display over the Atlantic Ocean.
State Senator Sanders, Jr., with his community partners and various sponsors, has created an event that every year “brings the spirit of the Caribbean to the heart of Queens on the beach in Downtown Far Rockaway.
To see more articles by Gail Johnson click here
Posted by community events coordinator, Nzinga Lonstein Austin, is a prolific blogger who writes on the entertainment industry and issues for people with developmental and physical challenges.She is presently in high school looking to have a career in video, film, and media. You can see more of her entertainment writing on Lonstein Movies.
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