A taste of the islands

Take a flight to New York at the end of August and catch one of the city's most vibrant summer festivals.

Visitors to New York can experience the fantastic sights, smells and sounds of the biggest cultural event of the year, as the annual West Indian American Carnival takes to the streets of Brooklyn.

Celebrating their island heritage, New Yorkers of West Indian decedent, from August 31st to September 4th, set up stall around the Brooklyn Museum of Art to enjoy some music and dancing and plenty of traditional food and drink.

Kicking off on August 27th with D'Big Apple Calypso Revue, which runs every evening until 31st, the festivities then continue with Ladies Night Out on the 31st and a Back to School Concert and Brassfest on September 1st.

Saturday September 2nd is the day of the West Indian American Children's Day Parade, which is followed by the Steel band Panorama Competition, while Sunday festival-goers can enjoy the Junior Calypso Competition followed by Dimanche Gras.

The highlight of the four day festivities however is the Carnival and Parade on September 4th, which sees the streets filled with dazzling costumes and fantastically decorated floats.

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