Thousands of people filled Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn for the Junior Carnival Parade and Youth Fest as Labor Day weekend celebrations ramped up ahead of Monday’s main event — the 59th annual J’ouvert and West Indian American Day Parade. The city said it has a heavy security plan in pla ce for Monday’s festivities, and the NYPD said this year’s attendees will be subject to screenings. Along 13 controlled entry points starting at 2 a.m. Monday, attendees will enter through designated checkpoints, according to the NYPD. Soca music and colorful costumes set the tone Saturday as children and families took part in the junior carnival celebration. “It’s just a fun activity we do every year,” said McKenzie, a young performer with Kaos International. “I think it’s really awesome, amazing, all the costumes, everybody,” said Denesha, a young attendee. Food vendors offered Caribbean flavors along the route. “We’re Panamanian and Trinidadean, we have ojhalda wich is a fried dough, we have fish, we have bacalao,” said Lytia of Chic Treatz. Children celebrating with relatives said the event was as much about family as it was about festivities. “I feel happy, excited, having fun with my cousins, getting with my family,” said Laila, a young attendee. “My parents are from Jamaica so I am representing Jamaica.” “This carnival is so perfect, is so perfect, the kids are enjoying themselves, the costumes are perfect, and they’re having a good time,” said attendee Barbara Maldonado. (Image: NBC New York) Some families said the tradition is a way to pass culture down to the next generation. “Our family, our ancestors, practiced this to celebrate life, to celebrate freedom, to celebrate their culture, and a way we would keep it is to have our children do this,” said Yaaaso, who also took park. Performers said they return each year to keep the celebration going. “It’s a family band, we come every year, and it’s enjoyable, the kids love it, we teach them about culture and they look great,” said Nefertiti Clarke, a performer with Kaos International. Ahead of Monday’s parade, officials said they are focused on public safety. “With the measures that we have put into place this year, we are confident that every New Yorker will be able to celebrate this parade freely and safely,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-New York City). This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less