A Caribbean celebration is coming to Far Rockaway with lively music, local vendors, and island energy in the eighth annual Queens Carnival on Saturday, Aug. 29.
In anticipation of the festivities, organizers hosted a pop-up last Friday, July 31, with a musical performance, carnival costumes for sale, and free food for locals passing through the Beach 21st Street Plaza.
This year’s carnival and parade will highlight Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, two countries that are represented on the peninsula. The goal is to showcase Caribbean pride and give Rockaway locals an opportunity to embrace their roots in their own neighborhood.
“The carnival is a diaspora of all the Caribbean cultures,” said Lisa George, the senior deputy chief of staff for NYS Senator James Sanders Jr. of Senate District 10, which includes the entire peninsula. “I live in Rockaway, so I’m happy to be a part of the planning committee, to put this together every year, to celebrate the Caribbean in Queens, in the Rockaways, in the community I grew up in.”
Organizers sold carnival costumes during last Friday’s pop-up in Far Rockaway.
Carnival organizers took the mic to introduce themselves and their roles in planning the festivities for Aug. 29.
During the carnival’s pop-up launch on July 31, organizers and volunteers gave Far Rockaway locals desserts and food.
During the carnival’s pop-up launch on July 31, organizers and volunteers gave Far Rockaway locals desserts and food.
Organizers and sponsors, who raise approximately $150,000 to host the carnival and parade each year, intend to double the Aug. 29 celebration as a business opportunity for local vendors to sell their products. Though attendance during last Friday’s pop-up was low, organizers still spread the word about the upcoming carnival and encouraged locals to join the celebration as a vendor, volunteer, or parade-goer.
The August celebration will include performances from Yankey Boy, Ricochae, Anika Berry, Iwer George, and Ian Dyer otherwise known as Mr. Easy, a reggae artist who has lived in Far Rockaway for about five years and is best known for his early 2000s hits like “Drive Me Crazy.”
“It’s a community event, especially dealing with kids and families, I like to be involved,” said Dyer when asked about his decision to perform on Aug. 29. “Being part of the Caribbean community – it’s one Caribbean – so I’m happy to be a part of it.”
In anticipation of the Caribbean fun, organizers from Sanders’ office, Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC), Rockaway East Merchants Association 4 United Synergy (REMA4US), and the Queens Carnival Committee will be hosting a boat ride fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Brooklyn Army Terminal. Tickets are for sale at $75 each.
The carnival’s parade portion on Saturday, Aug. 29, will begin at Bay 32nd Street and Beach Channel Drive and end at Beach 9th Street and Seagirt Boulevard.