BIG FEST FOR USVI

At times, along the New York Caribbean Carnival Parade route, music blares and singers wail, but the loudest element by far is the cascade of colorful, elaborate carnival costumes born of uniquely creative design concepts.

And this year will be no different, with the inclusion of ensembles such as New Waves!’ processional performance, “Whitewash,” and CAFE’s socially conscious “Mas in Fashion – A Fashion Parade Against Human Trafficking.”

Innovation and imagination rule in the iconic masquerade element of carnival, and costumed revelers are divided into large, medium and small groups for their 2.2-mile trek along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway.

More than 30 adult costume groups will travel along the parkway on Sept. 4, including individual masqueraders vying for King, Queen, Male and Female Character titles. And as many as 36 youth groups are signed up for a Junior Carnival Parade on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the Labor Day parade on the parkway, the “Whitewash” processional performance by New Waves! (an initiative of the Trinidad-based Dance and Performance Institute of dancers and performance artists) is marshaling groups of masked revelers who’ll be dressed in reverent white during their Caribbean dance show at Monday’s carnival parade.

This 2017 New Waves! iteration is made up of seven sections of costumes created by designers Brianna McCarthy, Robert Young, Vulgar Fraction, Tracey Sankar-Charleau, Sonja Dumas, Chris Walker and Jhawhan Thomas.

Also ready for carnival parade is the “Mas in Fashion – A Fashion Parade Against Human Trafficking,” from CAFE (the Caribbean American Fashion Exchange) — a procession with the social mission of highlighting the vile practice of human trafficking with the goal of ending it.

CAFE, under the direction of Janice Lawrence-Clarke of JLC Productions, uses Caribbean culture and New York City’s fashion capital status as tools to achieve its social mission, and create a fashion runway on Eastern Parkway.

To promote the anti-trafficking effort, CAFE has teamed up with the Yet She Rise organization, which fights human trafficking and aids exploited young women from Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean. And to make its fashion component possible, CAFE will present the work of clothing and accessories designers such as Melissa Edwards and Noir Collins (Jamaica), Akeisha Bowles (Montserrat), Bridget Ward (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), Rodney Alexander, Steven Daniel, Donna Dove (Trinidad and Tobago), Carlos Williams and Winsome Lees (Guyana), Terance Taitt (Bermuda) and Bryan K. Osburn (U.S.).

Blue gown and silk scarf are part of CAFE’s “Mas in Fashion” group working with the anti-humantrafficking group “Yet She Rise.” Mask (below) is ready and last-minute costume fittings (left) are taking place for New Waves! processional performance, “Whitewash.” WITH the U.S. Virgin Islands marking its centennial this year, the Virgin Islanders United organization is holding its free “Caribbean Cultural Fest 2017: The Centennial Edition” in Manhattan on Sunday to celebrate the territory's milestone with an outdoor celebration of music, food and culture.The family-friendly affair — billed as the largest celebration of U.S. Virgin Islands culture in North America — will be held in Harlem's Jackie Robinson Park, at 85 Bradhurst Ave. and 145th St., from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.The impetus for the event — the transfer of Denmark's Danish West Indies colony to the U.S. in January 1917 — is a historic backdrop for scheduled entertainment.The music will be classic and contemporary soca, calypso and reggae. Performers will include Sparkles (USVI); Mesha Steele (Belize); soca great Lord Kent (St. Kitts and Nevis); Laurena Davis and the TKO Band (Antigua/Barbuda); The Mighty Swallow, Soca Monarch of the World (Antigua and Barbuda) and the sensational, awardwinning Image Band (USVI).Kevin Hughes and popular New York radio personality Avril Francis, of “The Avril Show” on WVIP FM (93.5 FM) will host the event.Janet Parris, president of Virgin Islanders United, called on event patrons to enthusiastically wave the USVI banner and honor the many people who made contributions to the territory, America and the world. "When you attend the festival, we want all attendees to bring your flag," she said.Parris cited the achievements of slavery emancipation leader General Buddhoe; slave uprising leader Mary (Queen Mary) Thomas; educator and Pan-African pioneer Edward Wilmot Blyden; NBA great Tim Duncan; fashion model Hannah Davis-Jeter; jazz drummer Dion Parson; reggae performer Pressure Busspipe; boxing champion Emile Griffith; influential New York City politician, leader and mentor J. Raymond Jones, and R. City, the musical duo of brothers Theron and Timothy Thomas."The contributions of these Virgin Islanders and many others have helped to bring positive recognition to the territory, and as a civic organization, we will continue to do the same,” said Parris.