Steel orchestras dozens of players deep push their racks of tuned oil drums onto the Brooklyn Museum lawn and get one arrangement each to win the New York Panorama crown. It is the most concentrated night of Carnival week: Brooklyn's Caribbean diaspora out in force, folding chairs on the grass, and a wall of pan audible from Eastern Parkway. If you do one Carnival night before the parade, make it this one.
What to expect
Bands warm up in the back lot before rolling their racks to the stage, so arrive early and you can walk right up to a full orchestra tuning. Between rounds the crowd drifts to food tents for doubles, jerk chicken and sorrel. The judging runs long and the winner is announced deep into the night.
Good to know
- Take the 2 or 3 train to Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum and you surface at the gate
- Bring a folding chair or be ready to stand; the lawn is first-come and fills fast
- It runs deep into the night, so sort out your ride home before you go
- Food and drink vendors line the lot and some stalls are still cash-only
- Family-friendly early, but the crowd skews adult once the big orchestras play
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Common questions
Where exactly on the Brooklyn Museum site does Panorama happen?
On the museum grounds and back lot at 200 Eastern Parkway in Prospect Heights, not inside the galleries. The museum's own exhibitions are a separate ticket.
Is this the same thing as the West Indian Day Parade?
No. The Eastern Parkway parade and J'Ouvert take place on Labor Day itself. Panorama is the steelband competition staged earlier in Carnival week.
Do I need a ticket in advance?
Yes, it is ticketed through the West Indian American Day Carnival Association's Eventbrite page, and the early-bird tier had already sold out ahead of the weekend.
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