Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway carnival gets the attention, but Queens has its own Caribbean population and its own carnival, and holding it on Beach Channel Drive means mas bands moving with Jamaica Bay on one side and the peninsula's neighborhoods on the other. The scale is smaller, which means you can actually see the costumes and hear individual bands rather than a wall of sound. If you are on the peninsula for the beach anyway, stay for the afternoon.
What to expect
Costumed masqueraders, sound trucks and community contingents moving along the waterfront road, with spectators lining the route and food vendors set up alongside. Expect soca, calypso and steel pan, Caribbean food stalls, flags, and a friendly, neighborhood-scale crowd rather than a citywide crush.
Good to know
- The route runs on Beach Channel Drive in the Rockaways; A to Beach 67th Street or the NYC Ferry Rockaway route
- Free to watch; bands register in advance to participate
- Bring cash for the food vendors along the route
- The beach and boardwalk are a short walk if you want to make a day of it
- Sun cover matters, as the waterfront road has almost no shade
- Family friendly with room on the sidewalks for strollers
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Common questions
How does it compare to the Brooklyn carnival?
It is much smaller and more local, which makes the costumes and bands easier to see up close.
Is there food?
Yes. Caribbean food vendors set up along the route through the afternoon.
How do I get there without a car?
The A train to Beach 67th Street or the NYC Ferry Rockaway route both land close to the route.
