Seven hours of soca on the lawn of the Brooklyn Museum, on the same Eastern Parkway that will carry a million people two days later, is Carnival week at full volume. WIADCA runs the largest Caribbean carnival in North America and Soca Fest is where the sound system gets tested before the parade. If you want the weekend's most committed late night, and you can hold out until 3am, this is the room.
What to expect
An outdoor stage on the Brooklyn Museum grounds with a bill of soca acts and DJs running deep into the night. Expect flags, a heavily Caribbean crowd, and a party that gets denser after midnight rather than thinning out. Ticket tiers separate general admission from VIP areas closer to the stage.
Good to know
- Take the 2 or 3 to Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum, which puts you at the gate.
- Buy in advance; general and VIP tickets are sold online and VVIP by phone reservation only.
- This is a late night that runs past subway rush patterns, so plan your ride home.
- It is an outdoor event, so dress for a cool overnight even after a hot day.
- The crowd skews adult; this is not the family leg of Carnival week.
- Bags are typically checked at the gate, so travel light.
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Common questions
How does this fit into Carnival week?
It is one of WIADCA's ticketed build-up events. Blocko Mania comes first, Soca Fest is the Friday night music festival, and the children's Junior Carnival parade follows the next morning.
Where do I buy tickets?
General admission and VIP tickets are sold online through the promoter listed on WIADCA's events page, with VVIP available by phone reservation.
Is it indoors?
No. It is staged on the Brooklyn Museum grounds on Eastern Parkway, so dress for outdoor conditions overnight.
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