The 39th-annual Carifest, one of the oldest and largest Caribbean festivals in New York state, began on Saturday, Aug. 9, with a parade through the streets of downtown Rochester.
Colorful floats decorated with flags from Caribbean islands and sparkly streamers, blasted music throughout the parade, including the tunes of Bob Marley, a pioneering reggae musician from Jamaica. The music’s bass made Rochester sidewalks seem to shake, pulsating through the onlookers dancing and cheering along as they watched local dance troupes perform choreographed routines behind the floats.
Soca with Yana, a local Caribbean fitness dance group, showed off their bright-colored costumes and sparkling headdresses on the Rochester West Indian Festival Organization’s float.
Aiyana Murrell, a woman of Jamaican heritage and the owner of Soca with Yana, wore a bright pink outfit and a pink feathered headdress decorated with shimmering jewels. She said she has been performing in Carifest parades since she was six-years-old and was excited to have her own organization involved in the fun.
“It’s my culture,” Murrell said, taking in the music and cheering from the parade. “It’s in my blood.”
Murrell said she was most looking forward to seeing everyone celebrating and learning more about the Caribbean islands and culture, through the parade and later in the day as Carifest’s musical acts thrilled a crowd that would grow substantially toward evening.
The parade continued along Chestnut Street, where Carlos Torres stood watching the floats with his three large macaws, Tokyo, Migdella and Carter, who were perched on a stand. One of the birds wore a gold chain, which reflected its vibrant yellow, blue and green feathers, matching many outfits and flags seen in the parade and at the festival.
Torres and his birds traveled from Florida to watch his sister perform in the Carifest parade. He said he brought the birds so festival goers could see and interact with them.
“I want everybody to feel like they are on an island,” Torres said.
Watching the remaining floats parade down the street with Caribbean music echoing across downtown, it was clear his wishes were coming true. The city of Rochester was transforming into its own beautiful Caribbean island.
The parade came to a close, but the festival was just beginning. Local and regional Caribbean-themed vendors, artisans, food trucks and nonprofit groups set up tents around Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park.
There was live music on the park’s main stage, cultural performances and of course, endless options of Caribbean foods and drinks for festivalgoers to enjoy.
This year’s headliners included:
The beloved festival was hosted by the Rochester West Indian Festival Organization.
This story included previous reporting from Justice Marbury.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.
— Misha Manjuran Oberoi is a summer intern at the Democrat & Chronicle covering transportation and mobility, and a rising junior at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. You can reach her with any tips or concerns at moberoi@gannett.com. If you have a disability or mobility challenge, have you faced any difficulties accessing or using RTS buses or other local transit services? I’d love to hear your stories!
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: ‘I want everybody to feel like they are on an island:’ Carifest gives joyful vibe to city
Reporting by Madison Scott and Misha Manjuran Oberoi, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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