The 40th Anniversary West Indian-American Carnival Parade takes over Eastern Parkway this weekend, with events Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The famous Carnival parade -- possibly the largest parade in North America -- will take place on Labor Day, Monday, September 3rd, 2007 along Eastern Parkway between Utica Avenue and Grand Army Plaza / Flatbush Avenue Extension.

Click here for a map.

The parade runs between roughly 11AM and 6PM Monday.

The best way to get to the Parade is to use the subway:

or trains to Grand Army Plaza or Utica Avenue

or the train to Utica Avenue.

NYPD says: Subway riders planning to attend the parade are strongly urged to avoid the Eastern Parkway station, the Nostrand Avenue station, and the Franklin Avenue station on the 2 and 5 lines, due to the heavy congestion that is expected.

Driving to the parade is strongly discouraged. Parking is already very tight in this neighborhood on a "normal" day, and during the parade the police block off a lot of additional parking spaces and tow illegally parked cars.
DO NOT DRIVE TO THE PARADE!

For full schedules and directions, see the official website.

For a lot of great photos of Carnival, check out Flickr

Expect LARGE crowds, street closures, and NYPD crowd control measures very similar to Times Square / New Years Eve!

Street Closures already announced by NYPD:

No southbound traffic from Atlantic Avenue to Eastern Parkway starting at 8:30 a.m.

No northbound traffic from Empire Boulevard to Eastern Parkway starting at 8:30 .m.

No eastbound or westbound traffic on Eastern Parkway starting at 9 a.m.

No southbound traffic on Flatbush Avenue, from Grand Army Plaza to Empire Boulevard starting at 11:00 a.m.

In addition, the following closures can also be expected:

No northbound traffic on Flatbush Avenue, from Church Avenue to Grand Army Plaza starting at 11:00 a.m.

No southbound traffic on Ocean Avenue, from Empire Boulevard to Parkside Avenue starting at 11:00 a.m.

No northbound traffic on Ocean Avenue, from Parkside Avenue to Empire Boulevard starting at 11:00 a.m.