The streets around Grove Hall, at the intersection of Boston’s Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods, filled with people and music Saturday for Carnival, the city’s annual Caribbean parade.
It was an abundant embrace of Caribbean culture and people.
As masquerades, my friend and I all dressed up in colorful, fancy costumes to join in the fun and dance our way down the street. We were led by local band Boston Socaholics, who blasted music from their truck as we marched behind them.
The parade has occurred every year since 1973, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic. It began when businessman and radio host Ken Bonaparte Mitchell brought some traditions from Trinidad, where he was born, to the streets of Boston with the help of his friend and parade co-founder, Ivy Ponder.
Jacob Garcia / GBH News
It was to honor the Caribbean people, who make up the majority of Boston’s immigrant population and have had a significant presence in the region since the early 20th century.
This year’s festivities did not come without some controversy, as a rift emerged between some of the gangs and others participating in the Carnival and its governing body, the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston. But as CACAB president Shirely Shillingford told me when I saw him along the route on the day of the parade, it came back to being in the community.
Jacob Garcia / GBH News
“It’s great, despite the uprisings,” she said. “[There’s] nothing like community, no matter what.”
Another attendee, named Gino, was there as part of an annual tradition.
“Everyone here is family,” he said. “You from an island, you are a family. It is a culture. You should go out for the culture.”
Following the parade was a festival in Franklin Park with music and dozens of vendors.
On Sunday, the celebration made its way to Worcester for its carnival, and Cambridge will hold its celebrations on September 11.
Jacob Garcia / GBH News
