Molly Prior

Cultural diversity and inclusion are concepts that are a significant and important part of any city. With these aspects being such a big part of Worcester, it’s no surprise that there are so many cultural groups and events put on throughout the city. This is exemplified by the Worcester Caribbean-American Carnival which is set to take place on Sunday, August 25 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The event will be a lively celebration of Caribbean culture and traditions, and will be open to all.

The event is organized by the Worcester Carribbean-American Carnival Association, or the WCACA. The mission statement of the WCACA is “a cultural arts association dedicated to the empowerment and preservation of Carribbean tradition, as well as respect for cultural diversity.” According to the website, they also “seek to promote a broader understanding and deeper appreciation for the Carribbean and Black American experience.” The organization was founded in 2012, and the first incarnation of the festival took place in 2013. The event has been held for the past seven years, and has become an annual tradition for Worcester attracting large numbers of both Carribbean-Americans and spectators. It has been known for overtaking the streets of the city with its vibrant and colorful parade. This year, the theme of the festival is “re jourvert nation” which loosely translates to “rebirth”, according to Jennifer Gaskin, who is the president of the WCACA. She says that a lot can be expected to happen at the event, including food, music and more.

“The event will kick off with Brunch on the Commons at 9 a.m. Brunch on the Commons will include traditional Caribbean breakfast and lunch fare for attendees to partake in,” Gaskin said.
The parade will then depart from City Hall at 1:30 p.m. “This year we are happy to have AIDs Project Worcester and several political candidates that will lead the parade followed by the Masquerade bands.”

Going off of the theme this year, Gaskin says that this is how the event will differ from the previous years. “Every year, the event matures and evolves to meet the changing needs of the community,” She explained. “Since the theme is a rebirth, it involves releasing all negativity, this is we intend for the audience to see, and that is what makes this year’s presentation different from the past years.”

When talking about the significance of the festival and WCACA to the city, Gaskin described how cultures create a sense of identity as well as shared communities. She described just how big the Carribbean-American population is, and how much it contributes to the city of Worcester as a whole.

“There are 93,000 Caribbean immigrants throughout Worcester County. This doesn’t include the descendants and the many people who just enjoy Caribbean culture,” Gaskin explained. “It is important for us as a community to embrace all the cultures that make us who we are. By having an event like this annually, it brings the Caribbean American culture into the Worcester culture which in turn makes it a shared cultural experience for the community as a whole. Shared culture fosters understanding.”

Gaskin hopes that this event and WCACA as a whole will inspire other cultures and other people. “I think when other cultures see us display our culture in such a large and public way it inspires them to do the same,” Gaskin stated. “Then we become a community that shares our traditions and ultimately embraces the cultural diversity that makes us who we are.”

So if you’re looking for a fun time, and a new experience, the Caribbean-American Festival could be a great experience for you. You can make new friends, try different foods and feel a sense of a community. Having an open mind and being multicultural will ultimately enhance your life experience.