The cultural celebration of Antigua and Barbuda will take place in New York City today and is expected to draw thousands of attendees for the annual ‘Antigua and Barbuda Day’ festivities.

This event is said to be the largest gathering of the Antigua and Barbuda diaspora in the United States.

Roughly nine to ten thousand people are anticipated to participate in this one-day free event, which will be hosted in Claremont Park for the first time this year.

The event has grown significantly in size, prompting a relocation from St. Mary’s Park to ensure sufficient space for attendees. After initially seeking to use Central Park, the organisers settled on Claremont Park due to its proximity to where the majority of Antigua and Barbuda diaspora in New York reside.

The day’s activities will feature performances by top artists who took part in the 2024 Carnival celebrations, and a variety of popular Antigua and Barbuda cuisine will be available for purchase from numerous vendors.

Minister of Creative Industries and Festivals, Daryll Matthew, will lead a delegation from the ministry to accompany the performers in the United States. This team will include Michael Freeland, deputy chairperson of the Festivals Commission, soca artist Claudette Peters, and Communications Manager Cecelia Thwaites.

One of the main attractions of this year’s festivities will be a special tribute to the late soca artist Ricardo Drue, who headlined last year’s event. The program will be co-hosted by NYC-based radio personality Lawrence Mason and Ibis the Livest.