Sesame Flyers Junior Carnival launches with Kings Plaza revelry

A group of young revelers adorned in dazzling carnival costumes launched Sesame Flyers Junior Carnival Band 2026 on July 11 in the Center Court of Kings Plaza Mall in Brooklyn.

Themed “Sesame Carnival: Rhythm of the Renaissance 2026,” the vivid designs — complete with towering, feathered head pieces and paired with jeweled body suits and swimsuit creations etched with sequins and beading to depict the various sections of the band — looked beautiful on teens and tweens, as they masqueraded to Soca music and waved Caribbean flags. 

Some of the sections included Drumline Command, Soca Rhythm of the Renaissance, and Rising Tempo, among others. 

The showcase gave parents a feast for their eyes, as they get the little masqueraders ready for the children’s road march competition on Sept. 5 on the streets of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. 

This is a part of the Labor Day weekend festivities on Eastern Parkway, organized by the Caribbean American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), now in its 59th year of celebration.

The band leader and organizers are returning to the Carnival Renaissance of 2024, recalling the pageantry and mas’ production,” they said.

According to the website, the designers want the road to look like a dream again. “For too long, New York Carnival has seen its magic dimmed, costumes forgotten, and the road without color, and people showing up to the parade, but not in it. Carnival is never meant to be watched from the sidelines. It was made for participation,” it said.

“This year, we turn to the excitement of showing out,” the website added. “We celebrate the designers, the wire benders, the Mas makers to turn raw materials into living art, and the Masquerader who bring it all to life.”

Registration is now open at Sesame Carnival Mas Camp at 3510 Church Avenue in Brooklyn.