The West Indian American Day Carnival Association has hosted the Labor Day celebration for the past 51 years, but it takes months of legwork to get it ready.

More than a dozen people put in long hours and months of hard work to make the carnival happen. Chairperson Angela Seayl says right after the West Indian Day Parade is over, they start preparing for the next one.

"What some people may not know is 90 percent of the people that make this festival happen are volunteers and interns," Seayl says.

The carnival started in Harlem back in the 1930s before it moved to Brooklyn. In recent years, the carnival has been a day for the Caribbean community to celebrate their countries' victories through music, dance, costumes and food.

"I couldn't imagine doing anything else. This is our countries traditions and we do it for the love of it," Seayl says. "We want people to feel at home, a day to celebrate our accomplishments."

This year's parade is set for Sept. 3 along the Eastern Parkway.