“One Love, One Haiti”: Brooklyn Parade Unites Culture and Community for 6th Annual Haitian Culture Day
Brooklyn, NY — April 8, 2025 | On Saturday, May 10, Brooklyn’s Little Haiti will once again transform into a vibrant corridor of music, movement, and heritage as the 6th Annual Haitian Culture Day Parade and Festival unfolds along Nostrand Avenue. Organized by Life of Hope (Ayiti Nou La Toujou) in collaboration with Citi Health, this highly anticipated celebration kicks off Haitian Heritage Month in New York with the powerful theme: “One Love, One Haiti.”
More than just a slogan, this year’s theme is a call to unity—among Haitians in the diaspora, on the island, and across the Caribbean. It’s a celebration of shared identity, collective strength, and cultural pride that transcends borders.
Parade Through the Heart of Little Haiti
The day begins at 11:00 AM, as a colorful procession of floats, dancers, marching bands, and cultural groups begins at Nostrand Avenue (Toussaint L’Ouverture Blvd.) and Church Avenue (Pierre Toussaint Blvd.), moving through Brooklyn’s historic Haitian and Caribbean enclaves and culminating at Flatbush Junction (Hillel Plaza).
The parade route, named after two icons of Haitian liberation—Toussaint L’Ouverture and Pierre Toussaint—sets the tone for a day of honoring Haiti’s revolutionary legacy and artistic brilliance. Crowds of families, elders, youth, and visitors from around the tri-state area are expected to line the streets, waving Haitian flags and dancing to the infectious rhythms of konpa, rabòday, and Afro-Caribbean beats.
Festival at Hillel Plaza: A Feast of Culture and Community
From 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the celebration continues with a free cultural festival at Hillel Plaza, featuring an exciting lineup of performers and activities:
Musical headliners include internationally acclaimed Konpa band T-Vice and rising Raboday artist AndyBeatz
Arts and crafts, face painting, and open mic sessions for all ages
Local food vendors offering authentic Haitian and Caribbean cuisine
A bustling community resource fair and marketplace with handmade goods
The event will be hosted by renowned DJ Hard Hittin Harry, keeping the energy high throughout the afternoon.
The Power of “One Love, One Haiti”
The 2025 theme—“One Love, One Haiti”—is deeply symbolic. It evokes the spirit of solidarity rooted in Haiti’s revolutionary beginnings, while also acknowledging the modern-day need for collective uplift. In a time marked by global challenges and internal struggles, the theme calls on Haitians everywhere to remember their shared lineage and to move forward in love, not division.
“We chose this theme to remind our community that despite the hardships, we are one people,” said Porez Luxama, Executive Director of Life of Hope, during last year’s event. “When we come together to celebrate our roots, we strengthen the future.”
It’s a message echoed in the streets of Flatbush, where Haitian flags hang proudly from storefronts and Creole fills the air. The celebration is more than cultural—it’s political, spiritual, and emotional.
Honoring Heritage and Looking Ahead
Last year’s event drew more than 1,000 attendees and featured iconic band Tabou Combo, with support from elected officials including U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, who told The Haitian Times,
“I stand on the frontline [for Haiti] out of love and respect, knowing that Haiti’s liberation meant my liberation.”
Now entering its sixth year, the parade has grown from a local celebration to a recognized cultural institution in Brooklyn, anchoring the official Little Haiti District and reinforcing the neighborhood’s identity amid ongoing changes and gentrification.
A Living Legacy
More than 10,000 are expected to attend this year’s parade and festival, drawn by the rich tradition, the community spirit, and the joy of being seen and celebrated.
Whether you’re dancing alongside the floats, sampling griot and pikliz, or simply soaking in the rhythms of your ancestors, Haitian Culture Day is a reminder that Haiti is not just a nation—it is a global heartbeat.
Event Highlights
📍 Parade Start: Nostrand Ave. & Church Ave. | ⏰ 11:00 AM
🏁 End Location: Hillel Plaza, Flatbush Junction
🎉 Festival Time: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
🎶 Headliners: T-Vice, AndyBeatz | 🎟 Admission: FREE
Join the movement. Celebrate “One Love, One Haiti” this May in Brooklyn—where culture marches on.
