Record 4,000 attend 14th annual Youth Pan Fest in Brooklyn

NEW YORK, United States. The Carlos Lezama Archives and Caribbean Cultural Center (CLACC-C) held a record 14th annual Children's Festival and Youth Pan Fest in Brooklyn on Saturday, August 29, drawing more than 4,000 people to St John's Place in Crown Heights.

It was the largest gathering in the festival's history, the organisation said.

Eleven junior steel bands and 17 soloists across four age divisions performed. The festival began 14 years ago with just three bands.

"This year's soloist competition grew so large [that] it required a preliminary round, held Aug.14 at Metro Pan Yard," CLACC-C said.

A historic home

The day opened with a ribbon-cutting for CLACC-C's new gallery and centre for learning at 1028 St John's Place.

The landmarked house is where the late Caribbean-American Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm ran her historic presidential campaign. It was bought in 1973 by Carlos Lezama, founder of New York's West Indian American Day Carnival, after whom CLACC-C is named.

A seven-year-old steel pan player opened the ceremony with the US national anthem.

Guests included Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, representatives of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke's office and State Senator Kevin Parker.

"The legacy of pan is in good hands"

Yolanda Lezama-Clark, Carlos Lezama's daughter and CLACC-C president, said: "We are so proud of the young people and what they were able to showcase. The ancestors would be proud. The legacy of pan is in good hands."

Her daughter, festival organiser Leah Clark-Brisard, said the festival had grown a great deal over the years.

"We are already discussing ways to improve systems to match the growing popularity," she said, thanking sponsors Emblem Health and Spectrum.

The festival was livestreamed by I Am Living My Life TV with Tish and on CLACC-C's own channel, drawing nearly 28,000 views across both platforms.

CLACC-C said the new centre will be open to the public and will offer programming throughout the year.