NEW YORK, USA — Buoyed by the success of the initial staging of the Jamaican Rising Day Parade which celebrated Jamaica’s 64th year of Independence this past August, organisers of the event have set in motion an elaborate plan for the second iteration in August 2027.

The move follows a formal post-event review and an ongoing evaluation of results of the event, its shortcomings, and what is necessary to enhance its development.

Dr Lawman Lynch, one of the architects of the parade, told the Jamaica Observer that talks are currently taking place with various New York City agencies including the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Parks and Sanitation Department to ensure they are in compliance with the requirements for staging such a large event.

“Two other areas that are under consideration are arrangements to accommodate vendors and provide for more floats. We have also started to reach out to the business community in an effort to broaden participation in a more inclusive way,” said Lynch.

Another key figure behind the parade, Dr Bill Tinglin, listed 13 areas he said are under review to see how best they can improve on the initial staging of the parade.

Tinglin, who is founder, chairman and president of the Jamaican Rising Day Parade, also listed plans to increase the number of cultural bands, establishing clearer procedures for vendor participation, strengthening crowed management, and providing better accommodation for seniors, children and people with disabilities.

Dr Bill Tinglin, founder and chairman of the Jamaican Rising Day Parade, speaks at the launch of parade on August 8, 2026.File

He added that the creation of a major post-parade concert and cultural festival event is also being looked at.

Also under consideration are plans for a more extensive cultural programme, the inclusion of schools, churches, businesses, civic organisations and a longer, more defined parade route, subject to the approval of the New York City Municipal Council.

One key element going forward is that the parade will also seek to build stronger tourism, trade, cultural and educational connections with Jamaica.

According to Tinglin, the parade “demonstrated a strong desire within the Jamaican community for an annual celebration of this nature. It brought visibility to Jamaican culture and created a foundation upon which we can build something even greater”.

He said the ultimate goal is to build a Jamaican Rising Day Parade into a respected annual cultural institution with international reach.

LYNCH…talks are currently taking place with various New York City agencies including the New York Police Department

“We envision much more than just a procession… The plan is to develop educational programmes, youth leadership opportunities, scholarships cultural exhibitions, humanitarian initiatives and year-round engagement connecting Jamaica with its global diaspora,” Tinglin told the Observer.

He added that one plan going forward is to pursue appropriate formal recognition of the celebration through the proper legislative and governmental channels.

Meanwhile, reflecting on the success of the initial staging of the parade, Lynch said that during the early planning stages, organisers reckoned that an attendance of 1,000 or 5,000 people would have been a success, but in actuality they ended up with in excess of 50,000 participants.

He noted, too, that the parade provided some economic benefits for the Jamaican business community, especially those in the restaurant business.

“Many restaurants ran out of food as people celebrated late into the night after the event,” said Lynch as he underscored that the organisers expect to make some major announcements over the next few weeks regarding the way forward.

While the organisation did not realise a profit on the initial staging of the parade, organisers believe this will change in the near future, with Jamaica’s education system slated to be an early beneficiary.