After a one-year hiatus, the West Indian Day Parade returned to Brooklyn on Monday.

Still, amid coronavirus concerns, only a limited number of people were allowed to take part in the march along Eastern Parkway.  

Participants who spoke with NY1 prior to the parade said that while the event would be different this year, they were excited it was being held at all.  

“It was really sad when we couldn’t do it for 2020, but I’m glad to do it again,” said Adori Harris, a parade participant.

“I’m just glad to have the opportunity to come out here and do it with a small group,” said Akwasi Agyeman, another parade participant.

In that small group of about 100 people was a large contingent of local and state officials. Among them was Sen. Chuck Schumer and Mayor Bill de Blasio. The city’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, served as one of the event’s co-grand marshals.

“You know, we’ve been through such a tough year and a half, but despite all the tragedy, despite the grief and loss, we’re here, and you know it’s about rebirth,” McCray said.

After last year’s J’ouvert celebrations were held virtually, this year organizers decided to go with a hybrid approach.

Some events were planned to take place in person, others were not.

What the parade lacked entirely this year was a large group of spectators.

For previous celebrations, thousands of people showed up to the event which serves as a celebration of Caribbean culture.

For 2021, the West Indian American Day Carnival Association decided to keep some of the parade details under wraps in order to keep crowds from forming along the parade right.

Some locals were actually baffled to see it that it was happening at all.

“It’s a surprise. It’s great that it’s out. It’s a little weird that it wasnt advertised,” said Rafael Gonzalez, a Brooklyn Resident who just happened upon the parade while out for a walk.

It was a strategy implemented as a way to ensure that the parade would not jeopardize people’s health.

The NYPD had its own concerns about safety, as it does every year.

Even with fewer participants and nearly zero spectators, dozens of officers were still assigned to cover the parade route.

They were also there for a pre-dawn celebration, attended by another 100 people, which took place near the Brooklyn Library and remained peaceful.

“Overall in Brooklyn, it was good work by the men and women from Brooklyn North and Brooklyn South. They made sure that everything was safe,” said NYPD Chief of Department Rodney Harrison.

The parade wrapped up at the Brooklyn Museum with a short reception in front of the building, followed by a party held behind the museum.

The event, which continued for several hours after the parade was a ticketed event.