One of the biggest street parties in the city —the West Indian American Day Parade — stepped off Monday morning, with paradegoers lining up and down the route waving Caribbean flags and donning colorful costumes.

The long-standing tradition, which has been taking place for nearly six decades in the city, is the biggest Caribbean carnival in the country, according to parade organizers.

As is tradition, the parade followed the early morning of celebration of J’Ouvert, a term that originates from the French word meaning "daybreak.”

Some of the partygoers said they had been here since J’Ouvert. They said the event is a chance to celebrate Caribbean culture with costumes, music, dancing and food.

“It’s a way for us to just come out with your community and remember where you came from, pass it on to the future generation and just spread the love and the culture,” Jayah Mederick said. “It makes me feel proud that we came here and we’re trying to live the American Dream. We’re doing it as Black Americans too, and we’re actively pursuing it, passing on our culture, not forgetting where we came from, and staying true to who we are.”

The parade marches along Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, starting at Utica Avenue near Lincoln Terrace Park.

Then it heads west to Grand Army Plaza near the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park.

The NYPD said it is ramping up security to ensure the safety of paradegoers, including implementing the use of drones and additional checkpoints.

Officials said there are also dozens of temporary surveillance cameras throughout the borough.

In previous years, the parade has been marred by gun violence.

Mayor Eric Adams cut the ceremonial ribbon to kick off the parade and marched in the celebration as well.