Boston’s Carnival has been rolling since 1973, and its main day is one of the biggest Caribbean celebrations in the Northeast. The Grand Parade steps off in Roxbury and winds through Dorchester to Franklin Park, where masquerade bands in feathered, jeweled costumes — some of them months in the making — dance behind soca and calypso soundsystems and steel pan. The festival grounds at the park’s Playstead fill with food stalls, craft vendors, and music that keeps going all afternoon.

The day actually begins before sunrise with J’ouvert, the daybreak parade, before the main procession takes over after midday. Expect island flags from across the Caribbean, jerk smoke in the air, and a family crowd that runs from grandparents to kids on shoulders. It suits anyone who wants to see Boston at its most colorful — take the T, arrive early, and plan to stay on your feet.