Are you making a
trip to Toronto for this year’s Caribana? For Sure, Toronto Caribbean carnival won’t
disappoint you! Join this year to celebrate 50th anniversary of this
festival of Caribbean rhythm, culture and vibrant costumes-Powered by PartsAvatar Car Parts.
Cheer up! Your favourite
carnival is back! This time celebrations are going to be bigger than ever. The
Toronto Caribbean carnival is celebrating 5 weeks of Caribbean music, cuisine
and revelry.
Immerse yourself
in the spectacular Caribbean music, cuisine and festivities for five weeks. Check
out this article which illustrates this festival in detail for your
understanding and enjoyment.
A look at the origins of the festival
This festival
was introduced to Canada by the immigrants of Caribbean islands mostly from
Trinidad and Tobago. This festival of art reflects the diverse traditions of
Caribbean, bringing together instrumental music, dance, masquerade and
indigenous songs.
In 1967 the
Caribbean cultural committee (CCC) created Caribana to show the rich Caribbean
culture to Toronto. Participation of groups from central and South America,
Bahamas, Haiti and elsewhere in Canada has added a dimension of multiculturalism
to the festival which is uniquely Canadian.
Most anticipated events of this festival
Caribana usually
officially launches in July, with a number of events leading up to big parade
weekend. Surely Caribana won’t disappoint you. Take a look at some events that
are most anticipated this year though you can check the schedule at the official site of
Toronto Caribana.
Annual Gala
One of the most
anticipated events of Caribana is annual carnival ball that provides a preview
of masquerades and carnival music and performance to the community of
supporters including donors and partners with unique menus.
Ocpa Kaiso 365 show
OCPA has been
staging competitions that help in giving exposure to more artists thus
providing greater variety, excitement and entertainment for the audience. The
main purpose of the organizers behind this show is to encourage young singers
to create innovative style of calypso and offer innovative ideas on
interpreting the art form. Note that artist and information is subject to
change. So check the website for more updates.
King & Queen Show
The king and
queen show had been a part of Caribana tradition where the leaders of mass
bands will perform for the judges and the audiences. The king and queen are
selected on the basis of their costumes and performances related to the given
theme.
Enjoy nightlife with steel pan orchestras!
On the carnival
weekend the steel pan orchestras compete for the title of best steel band. The
crowd can enjoy the nightlife of Caribana with traditional dance, steel
drumming and performances on Caribana rhythm.
Visit the Carnival village
Carnival village
is a community celebration of music, parade and dance to promote multicultural
identity of regent park downtown community. It is a family friendly event which
showcases workshops, concerts and street theatre reflecting Caribbean culture
and traditions.
Bon appétit @ carnival
If you crave for
some Caribbean cuisine then don’t worry as Carnival Island is here at your
service. You will get to taste Caribbean cuisine with Canadian touch.
Music and food
make a better mix of enjoyment. Expect to hear everything from traditional soca
dance music to indo-Bhojpuri music. It is quite a family friendly event so
don’t miss it!
Check out the Chutney
Chutney
is an event that a whole family can enjoy. There will be dance performances and
musical shows for entertainment of the crowd. Children tickets are half off
regular adults.
The Grand parade
The grand parade
is highlight of the Caribana event and is most anticipated by local, national and
international audience. The parade is a display of vibrant costumes, sound and
color that winds its way past dense crowd for several hours. The grand parade
has its tradition from late 1700s when African slaves would wear masks and
costumes to masquerade as their owners, mocking and mimicking them on
harvesting celebrations.
Guest bands,
steel bands and cultural bands also participate in grand parade.
Participants
in the parade are organized into masquerade bands. Each masquerade band is
based on a particular theme which can be historical, political of fantasy
related. The king and queen lead the bands in most lavish costumes.
The most
exciting thing is that these bands compete with each other and the judges
declare the results on the basis of themes and costumes worn at the end.
Different
musical waves can be felt in the parade showcasing diverse Caribbean culture.
The musical forms generally include calypso, Soca, Reggae, tassa drumming,
Cadence and Latin salsa.
Kiddie carnival
The beauty of this
festival is it is for all age groups. Kids showcase their Caribbean culture in
the junior carnival by dancing through the streets in their brightly coloured
costumes. Young performers take part in parade which is almost like the grand
parade. Different band leaders display their themed costumes.
Prepare yourself for the Fun!
As you have read
above, Caribana is more than just a parade. It has several notable events which
are family friendly. How to enjoy it till the end? Read ahead!
1. Carnival is
full of Caribbean music such as Chutney/Soca/ calypso, so DJ who doesn’t have
newest chunes in their line up is not trusted.
2. it’s very
important to stay hydrated as there will be quite walking and dancing under the
sun. Bring lots of water along as dancing needs a lot of energy.
3. Don’t get sun
burnt. Wear hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from heat.
4. Parade is all
about walking so wearing comfortable shoes is going to be a good idea for you!
5. Make sure you are hungry as there will be a
lot of Caribbean cuisine. Don’t forget to capture your moments.
6. Parking may
be difficult to find and is going to be most likely expensive. It would be wise
to plan your route ahead of time.
Bottom-line
So there you
have it! Prepare yourself to dance on Soca! If you come out of town for
Caribana, make sure to put these events on your list. Keep yourself updated by
checking official website.
Happy Fêting!!
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