The sights, sounds, tastes and history of the Caribbean were presented and celebrated this morning at Nathan Phillips Square during the official launch of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
The month-long event, believed to be the largest street festival of its kind in North America, is returning after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. It will last until July 31.
“We’re really excited to be back and welcome everyone,” said Laverne Garcia, executive chairman of the festival’s steering committee.
“It really is for all people. Although it is the largest Caribbean cultural festival, it also has something for everyone. … It’s about equality, it’s about diversity. Many people do not realize that the roots of carnival are emancipation and that is why there is a big celebration.
This year, children and families are invited to take part in the new ‘Kiddies for Mas’ carnival on Sunday in Scarborough town centre, as well as the Youth Parade set for July 16, also in Scarborough.
KIDDIES FOR MAS Jr. The King & Queen Showcase will be held at a new location, Scarborough Town Center (Triton Rd and Borough Dr car park) on 10 July 2022 from 2pm to 8pm.
Free for children under 12 pic.twitter.com/O8FVHNhCmt
— Toronto Carnival (@GoTOCarnival) June 25, 2022
The carnival will then conclude with the Grande Parade along Lake Shore Boulevard West on July 30. This year’s parade will feature more than 10,000 colorful masqueraders and a dozen mass groups marching and dancing along Lake Shore West Boulevard and on the grounds of Exhibition Place.
After two years of lockdowns and canceled events, the 55th Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an expression of all that we have been missing and an opportunity to be reborn. We can’t wait to see your photos! Tag us #OnDeRoadAgain #TorontoCaribbeanCarnival pic.twitter.com/XZVBUM6jut
— Toronto Carnival (@GoTOCarnival) June 19, 2022
Some of the other highlights of the final weekend include the King and Queen Showcase on Thursday, July 28, the Ontario Steel Pan Association’s Pan Alive Showcase on Friday, July 29, and the new Carnival Flavors event on Sunday, July 31.
Hundreds of thousands of revelers are expected to attend the final weekend of Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival, which coincides with Emancipation Day, a symbolic celebration of the 1834 abolition of slavery in the British Empire.
Speaking at Thursday morning’s launch, Toronto Mayor John Tory said events like the Caribbean Carnival are needed to “bring people together.
He said this festival serves as a reminder of “how much we respect each other, how much we embrace each other, how much we need each other to make this city the place it is.”
Today we officially kicked off this year’s @GoTOCarnival!
A big thank you to all the dedicated staff and volunteers who helped make this day – and Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival Month – a reality.
I saw that hard work in action today, meeting residents out and about enjoying the festivities. pic.twitter.com/wvpZkyEti1
— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) July 7, 2022
As part of the carnival kick-off, Deputy Premier Chrystia Freeland also announced $1 million in funding from the federal government’s tourism support fund. This money will be used to modernize the festival, expand its offerings and improve visitor experiences through the development of a new app, as well as upgrades to its website to better support online ticket sales. These funds will also allow organizers to hold Caribbean Carnival themed events in Toronto throughout the year.
The Toronto Caribbean Festival, formerly known as Caribana, was first established in 1967.
Festival events are typically attended by more than 1.2 million people, including 180,000 tourists.
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