Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Canada

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What is Toronto Caribbean Carnival?

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival, formerly known as Caribana, is afestival of Caribbean culture and traditions held each summer in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This carnival is known as thelargest street festival in North America, as approximately 1.3 million people attend each year to see the different events that take place in the city. TheToronto Caribbean Carnival is one of the largest Caribbean carnivals outside the Caribbean, along with those of New York City, Notting Hill and Boston.

TheToronto Caribbean Carnival celebration has a high cultural sentiment, as itcommemorates Caribbean heritage in the city and country. In addition, it was introduced to Canada by Caribbean immigrants and takes the different elements of the Trinidad and Tobago carnival festivities, but also integrates elements of street dancing, costumes and masks from other Caribbean islands. Carnivals have been a fundamental support for the preservation and expression of Caribbean identity in Canada.

 

 

Carnival also takes place alongside other cultural events in the country, which is why these celebrations hold great importance for the Caribbean and Afro-descendant communities of Canada. For example, the carnival is held relatively close to the Calypso celebrations held by the Canadian Negro Women’s Organization and the Emancipation Day parades.

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival owes much to the Canadian Negro Women’s Association in English Caribbean Negro Women’s Association or CANEWA, as in the mid-20th century it produced, financed and organized annual Caribbean Culture Day celebrations where different cultural presentations through food, dance and music were held. These celebrations were called Calypso Carnivals or Calypso Carnivals.

 

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When is Toronto Caribbean Carnival

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Toronto Caribbean Carnival features 4 days of official celebrations running from late July to early August. However, some carnival celebrations begin to take place even 3 weeks earlier.

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival will be taking place from approximately July 29 to August 1.

 

 

History of the Toronto Caribbean Carnivals

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The Toronto Caribbean Carnival came about through the initiative of various organizations such as the Canadian Association of Black Women, as it held several annual celebrations in the mid-20th century tocommemorate the country’s Caribbean culture. The carnivals began as fundraisers for scholarships for African-descended students to attend schools in southern Ontario. The founders of this parade were largely descendants of runaway slaves and other African-descended American immigrants.

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival began to be held properly since 1967, when its purpose was simply to give some space to the Canadian Caribbean community. The Canadian government, presenting itself as a multicultural nation, invited different cultural and ethnic groups to contribute to celebrations with different cultural tints. Previously, the carnival was known as Caribana, a name that was designed by the organizers to capture the sense of Caribana, the Caribbean, the bacchanal and joy. Caribbean.

The former Caribana came about because of the many Caribbean residents who immigrated to Canada after immigration reform. Caribana events were run by non-profit organizations based in Toronto, members of the Caribbean Cultural Committee or Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC) were among the community leaders who organized the first Caribana.

As the carnival began to gain popularity and to be held consecutively, the festival organization had to begin borrowing money from the city of Toronto in advance of the festival, to be repaid from festival proceeds. By 1992, the festival had accumulated a very substantial debt to the city. That is why Toronto controversially forgave all outstanding debt after the 1992 event. In addition, that same year, Caribana developed a new partnership with Toronto-area hotels.

In 2004, the consul general of Trinidad and Tobago undertook to work more closely with the Caribana Cultural Committee to obtain support for the carnival from the business community; as a result, the committee received about 1 million Canadian dollars that year from the national, provincial and municipal governments..

In 2006, the Caribbean Cultural Committee again ran into financial problems because the Toronto city government cut off funds until the organization could get its finances in order. Also, that same year the carnival changed its name due to a dispute over trademark ownership, becoming the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

In 2010 the festival added a new initiative to involve post-secondary schools. The only university to participate was Centennial College School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture, who created a Tropical Amazon costume theme.

 

Where is Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival

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Caribbean carnivals are held in the city of Toronto, the current capital of Ontario. Currently the city of Toronto has a population of almost 3 million people. It is also the economic capital of the entire country and one of Canada’s leading financial cities.

Currently, Toronto leads in several economic sectors, some of them are media, tourism, education and arts.

 

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How is the Toronto Caribbean Carnival celebrated

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Toronto Caribbean Carnivals are celebrated with a plethora of events during the days of festivities. The carnivals occupy diverse activities, which occupy cultural performances, live music, parades, parties, festivals and gastronomic activities.

Among the most important activities of the carnival are:

 

Grand Carnival Parade

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The parade is held on the last weekend the carnivals and is usually celebrated on a patriotic date. The Parade event consists of costumed dancers with Mas Bands ensembles actively participating in the parade, this action is known as “Mas Player or Mas Play.” The event is accompanied by live Caribbean music played from large 18-truck speakers. Much of the music associated with the event is made up ofsteel drums, soca and calypso.

 

Mas Bands or Mas Bands of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival

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Among the Mas Bands that is organize entertain the different shows are:

 

Sunline Canada

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Family oriented and has over twenty years of experience in presenting ensemble performance and events.

 

Fantazia Carnival

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It has continuously been in the top 5 bands in the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Parade. Likewise, it also holds the title of special recognitions of bands in 2012.

 

Epic Carnival

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It has a large collection of costumes of various designs, colors and decorations.

 

Toronto Revellers

It has more than 2,000 revelers, volunteers and designers who contribute to the carnival designs each year.

Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club

It was created in Trinidad and Tobado to come to Canada in 1970. It has an interesting vision of art and creativity which it reflects in its ensembles.

 

Allure Carnival

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It is one of the youngest Carnival brands offering ensembles that reflect the true Mas culture.

 

Election of the Royal Court

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The night before the big parade, all the kings and queens of the bands compete in the Estadio lamport to be named King and Queen of Carnival.

 

Children’s Parade

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The youth carnival began to be held since the 1990s and provides an opportunity for young people to dance through the streets. This parade also features the presence of the Mas Bands.

 

J’ouvert

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It is a smaller parade before dawn. It is a tradition that takes place in several Caribbean countries in Carnival time. It consists of the most rhythmic event of the carnivals, as it features several musical bands.

This is a ceremony of great cultural significance for the descendants of Caribbean families, since it represents theend of slavery and the first vestiges of freedom. In addition, it also has a spiritual meaning, which consists of scaring away demons. During the festivities, participants cover themselves from head to toe with mud, flour, talcum powder, paints and water.

 

Fêtes o Fetes

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These are large parties that occur before and during the carnival festivities. They usually feature the participation of various artists, DJ’s and international musicians.

 

Tips for going to Toronto’s Caribbean Carnivals

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If possible, plan your trip in advance, make an itinerary of activities and book your preferred accommodations in advance. Also, be sure to pack rock and comfortable shoes so you can fully enjoy your carnivals.

If it is within your means, we recommend that you take an active part in the carnivals and purchase the Mas Bands package so that you can live the full carnival experience.

Physical activity, alcohol consumption and the heat while celebrating in the street can cause your body to dehydrate quickly, so we recommend that you carry a thermos of water with you so that you can hydrate constantly. Also, be sure to apply sunscreen whenever your skin needs it.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:

 

Events at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival

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The Toronto Caribbean Carnival or Caribana features some events that take place before the official start of the celebrations such as children’s carnival events for the whole family, some dance performances and music, opening ceremonies and some sports activities..

Once the Toronto Caribbean Carnival has begun, we can name the activities that stand out the most in the festivities:

 

Parade

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The parade is usually held on August 1, as it commemorates a patriotic holiday in several regions of the country.

People congregate in the streets with their sets of Mas Bands to dance to live Caribbean music and various horn stations. The bands compete against each other during the parade, as a jury will rate the different components of the bands such as costume design, theenergy of the participants, presentation and other elements. The rhythms that predominate in the streets during the parade are calypso, soca, reggae, jazz and dancehall.

 

J’ouvert

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The event runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m..

Thousands of participants take to the streets to cover themselves in mud, flour and paint, accompanied by musical bands and whistles. The streets are in total uproar during the J’ouvert, people party and have an entertaining time commemorating their culture.

 

Fêtes

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Fêtes take place before and during the carnival.

Among the various festivals or fetes that take place during carnival, the following can be highlighted:

 

DayLit

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A great party with the participation of dozens of national and international artists. It is very similar to a festival, since several artists perform and you must attend the concert of your choice.

 

 

Soca X Hip Hop

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An event where Soca and HipHop collide, causing a great explosive celebration between both musical genres.

 

Set It Off

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It is a potpourri of variousLatin genres and various artists performing live. The genres with the most relevance in the event are Hip Hop, R&B, Old School, Reggae and Soca.

 

Carnival Pool Experience

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A themed celebration that merges carnivals with beach clubs.

 

Oasis

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This is a pool-themed party. The event has a dress restriction, as you must attend in white.

 

Food Festivals or Picnics

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They are held at Ontario Place and mainly serve rotis, jerk chicken, callaloo, potato pudding potato pudding, pelau, fried fish, rum cakes, Mauby and ginger beer. The event is also held under a celebratory and festive atmosphere.

 

Calypso Tents

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These are areas where shows with storytellers, comedians and other entertainment events are held.

 

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Toronto Caribbean Carnival Parade

 

The thousands of participants congregate in the streets with their Mas Bands ensembles. Usually, people gather in one place with others wearing the same ensemble, as each Mas Band presents its own entertainment and services.

The parade is accompanied by different areas of live music where rhythms of Soca, Reggae, Calypso and other musical genres predominate. In addition, different trucks with speakers are installed to take the celebration and dancing to another level.

 

Parade route

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The parade starts at Exhibition Place and Lakeshore Blvd. and then makes its way down Lakeshore Boulevard. Once the parade reaches Lakeshore and Parkside Dr., it will turn around and head back the way it came.

 

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What to eat at Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival

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One of the foods you can try during the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is the Pelau. This dish is a great mix of vegetables such as pigeon peas, onions, peppers, chicken and a lot of condiments and sauces. In addition, you can try the Rum Cake. This is a very popular cake in the Caribbean area and is made with eggs, milk, coconut, flour and a large amount of rum.

The city of Toronto also offers a lot of restaurants and bars where you can go to eat and enjoy a varied local cuisine. Some of the most famous places are: Scaramouche Restaurant, Moxie’s Grill & Bar, Kit Kat, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen and Richmond Station. These places offer local, American, French, grill, Mediterranean and some vegetarian options.

 

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Travel Insurance

 

From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Toronto Caribbean Carnival

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Carnivals offer you a large repertoire of activities in which you can participate. First, you have the opportunity to attend the different events and cultural presentationsthat are located in different parts of the city. In addition, you have the opportunity toattend the various parties or themed parties throughout the celebration.

You can’t miss the Carnival Parade for anything in the world, as it is one of the most important events in the festivities. If you have the opportunity, we recommend purchasing the Bandas Mas package so you canhave the full carnival experience. In addition, you will have the opportunity to attend amagical event full of music and dance.

If you feel like getting a little dirty, you can attend the carnival J’ouvert. Here, you’ll have the opportunity toshare with other participants the joy of the carnivals and play with dirt, mud, talcum powder and paint. Finally, we recommendattending the Caribbean food fair that is organized to give you the opportunity to try typical Caribbean dishes and drinks.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside the Toronto Caribbean Carnivals

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Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

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It is one of the most important galleries in the city that consists of a wide variety of paintings and sculptures of different genres and eras. In addition, it also has an exhibition of Canadian art, pieces of indigenous art and culture and scale ships. Among its most renowned artists are Vincent van Gogh, Camille Pissarro, Paul Gauguin and Jean-Siméon Chardin.

 

St. Lawrence Market

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It is a large municipal market where you can find a variety of local and imported products. Within its facilities you can find stalls of vegetables, meats, fish, cheese and fruits. In addition, they also sell prepared food, so you can go there to eat grills, seafood, baked goods or cakes.

 

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

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This is a large aquarium containing a large number of marine species. Some sections of the exhibits are made up of tunnels, so you have a 180-degree view of the aquarium. Inside its facilities you can find stingrays, jellyfish, sharks, turtles and even fossils.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety at Toronto Caribbean Carnivals

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The city of Toronto has the reputation of being one of the safest cities in the world, with a very low crime rate, so you should not worry about walking the streets during the day or at night. We recommend you to implement basic safety measures and use common sense.

 

 

Also, we recommend the following products to store your items safely and securely:

 

 

Weather at Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival

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During the Toronto Caribbean Carnival or Caribana celebration, the city’s weather is relatively pleasant, with temperatures hovering around 18 to 27 degrees Celsius and little chance of precipitation.

 

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How to get to Toronto Caribbean Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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The nearest airport is theToronto Pearson International Airport which receives flights from all over the world. Once you are here, you can use the different means of transportation to get to the city center.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by train

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From the airport you can take a train of the company UP Express Union. The journey takes approximately 25 minutes and the price ranges between 3 and 10 US dollars.

In addition, from the AMTRAK or GO Train stations you can access different parts of the province.

 

How to get there by bus

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From the airport you can use a bus company Toronto Transit. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes and the price ranges from 2 to 17 US dollars.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take the ON-427 and Gardiner Expy E to reach the city center. The ride is about 26 minutes to the city center.

If you decide to take a cab, the taxi fare ranges from US$55 to US$70.

 

Where to stay at Toronto Caribbean Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Toronto Don Valley Hotel and Suites

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3-star hotel 9 km from Toronto city center. Rooms feature coffee maker, ironing set, cable TV and private bathroom with basic toiletries. Hotel offers 2 pools, fitness center, room service, restaurant, free breakfast, bar, parking and free wifi.

 

Chelsea Hotel Toronto

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3-star hotel 800 meters from Toronto’s city center. Rooms feature cable TV, cable TV, sitting area, desk and refrigerator. Facilities include pool, fitness center, room service, bar and free wifi.

 

Sandman Signature Toronto Airport Hotel

4-star hotel 17 km from Toronto city center. Rooms have TVs and private bathrooms with basic toiletries. In addition, facilities offer pool, fitness center, room service, bar, restaurant, parking and free wifi.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

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