When: July 14 - August 1, 2011
Caribana Parade Weekend: Thurs July 28th-Mon August 1st
The 44th annual Caribana Toronto Festival is just around the corner and hundreds of Caribbean inspired events, classes and parties have been planned to mark to this year’s festival. Toronto’s Caribbean Caribana festival has grown exponentially since its start in 1967 and is currently North America’s largest cultural festival. What was once a three-day event has now grown into three weeks of celebration, absorbing most of the city with its infectious feel-good vibes.
Over a million tourists are expected in Toronto during the last week of July to experience everything Caribana has to offer. The beauty of Caribana in Toronto is the varied audience it attracts: everyone from families across Canada and the U.S, young singles looking for a good time, to celebrities throwing Caribana themed parties in clubs across Toronto.
Caribana Festival 2010 officially kicks off Thursday July 14th with the Scotiabank Caribana Official Festival Launch at Younge & Dundas Square (Noon – 2pm). Thousands of people are expected to attend the afternoon affair that will feature live music, an array of delicious Caribbean food (Jamaican, Trinidadian, Cuban), insightful art displays and theatrical performances that showcase Caribbean inspired life. If you can’t make it to this one, no need to worry, there will be over a hundred official and unofficial events to see and experience such as Pan Alive (the highly entertaining steelpan competition), the Junior Carnival Parade and the King & Queen Competition - one of the festival’s craziest events has the leaders of the mas (masquerade) bands compete to win the title of King and Queen of the Caribana parade.
Toronto Caribana’s signature event is still, of course the parade itself – known now as the Scotiabank Caribana Parade being held Saturday, July 30th at Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Boulevard (10am – 6pm). Over 10,000 masquerades will participate as they strut and dance down the 3.6 km route in elaborate costumes, set to the vibrant Caribbean beats of the famed mas bands.
It wouldn’t be a well rounded Caribana experience if you didn’t hit a Caribana party or two… or ten! This year, over 30 Caribana-nightlife events will take place during the parade weekend alone. From July 28 – August 2nd, get your drink and dance on as top North American DJ’s spin at exclusive club events, eat and dance aboard Festival Boat Cruises, check out live Soca, Calypso, dancehall, reggae and be sure to find one of several pumping street parties - sure to kick your Caribana weekend into high gear.
Toronto Caribana Parade @ Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Boulevard
The Caribana parties and events are great but the main attraction of the Caribana Festival is the 2011 Scotiabank Caribana Parade (North America's largest Caribbean Parade). With over a million people set to attend, this year's Toronto Caribana Parade will start off inside Exhibition Place as the competing Masquerade Bands (also known as Mas Bands) will fill the stadium with live Soca, Calypso and Steeplan music! The elaborate costumes, props and lively dancers bring everything to life and add to this incredible experience that happens only once a year.
You can of course catch the Parade free of charge by lining up along the Lakeshore Parade route. However, if you want a comfortable seat within Exhibition Place (200 Princes' Blvd.) where you can catch the whole performance up close, tickets are affordable ($20 before tax) and considering the parade's length (approx 4-6 hours), it is definitely worth it.
The Caribbean calypso beat has been a staple at the Toronto Caribana Parade since the festival's debut in 1967. Soca is newer to the scene, popping up about 15 years ago. For those not familiar with this sexier cousin of Calypso, its sound is faster and lyrically can be sexually charged or just plain comedic, depending on the song. Steelpans will be all over the parade route and Toronto's Caribana attracts some of North America's most skilful players.
Don't forget to catch the King & Queen Show on Thursday July 28th at Lamport Stadium to get a glimpse of some of the most elaborate costumes and dynamic performances that will highlight the Official 2011 Caribana Parade.
The Toronto Caribana Parade 2011 kicks off Saturday July 30th starting at 10am and ends at 6pm (just enough time to get ready for one of Saturday's many Caribana nightlife celebrations). The Parade route begins at Exhibition Place, travelling down Lakeshore Blvd West and ends at Lakeshore and Parkside Drive (approximately 4.5 kilometres).
Purchase Tickets
Contact
416-391-5608
.Address
Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Boulevard , 15 Saskatchewan Road, Toronto, ON
.Event Type
Special Event, Caribana
.Dates
Saturday July 30th, 2011
.Hours 10am-6pm
.Crowd Family Event
.Dress Code None
.Music Soca, Calypso, Live Music
.Price Free
.Notes $20-$25 to enter the Exhibition Place. However, most of the parade is held on Lakeshore Boulevard which is FREE!
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