Toronto Caribbean Carnival marks its 55th anniversary with a return to in-person events after pandemic pause

More than 10,000 masqueraders expected to perform on July 30 on the Exhibition Place grounds.

Thestar.com
June 7, 2022
Ghada Alsharif

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is getting ready to have its first festival since the pandemic halted the city’s beloved vibrant multi-day annual celebrations.

“We are so excited to welcome everyone back after two years of being away. We had some virtual events last year to tide us over, but we’re thrilled to be back on the road again this year,” said Laverne Garcia executive chair of the Festival Management Committee.

Carnival’s official launch will take place on July 7 followed by events throughout the city and GTA in the weeks leading up to a four-day celebration on Emancipation Day weekend, with the Grand Parade on July 30 and a Caribbean International Food and Drink Festival on July 31.

Carnival, formerly known as Caribana and touted as “North America’s largest Caribbean carnival,” is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. Before COVID-19, the festivities would draw hundreds of thousands of people from across Canada and abroad each summer to celebrate Caribbean culture over several days, culminating in a final weekend featuring the spectacular Grand Parade, filling the streets with music, colourful costumes, masqueraders and steel pan performers.

But in the last two years, Carnival and its organizers have had to adapt to COVID-19 lockdown and health regulations, including hosting virtual events such as makeup workshops, parties and even cooking classes over Zoom. In August 2020 a daylong party called “The Virtual Road” was organized via Zoom, complete with performers and DJs from around the around.

Garcia said the pandemic has been a struggle especially for businesses associated with Carnival, from food and beverage services to mas bands who could no longer sell costumes for the parade.

As well as the financial hit, the community also suffered, Garcia said. There is a word for the feeling of sadness and longing that follows the end of Carnival, which the community calls “tabanca.”

“It has been three years of this feeling of tabanca. A lot of people think carnival is just a street party but it’s really important to our culture because it’s a celebration of emancipation and freedom and inclusion,” Garcia said.

Caribana was first held in Toronto in August 1967 and was organized by members of the Caribbean community as part of Canada’s Centennial celebrations and a tribute to Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The event is about us unshackling ourselves from the vestiges of slavery,” said Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, speaking at a media launch event for this year’s Carnival on Monday. “We should always remember the purpose of this celebration. It’s about our freedom.”

This year, Carnival will have an all-new “Grand Parade Central” on July 30, hosted on the grounds of Toronto’s Exhibition Place, with more than 10,000 masqueraders expected to perform at the all-day event, which includes live performances, food and drinks. The Grand Parade will then kick off in the assembly area at Exhibition Place and wind down along Lake Shore Boulevard. Most of the parade is free but admission applies for those hoping to enter Exhibition Place. Also new is the Caribbean International Food and Drink Festival on the grounds of Exhibition Place on July 31.

Regarding COVID-19 safety measures, Garcia said organizers were paying close attention to any developments in public health requirements and that there would be increased sanitization throughout the festival.

“We’re really just looking forward to welcoming everyone again and to have the opportunity to celebrate our culture and share it,” Garcia said.