Caribbean Carnival Toronto, Irie Music Festival, Pedestrian Sunday and a Visual History of Toronto Island

We here at the Miratel blog have written many posts about the benefits of doing business in Toronto – a city that offers amazing opportunity along with leading economic activity and labour pool. We have also spotlighted major city events like Pride Toronto and we continue today by featuring Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto along with other happenings around town this weekend.

Caribbean Carnival Toronto (formerly known as Caribana), began back in 1967 as a 3-day long event that celebrated all things Caribbean. Today the three week-long event, which models itself after the legendary carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, has become one of the largest of its kind in North America attracting more than 1 million people to our city from across the globe and it never disappoints. I have always had an amazing time at Caribana – the music, the dancing, the people and the food. It’s just all good.

This year there is supposed to be more than 20,000 dancers as compared to last year that will take part in the parade along with 10 pan orchestras, costumed dancers, steel drums combining into one huge incredible party. “We have 16 diff mas bands. [NBA basketball player] Jamal Magloire will head up the biggest, with 3,000 dancers. The parade is almost 4 km at a pace of one km an hour.  We’ve had to extend the route to accommodate more dancers,” spokesperson Steve Weir told CityNews.ca.

There has been some buzz over the name change as the Ontario Supreme Court ruled that the name “Caribana” belonged to the committee that used to run the event until 2006 “But in Toronto, on the streets, the parties, everyone still refers to it as Caribana. When it comes down to it the parade is the parade. The numbers are staggering as to people that are signing up to take part. Nobody cares what it’s called,” said spokesperson Steve Weir to CityNews.ca.

Caribana Parade image courtesy of ctv.ca

The highlight of Caribbean Carnival Toronto is always the grand parade which runs Saturday July 30 at 10 a.m. from Exhibition Place at 200 Princes’ Blvd. More than 10,000 masquerades participate in the parade dancing all along the 3.6 km route. Attendance at the parade is free. The party continues, with the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Lime festival taking over Ontario Place July 31-August 1. Caribbean cuisine lovers will be able to indulge at the Grace Tropical Rhythm Food Festival. Admittance is free.

The TD IRIE Music Festival is also happening this weekend from Friday, July 29th to Monday, August 1st, 2011. A celebration of  music from Reggae to Salsa, Soul to African; dance from the African Diaspora presented in association with dance immersion, spoken word/literature, visual arts exhibition, movies, delicious tropical food & drinks and more. The TD IRIE Music Festival is free at two main stages with exciting live performances at Queen’s Park and Yonge-Dundas Square

Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday takes place on Sunday July 31, 2011. The carless day streets of the market are full of artists, musicians, performers – all businesses remain open. “Pedestrian Sundays don’t permanently change the streets, they forever change the way you perceive them! “ Check it out for yourself.

BlogTo featured a Visual History of Toronto Island starting with the 1818 Plan of the York Harbour – definitely worth a look if you haven’t yet.

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