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TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL WAS “ON DE ROAD AGAIN” EMANCIPATION DAY WEEKEND TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM, DIVERSITY, AND CARIBBEAN HERITAGE
(TORONTO, ON – August 15th, 2022) - The Toronto Caribbean Carnival returned with spirit and colour after three years to celebrate 55 years of carnival in Toronto. The world-famous Grand Parade showcased Caribbean music, vibrant culture, and a spectacular display of costumes.
An electrifying lineup of Mas Bands competed for the title of Band of the Year at the Exhibition Place on July 30, 2022. Saldenah Carnival was crowned 2022 Band of the Year with the theme Streets on Fire, winning for the 21st time.
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival took place over four exciting weeks cumulating at the Grand Parade. Competing Mas Bands were judged on the intricate details of their costumes, performance, and how the costume represented the theme of each band.
This year, the carnival introduced a new theme “Embrace the Carnival in You," which yielded an exciting lineup of events, including Kiddies for Mas - Junior King & Queen Showcase and Junior Parade.
Festival favorites also included the OCPA Calypso Showcase, King & Queen Showcase, Pan Alive with a special tribute to Mike Phillips, and the Grand Parade.
In celebration of the 55th anniversary of the festival, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival introduced "Kiddies for Mas". A separate festival with two events that took place in Scarborough - the Junior King & Queen Showcase at the Scarborough Town Center and Junior Carnival Parade in the Township of Malvern.
Carnival Nationz won four awards at the Junior King & Queen Showcase - Junior Individual Male (under 5), Junior Individual Male (6-10 years old), Junior Individual Female (6-10 years old), and Junior Female (under 16 years old). Toronto Revellers were crowned winners of Junior King (under 16 years old) and Junior Queen (under 16 years old).
The Junior Parde took place on July 16th in the Township of Malvern with special guest appearances from the Honourable Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, His Worship, John Tory - Mayor of Toronto, and Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson. Carnival Nationz was crowned “Band of the Year" with the theme Queens and Goddesses.
The adult King and Queen Showcase was an eye-catching display of creativity featuring over 50 elaborate costumes and took place at Lamport Stadium on July 28, 2022.
Carnival Nationz won three awards at the King & Queen Showcase – King of the Bands, Individual Male, and Individual Female. Tribal Carnival was crowned Queen of the Bands. The Toronto Revellers were awarded the Ontario Science Centre Innovation Award, and SugaCayne Mas was honourably mentioned in their first year of competition.
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival has grown from a single parade on University Avenue to a month-long festival with over a dozen events attracting over 1 million spectators annually and 195,000 international visitors to the City of Toronto each year.
To close out the festival season, the Trinidad and Tobago Consulate is holding a free celebration of Trinidad and Tobago’s 60th Independence at Yonge-Dudas Square on August 27th and 28th.
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About Toronto Caribbean Carnival
As one of the largest festivals in Canada, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an astonishing display of Caribbean visual, culinary, and performing arts that draws thousands of people from across Canada and the World to Toronto each summer to celebrate freedom, diversity, and inclusion. This year, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival celebrates the 55th Anniversary of the Grand Parade, which was first gifted to Canada by the Caribbean Community during Canada's centennial celebrations. www.torontocarnival.ca
