Toronto’s 57th Caribbean Carnival is set to kick off this Saturday, and revelers are ready for another vibrant Grand Parade along Lake Shore Boulevard. This month-long celebration will culminate in a dazzling display of pageantry, with masqueraders dancing to soca music in their elaborate costumes.
Toronto hosts the largest carnival in North America, attracting nearly two million people to the Grand Parade alone, with Miami’s carnival coming in second. Stakeholders have weighed in on the celebrations.
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Louis Saldenah, lead of Saldenah Carnival, speaks with pride about the legacy of carnival for Caribbean Canadians. “We are very happy that we brought something to the country,” he said. However, he emphasized that the celebration comes with respect. “If you’re planning on coming to the parade, remember: no storming the parade route. We want you to enjoy yourself, but also please respect the mas.”
The king and queen of Toronto’s longest-standing and most successful band, Saldenah Carnival, also shared their views on the celebration.
King of Saldenah, Nicholas Guy, told CBC Toronto, “What really drives my adrenaline is the crowd’s reaction when they see the bigger costumes.” It’s a symbol of unity, not just a street party. “Everybody comes out, every creed and race, as a unification. That’s the best thing for me. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Queen of Saldenah Carnival band, Michelle Reyes, spoke about the huge effort behind the scenes. “It takes a village to put together all the different costumes, from the huge, royal regalia to the back line dancers. There’s a lot of gluing, tagging, assembling, welding, and wire bending involved. It’s a massive project.” Volunteers dedicate significant time and money to create these stunning outfits.
Jennifer Hirlehey, chair of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, expressed a desire to preserve these elaborate costumes, which often get discarded after the festival. “It’s shameful that we’re not able to keep these and have a museum to showcase these beautiful costumes,” she said. “There’s so much history and culture and learning that can be shared.”
The parade begins Saturday at 8 a.m. and will travel along Lake Shore Boulevard. Road closures for the parade will start on Aug. 3 at 12 a.m. and continue until Aug. 4 at 7 a.m., affecting:
- Lake Shore Boulevard W. from Fort York Boulevard to Colborne Lodge Drive
- Lake Shore Boulevard W. westbound between Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard will be open to local traffic only
- Strachan Avenue southbound from Fleet Street
Additionally, several Gardiner Expressway ramps will close at 12 a.m. on Aug 3, including the on and off-ramp at Jameson Avenue and the off-ramp at Dunn Avenue.
The parade officially ends at 8 p.m., but the festival’s events will continue late into the night.
