Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2023 officially launches at Nathan Phillips Square

The popular Grand Parade takes place Saturday, August 5th

TORONTO, July 12, 2023 – Yesterday all day at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto celebrated the Official Public Launch of the 56 annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s month-long festival. Numerous dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the launch, including Toronto’s new Mayor Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie .

As North America’s biggest street festival, Toronto Caribbean Carnival attracts close to 2 million people to the Grand Parade alone.

“We are thrilled to be launching this year’s Carnival festivities” exclaimed Mischka Crichton, Festival Management Committee CEO. “We’ve been working tirelessly to revamp the festival and ensure a great experience for our attendees. What’s most important to us is that everyone feels accepted and included, which is reflected in this year’s theme: Diversity and Culture Live Here!”

The schedule of events for Toronto’s Caribbean festival season is as follows:

● Junior King and Queen Showcase: Sunday, July 16th at Scarborough Town Centre

● Junior Carnival Parade: Saturday, July 22nd at Malvern Community Centre

● OCPA Calypso Showcase: Sunday, July 30th at Latvian Culture Centre

● King and Queen Showcase: Thursday, August 3rd at Lamport Stadium

● Pan Alive Panorama: Friday, August 4th at Lamport Stadium

● The Grand Parade: Saturday, August 5th along Lakeshore Blvd.

● Pan in de Park: Sunday, August 6th at Malvern Recreation Centre/Malvern Park

● TCC International Food Festival: Sunday, August 6th at Malvern Park

“We pride ourselves in creating a welcoming, safe environment for this shared celebration of Caribbean culture” explains Jennifer Hirlehey, Chair, Festival Management Committee, producers of Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

“We continue to campaign for more funding from all levels of government to ensure we are able to meet the rising costs of security and keep everyone safe for this festival season.”

Other key events to watch out for:

● TFC Caribbean Culture Night on July 8, 2023, to highlight the sounds, cuisine, revelry and arts of the Caribbean community; Junior Masqueraders will parade across the field at halftime

● Prayer Service to Bless the Festival Season on July 9th, 10:00 am at the Church of the Nativity, 10 Sewells Road, Malvern.

● Toronto Caribbean Carnival teams up with the Blue Jays on Friday, July 28th for pregame and interactive activities throughout the game

● Metrolinx will unveil a Toronto Caribbean Carnival-themed double-decker GO Bus as part of its role as the Official Transportation Partner

● Through the multi-year partnership with Toronto FC, a special day of mentorship will be held at MLSE Launchpad for students in the Young Learners Program, which is supported by the Festival Management Committee, Toronto area schools and Toronto FC Partnership support is expressed with gratitude to the following: Scarborough Town Centre, Exhibition Place, Ontario Science Centre, Metrolinx, United Local 46, Grace Foods, Bell Media, CP24, OCAF, Federal Government of Canada, Provincial Government of Ontario, City of Toronto, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto FC, BBEP, Porter Airlines, OLG, Cantu, Diageo/Guinness, Street Eats, OSSTF, Spotify and US Virgin Islands.

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is a spectacular display of costumes, music, and culture. This year is the 56th anniversary of the Grand Parade, which was first gifted to Canada by the Caribbean Community during Canada’s centennial celebrations. This Caribbean tradition of parading through the street was founded in celebration of freedom and emancipation from slavery and is appropriately marked on what has been recognized by the Canadian government as Emancipation Day weekend.

This event has been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.

photography by Stephen Uhraney

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