BY PAUL JUNOR
It was a day filled with many tantalizing costumes, dazzling performances and show-stopping spectacle at the Grand Parade of the Toronto Caribbean Festival on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024, at the Exhibition Stadium. The 57th annual festival did not disappoint the thousands of spectators who gathered inside the Exhibition ground and along Lakeshore Road.
There was a lot of: planning, preparation and organization that led up to the culminating event on the Exhibition grounds. There was a new route laid out for the eleven bands to travel before they head to the Lakeshore Road after being judged by the judges.
Prior to the Grand Parade, there were important announcements posted on the Toronto Caribbean Festival FB page. They remind patrons to, “Respect the Mas, purchase tickets online for VIP & Grande stand, free viewing is only from Marilyn Bell Park and the Goodman and entrance is by the Go Train and Princes’ Gate.”
The eleven bands appeared in the following order:
1. Toronto Revellers: @torontorevellers
2. Carnival Nationz: @carnivalnationz
3. Saldenah Carnival: @saldenahcarnival
4. Tribal Carnival: @tribalcarnival
5. Sunlime Mas: sunlimemas
6. Epic Carnival: e.p.i.c. carnival
7. Lavway Mas: @lavwaymas
8. Fantazia Carnival: @fantazia-carnival
9. Freedom Mas: @freedommasband
10. Costume Creators: @officialcostumecca
11. Lux Carnival: @luxcarnival
There was a message posted on Facebook by the Toronto Caribbean Carnival on Monday, August 5th, 2024. It reads, “Gratitude overload. A massive thank you to everyone who made this Toronto Carnival season so special. To everyone who came out, celebrated, and made it unforgettable. Your passion and energy brought it to life. Looking forward to more unforgettable moments next year and throughout the rest of the year.”
