Toronto, ON, Canada: The Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, costumes, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts.

Now in its 43rd year, it continues to be a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Scotiabank Caribana is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Chutney, and Steelpan music. Its 10 staple, returning events include:

OCPA Calypso Tent Music Series
Saturday, June 5th to Sunday, July 4th ▪ Various Locations ▪ 8pm –11pm
Presented by the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes – Toronto (OCPA), this weekend-only series features two calypso tents representing over 25 singers performing original calypso in the best storytelling tradition though social and political commentary, wit and humour.

Scotiabank Caribana Official Festival Launch
Tuesday, July 13th ▪ Yonge-Dundas Square ▪ 12 Noon – 2pm
This marks the official kick-off to an exciting three weeks of events showing the colourful and exuberating multi-arts creation(s) from Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival Arts community. Thousands of people regularly attend this annual, lunch-time event that includes live, spectacular entertainment.

Junior Carnival Parade
Saturday, July 17th ▪ Yorkgate Mall ▪ 10am – 4pm
This parade affords the younger generation – from toddlers to teens – to jump up, dance and display their costumes on a 2 km parade route along Jane Street that terminates in Yorkgate Mall. It is also a formal competition for the many masquerade or “mas” band(s) that present a children’s band.

Art Exhibition
Thursday, July 22nd to Monday, August 2nd ▪ Royal Ontario Museum ▪ 12 Noon – 9pm
Now in its 4th year, this art exhibition will feature a collection of over 100 works from African-Canadian artistes to be showcased in one space. This year’s theme is “From the Soul – A collection of works that will arouse the conscious, still the mind and soothe the soul.”

Scotiabank Caribana Gala
Friday, July 23rd ▪ Liberty Grand, Exhibition Place ▪ 6.30pm – 2am
The theme for this 3rd annual black-tie gala is “Share the Vibe – A Celebration of Haiti.” Along with highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Haiti, awards will also be handed out to festival founders.

“KAISO 365” Calypso Monarch Finals
Saturday, July 24th ▪ Ontario Science Centre ▪ 7pm – 12 Midnight
Hosted by the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes – Toronto (OCPA), the top nine finalists will perform two of his/her best compositions/songs. Up for grabs are various prizes and the preverbal bragging rights of being the best orator …. a.k.a. 2010 OCPA Calypso Monarch.

King & Queen Competition
Thursday, July 29th ▪ Lamport Stadium ▪ 7pm – 12 Midnight
This family-oriented event allows its audience to marvel at the elaborate large costumes that will accompany all of the competing mas bands in a relaxed sit-down environment. It features over 50 costumes in the categories of Male Individual, Female Individual, King and Queen.

Pan Alive
Friday, July 30th ▪ Lamport Stadium ▪ 7pm – 12 Midnight
Presented by the Ontario Steelpan Association, this competition highlights the musical prowess of the steelpan instrument as over 10 steelbands compete for the title of being the best for 2010.

Scotiabank Caribana Parade
Saturday, July 31st Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Blvd. West ▪ 10am – 6pm
Attracting over 1 million spectators annually, this 43rd annual, world-famous parade is an explosion of Caribbean music and its cultural Carnival Arts exemplified by the colourful costumes worn by over 10,000 masquerades as they jump up along the 3.6 km route.

De Scotiabank Caribana Lime
Sunday, August 1st ▪ Ontario Place ▪ 12 Noon – 8pm
This family-oriented event is our final opportunity to gather or “lime” as we celebrate Toronto’s local Caribbean community’s diversity. Genres to be featured include spoken word, theatre, dance, comedy, song, and steelpan.

Corporate sponsors of this year’s festival include: Scotiabank, The Toronto Star, Sway Magazine, CTV, CP-24, The Canadian Federal Government, The Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, Research In Motion (RIM)/BlackBerry, The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Ontario Place, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, The Toronto Libraries, Yorkgate Mall, Liberty Grand and Grace Kennedy Foods.

The Festival Management Committee (FMC) is responsible for the administration of the Scotiabank Caribana Festival. For updated info, please check its official website at www.caribanafestival.com.