Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an exciting two-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. In its 42nd year it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival 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, Reggae, Hip Hop, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands. This colourful exhibition and display of genius is truly a musical panorama that is certain to bring a pleasing smile to the ancestral titans of Pan and Calypso music.

Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an expression of Toronto’s multicultural and multiracial society. An increasing number of attendees and participants come from the US and overseas. The events are planned months in advance. The costumes and mas band displays are elaborate and oh so delicately worn and designed for movement. Move they do, in a breath-taking spectrum of colours that is best refl ected in the King and Queen Showcase on Parade Day. No Scotiabank Caribana Festival is complete without African Drumming along with the Arts and Crafts displays celebrating “Things Caribbean”!

In 2009, Scotiabank Caribana Festival season is destined to be six (6) weeks culminating in the pinnacle of Parade Day on the Lakeshore with a kaleidoscope of music, colourful costumes, theatrical mas band displays, steel bands beating intricate orchestrations coupled with mouth watering feasts of Caribbean cuisine and delicacies.

Toronto is Canada’s largest and liveliest city. Located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto has a population of approximately 5.4 million polite and hospitable people – who know how to show visitors a great time.

Every last weekend in July, Toronto is taken to another level of excitement with North America’s largest parade, Scotiabank Caribana. Calypso, soca, steel pan, reggae and Caribbean culture flood the already diverse city. Elaborate masquerade costumes and festive attire draw people back year after year.

Between the parade, fetes (what we call parties) and abundance of other memorable events, feel free to peruse the city for other interests. The downtown Entertainment District consists of eight city blocks that houses every type of entertainment. Trust us! From fine dining to pubs, bars and upscale lounges – and of course the late-night club scene, Toronto has everything you can think of.

Toronto is also the home Roy Thompson Hall, the Royal Alexandra Theatre and a host of other theatres. For those who love site seeing, you must visit the second largest free standing building in the world, the CN Tower.

The city is the home to the Raptors (NBA), Blue Jays (MLB), Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto FC (MLS) and the Argos (CFL). You can also catch an array of other sporting events, including this summer’s Under 21 FIFA World Cup!

Getting to North America’s cleanest city couldn’t be any easier than flying into Lester B. Pearson International Airport. Once in airport, it’s a quick 30 minute drive to the downtown hotels.

The sound, the beat, the music of the street is one of the most integral pieces of the Carnival puzzle. It is the audio colour to accompany the Mas band’s vision; it’s the energy and groove as the parade makes its move. It is the soundtrack to all the exciting events of Carnival. It is the food that feeds the spirit of festival.

Calypso, Soca and Steelpan will play an integral part of this year’s celebratory Carnival. From the competitions and yard parties, to the stadium and street, the music will infiltrate the scene with live performances and concerts, sound systems and dance clubs, filled to rafters with the sound of the islands.

Calypso is a must have at Carnival time having sprung from the “chantuelles” whose music preceded the Carnival bands of the 19th century. Its songs were parodies using as themes the topics and issues of the day. Creativity in how one uses the language and double-entendre to make a statement is not lost on the people who listen carefully in captivated delight. Who’s will one-up who as the competition of song begins? Listen to the best, enjoy all the rest as they find a way to say it – the top calypsonians of the year.

Soca is the fast-paced child of calypso. Soca found its feet, so-to-speak, in the ‘70s using the same basic calypso beat but sped-up and stroked with a laid-back bass line and unique drum style.

Steelpan is the music of a beautiful sounding instrument which came to life from the discarded oil drums of Trinidad and Tobago and today has morphed into a style of music and uniquely-tuned percussion instrument which is thought to be the one and only percussion instrument introduced in the past century. The steelpan holds at Carnival time.

Watch for the lineup of Monarch competitions surrounding this year’s Carnival to be announced.

Join a Band (Mas Camp)

Looking to Jump Up in the Scotiabank Caribana Parade? Click here to contact one of the bands listed for more information.

Click here to download the bands that will be appearing at Scotiabank Caribana 2009. This list is displayed in order of appearance for all mass competitions

coming soon!

coming soon!