Caribana Toronto 2009
“We put theatre on the streets for all to see. Theatre is represented through the revelers wearing costumes of art, design, creativity and beauty that challange the imagination” Louis Saldenah - Mass Band Assoc
Every summer, Toronto blazes with the excitement of calypso, steel pan and elaborate masquerade costumes during the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) Festival.
Caribana 2009 celebrated its 42nd anniversary, it is the largest Caribbean festival in North America. Presented by the Festival Management Committee, the three-week Festival attracted over a million participants, including hundreds of thousands of American tourists.
About Caribana: Caribana is a unique celebration of Caribbean culture that finds its roots in Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. Toronto’s Caribana festival began in 1967 when the Canadian government asked the Caribbean community to get involved to help celebrate the Centennial year. It was organized by a group of ten Caribbean individuals living in Toronto. Their goal was to develop a platform to showcase the beauty, joy and music of Caribbean culture. Caribana weekend usually coincides with Simcoe Day (the first weekend in August), marking the abolishment of slavery in Upper Canada.
