Abbreviation | TCC[1] |
---|---|
Formation | 1967-2006 (CAG/CCC) 2006-present (FMC) |
Type | Cultural festival |
Legal status | Active, non-profit |
Purpose | Celebration of Caribbean heritage |
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Location |
|
Official language | English, French |
Chief Executive Officer | Mischka Crichton |
Parent organization | Festival Management Committee |
Affiliations | City of Toronto government, Toronto Mas Bands Association, Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA), Organization of Calypso Performing Artists (OCPA) |
Budget | CA$3.33 million |
Staff | 12 |
Volunteers | 1,000+ |
Website | torontocarnival.ca |
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival, formerly and affectionately known as Caribana, is a festival of Caribbean culture and traditions held each summer in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a pan-Caribbean Carnival event and has been billed as North America's largest Festival,[2] frequented by over 1.3 million tourists each year for the festival's Grand Parade and an overall attendance of 2.3 million.[3]
Beginning in July, the multi-week festivities lead up to the parade which occurs over the Simcoe Day long weekend, the first weekend in August. The festival also coincides with August 1 Emancipation Day observances that commemorate the emancipation of slaves of African descent. The main stakeholders of the events are the Toronto Mas' Bands Association, the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes, and the Ontario Steelpan Association.