Caribana

Toronto Caribbean Carnival
AbbreviationTCC[1]
Formation1967-2006 (CAG/CCC)
2006-present (FMC)
TypeCultural festival
Legal statusActive, non-profit
PurposeCelebration of Caribbean heritage
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
Location
  • 716 Gordon Baker Rd. Suite 201, Toronto, Ontario
Official language
English, French
Chief Executive Officer
Mischka Crichton
Parent organization
Festival Management Committee
AffiliationsCity 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+
Websitetorontocarnival.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.

  1. ^ "Toronto Caribbean Festival". Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
  2. ^ Toronto Caribbean Carnival or Caribana
  3. ^ Foster, Cecil; Schwarz, Chris (1995). Caribana, the greatest celebration (Souvenir ed.). Toronto: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0345398165. OCLC 32391351.