TORONTO'S CARIBANA FESTIVAL AND NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

  • Caribana Parade

    The Caribana Parade is the largest Caribana Festival event in North America and this year it will celebrate its 43 anniversary. This event is made up of a series of Bands that compete for best costumes in this annual parade. The Caribana Parade consists of over a million participants including steel pan bands, live soca, calypso, reggae and salsa performers as well as elaborate masqueraders in costume

  • Def Jam Party

    The official Caribana Def Jam Party with Def Jam Artists. One of Caribana's most popular hip hop nightlife events with over 3000 people attending!

  • Carnival in Yuh Backyard

    Caribana's biggest fete with over 10 000 people! This year's Carnival in Yuh Backyard is held at the all new Seventh Heaven Golf Resort. Expect to see 30 artists, 5 bands and thousands of people ready to fete. This is an event you don't want to miss!

  • X VIP PASS

    The X VIP PASS gives you access into 3 of the hottest clubs for 3 different nights for one discounted price. Only 200 passes available. Passes available for $85 and will increase. Limited number of passes available.

Toronto Caribana

Caribana in Toronto

When: July 15 - August 2, 2010

Caribana Parade Weekend: July 30th – August 2nd

The 43rd annual Caribana Toronto Festival is just around the corner and hundreds of Caribbean inspired events, classes and parties have been planned to mark to this year’s festival. Toronto’s Caribbean Caribana festival has grown exponentially since its start in 1967 and is currently North America’s largest cultural festival. What was once a three-day event has now grown into three weeks of celebration, absorbing most of the city with its infectious feel-good vibes.

Over a million tourists are expected in Toronto during the last week of July to experience everything Caribana has to offer. The beauty of Caribana in Toronto is the varied audience it attracts: everyone from families across Canada and the U.S, young singles looking for a good time, to celebrities throwing Caribana themed parties in clubs across Toronto.

Caribana Festival 2010 officially kicks off Thursday July 15th with the Scotiabank Caribana Official Festival Launch at Younge & Dundas Square (Noon – 2pm). Thousands of people are expected to attend the afternoon affair that will feature live music, an array of delicious Caribbean food (Jamaican, Trinidadian, Cuban), insightful art displays and theatrical performances that showcase Caribbean inspired life. If you can’t make it to this one, no need to worry, there will be over a hundred official and unofficial events to see and experience such as Pan Alive (the highly entertaining steelpan competition), the Junior Carnival Parade and the King & Queen Competition - one of the festival’s craziest events has the leaders of the mas (masquerade) bands compete to win the title of King and Queen of the Caribana parade.

Toronto Caribana’s signature event is still, of course the parade itself – known now as the Scotiabank Caribana Parade being held Saturday, July 31st at Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Boulevard (10am – 6pm). Over 10,000 masquerades will participate as they strut and dance down the 3.6 km route in elaborate costumes, set to the vibrant Caribbean beats of the famed mas bands.

It wouldn’t be a well rounded Caribana experience if you didn’t hit a Caribana party or two… or ten! This year, over 30 Caribana-nightlife events will take place during the parade weekend alone. From July 30 – August 1 get your drink and dance on as top North American DJ’s spin at exclusive club events, eat and dance aboard Festival Boat Cruises, check out live Soca, Calypso, dancehall, reggae and be sure to find one of several pumping street parties - sure to kick your Caribana weekend into high gear.

Let CaribanaToronto.com be your Caribana Festival Guide to all the daytime and nightlife events that are happening in Toronto this July.

Caribana Events