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2mo ago

Elaborate Costumes, Dancehall Beats Drive Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade

Masquerade bands on DJ-driven floats blared dancehall music down Lake Shore Boulevard following a judged showcase at Exhibition Place.

A masquerader in a fiery red and orange costume poses for the camera.
Thousands of people decked out in an array of colourful, elaborate ensembles made their way down Lake Shore Boulevard Saturday for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival's annual Grand Parade, one of the largest events in the city.
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Overview

  • Hundreds of masqueraders in feathered and bejeweled costumes took part in Saturday’s Grand Parade along Lake Shore Boulevard.
  • Masquerade bands crossed a stage at Exhibition Place to showcase their wings and dance moves before a panel of judges.
  • Semi-trailers loaded with DJs and sound systems pumped thundering dancehall beats as the procession moved past the Princes’ Gates.
  • Spectators from across the Caribbean diaspora waved national flags and hailed the event as a unifying celebration of cultural pride.
  • Rooted in late-18th-century carnivals born of enslaved people’s resistance, the festival remains a platform for identity, empowerment and artistic expression.