Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Caribana
Get ready to jump up all summer long, the 2012 Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is officially underway. The three-week long festival kicked off today as soca artists, pan orchestrators and mas dancers filled Nathan Phillips Square to mark the beginning of the festival that starts today and runs through to August 12, 2012.
“I can’t believe it’s Carnival time again in Toronto,” said Denise Herrera-Jackson, CEO of the Festival Management Committee. “We’ve added new events to this year’s festival line-up with non-stop activities and entertainment. On Friday, August 3, Exhibition Place comes alive with a late night Fish Fry, which transitions into early morning breakfast, followed by a J’Ouvert extravaganza with ‘Ole mas’ revellers, steelpans and drums all night long. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy this year’s exciting line up of events.”
Sport stars, politicians, business leaders, dozens and dozens of dancers in colourful mas costumes and steel pan players all came out to celebrate the festival’s official launch today to kick of the festivities for 2012.
“Scotiabank is delighted to be back as title sponsor the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival, an event that is not only one of Toronto’s greatest summer traditions, but also a vital expression of this city’s multicultural landscape,” said Jacqueline Ryan, Scotiabank Vice-President of Sponsorships and Partnership Programs. “Coming together to mark celebrations like this is what makes our country unique and we’re excited to help bring the sites, sounds and flavours of the Caribbean to Toronto through our sponsorship of the festival.”
There’s new and improved festival programming this year, with new sponsors, including General Motors, that has come on board to help with the Junior Carnival Parade and King and Queen Competition and El Dorado Rum is sponsoring a July 27, 2012 Gala at the Liberty Grand Ballroom on the CNE grounds.
Source: Newswire
