Summer is around the corner and it’s time to start your planning and finalizing your summer trips, events and of course carnivals. If Toronto is on your list make sure to hit up their Caribbean carnival Caribana. Start planning your visit to Caribana weekend for July 30 – August 3 with the parade falling on August 1st.
Here’s your guide to Caribana planning.
Before...
…we get started with the Caribana planning guide there are probably a few words you’ve heard thrown around but have no idea what they mean. Well, I’m here to give you a quick overview of Caribbean carnival words to know.
Fete – French roughly translating into a festival or simplified party. A major celebration.
J’ouvert – roughly translating into day open, dawn or daybreak, is a street celebration that officially welcomes the start of carnival. Utilizing paint, powder, mud or oil while dancing through sunrise.
Mas – short for masquerade, refers to the massive street parade that occurs at carnival. This is where masqueraders get dressed in their costumes, headpieces, masks for the parade in celebration. Also known as pretty mas. Related term playing mas. Related term jumpin’.
Mas Band – organized groups of parade attendees who are divided into various sections. Theme changing yearly offering goers options of costume selection for purchase. Each section will consist of 2 – 3 lines: Front Line, Mid Line, and Back line.
- Front Line – the most extravagant of all the costumes! Front liners have wings that can sweep the floor and be fully decorated from head to toe. As the most elaborate and expensive costume front liners walk at the front of each section when crossing the judging point or stage.
- Mid Line – right behind front line is mid line. The costumes are just as gorgeous but not as exaggerated and over the top. Back bags (wings) are also more manageable.
- Back Line – closing out each section back liners carry section. Costumes are subtle compared to front and mid line. Giving you more freedom to move and dance about comfortably with little to no attachments. Because of this back line costumes tend to be the least expensive but the most manageable on the road.
Mas Camp – the pick-up point for costumes and sometimes the meet-up point for carnival.
Road – if you’ve ever head ‘di road’ see you/meet you on di road they are simply saying ‘see you at the parade.
Soca – Soul & Calypso…the music of true movement with a soulful upbeat tempo.
Wine – a form of dance involving isolated hip and waist movements
Arrival
During your Caribana planning you’e going to have to decide how to get to Toronto. Getting to Toronto is easy with the option of driving or flying.
For most, flying will be the best and easiest route to take especially since Toronto has two airport options available, YYZ and YTZ. If you’re flying, secure your flights as early as possible to save just a little cash here and there.
For some, driving may be another option depending on where you live and how many hours you can spend in a car. I’m a driver use to driving long hours at a time and knew I may want to drive around Toronto so I opted to drive from the east coast to Toronto. It was definitely a great choice as I was able to stop and visit several places along the way like Niagara Falls.
Another option to consider if you plan on renting a car is to fly into Buffalo, NY and drive the rest of the way into Toronto.
Whichever option works best for you just remember to have a valid passport in hand.
Accommodation
Toronto is a big city with many hotels, hostels or Airbnb options. Start your search downtown to be close to many of the events. Remember the farther out your hotel a rental car may be necessary. If you’re someone who likes packages, the official Caribana Toronto website offers hotel options with fete options included. Going this route will cut your Caribana planning in half while giving you access to a list of fetes before the general public.
For those considering Airbnb make sure you read all of the reviews carefully. Pay close attention to those reviews posted around Caribana weekend from the previous weekend. There have been many travelers who have had hosts cancel their reservations several days before Caribana for one reason or another.
Getting Around
Visiting Toronto will leave you with no shortage of transportation to easily get around. Local transportation includes the Toronto Transit system, cabbies or whatever your favorite rideshare app. With most of the carnival events taking place near or around downtown, you’ll have no issues getting around. Even for those events farther out, it’s still extremely easy to get around.
Mas Bands
If you’re interested in playing mas this will be another major aspect of your Caribana planning to-do list. Be on the lookout for band launches and registrations which begins late January and sometimes continues until April depending on your band of interest. Costumes range from $200-900 with the costs covering music, security, lunch, road vibes and of course costumes but make sure to double-check with your band before paying your deposit. Always, always do a quick search of the band you’re interested in or ask around before committing because not all bands are created equally (2019 band review here). When searching for bands be sure to check out some of the mas bands listed below.
Allure Carnival
Sunlime Carnival
Fantazia Band
Epic Carnival
Saldenah Carnival
Toronto Revellers
Additional Bands…
Carnival Nationz
Venom Mas
Tribal Carnival
When you find a section you like do not delay! Some band sections tend to sell out sometimes within days or weeks.
If playing mas or jumpin’ with a band isn’t your thing or the prices are just a bit too high this year feel free to design or purchase your own costume. Keep in mind that even though you have your own costume you will only be allowed to spectate from the sidelines. You are only allowed in the Grande Parade if you purchase directly from a band.
Note: Costumes are not delivered unless you hire a costume pick-up/drop-off service. If you don’t be sure to leave time to grab your costume from mas camps which are located 30-40 mins away from downtown.
Also, note that in Toronto bands are not able to provide alcohol trucks as part of the road package.
Fetes
Fetes in Toronto vary a little from those in the US and those in the Caribbean but are still fun. Tickets listed on the official site are usually released to the general public in the second week of June. With weekend passes releasing mid-July. Weekend passes are various events that have been grouped together, 3-5 or unlimited events, for a reduced rate.
Many of the events take place from 1-7p or 2-8p and 10p-2a, need to be purchased in advance and tend to be heavier on the R&B/Hip-hop side unless otherwise noted.
When purchasing tickets I suggest sticking with the official site, TicketGateway or IslandeTickets to reduce scams and any other confusion.
Be sure to READ, READ, and READ all fete descriptions and locations as well. There are some fetes with very similar names (Blocko vs Sunday Blocko & DayLit vs DayLight), or fetes that are hip-hop only or fetes that are 40 mins from downtown. Before buying any tickets make sure you get all the information. All tickets are non-refundable and you don’t want to waste your time trying to resale any tickets.
Some fetes that are always a good time:
Soca or Die
Scorch Duck Work
DayLit
Sunday Blocko
Carnival Kingdom
Tips:
If you find a fete you’re interested in attending while Caribana planning, go ahead and buy your ticket early because prices tend to increase daily with no notice if the event is popular. On the flip side, if enough tickets have not sold for a fete it may be canceled or combined last minute with another.
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J'ouvert
Be on the lookout for j’ouvert, a fete held towards the end of most if not all Caribbean carnivals. A dirty fete using paint, powder, mud or oil to celebrate during dawn before the parade. In Toronto, j’ouvert takes place at major venues away from downtown sometimes with live performances. My dutty fetes of choice are Jab Jab J’ouvert and Re-Jouvert-Nate.
When packing for j’ouvert I suggest swimwear or anything you don’t mind tossing after. If you’re lucky hopefully you’ll snag a rideshare driver who is Caribana ready with trash bags, seat covers, and water of their own. But if not be sure to also bring trash bags with you to protect those car seats.
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Grande Parade
The Grande Parade is going to be a key factor in your Caribana planning. Taking place the first Saturday of August, this year August 1st normally at 10 am with truck meetup starting at 9 am and the parade going until roughly 6 pm. Each band will provide their own information for parade meetup point and time.
For those not in a band, entry to view the parade is not free and can be purchased before or on-site. Make sure you have cash on hand for trinkets, food, and drinks as most of the vendors do not have card processors.
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Things to Know
Now that you’re ready to head to Caribana I want to share a few more things to be on the lookout about
- A valid passport is needed to travel to Canada
- Currency used is the Canadian Dollar (CAD) with a conversion rate of $1.32CAD to $1.00USD
- Credit/Debit cards are widely accepted
- Weather in Toronto during this time can get pretty hot but it’s not uncommon to see a little rain here and there. Check the weather when planning and pack appropriately.
Lastly, find your Caribana community! There are several Caribana groups via Facebook, WhatsApp and GroupMe, it just takes a quick search and you’ll be connected to other interested Caribana goers plus receive additional Caribana planning help. Have fun and be open.
Be sure to drop any questions or comments you still have about Caribana planning have below!

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