The Caribbean flavour of Toronto was spicy and hot this weekend. The experience of Caribbean peoples in Toronto was evident in three fun festivals that happened this past weekend: Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival, Harbourfront's Island Soul and the TD Irie Music Festival.
My adventures began with the King and Queen Contest at Lamport Stadium. I again said to my friend, "Next year, that will be me!" I still believe that the carnival costumes for the leaders of the band - namely the King and Queen of the band - should be costumes and not floats. I have an aversion to the float concept and I imagine that a costume can be made that is supported by a person. I imagine it and Peter Minshall has done it. Wikipedia said of Minshall's creations: "Each costume is designed with the motion of the performer in mind, so that performer and costume are one." I'm sure a few wheels are necessary but I'd like to see more human-supported great costumes. Toronto's carnival costumes have been described as "massive rolling costumes - showpieces on wheels for the masquerade bands that make them."
Even though I have criticisms of Toronto's carnival the part that I do like is that regular people can join in the fun near the end of the parade. At that point, the costumed masqueraders are tired from dancing since noon and the regular people join in several hours later. It is like a giant street party with everyone crowded around the trucks blasting their music. The carnivals I've experienced in Trinidad and Tobago and Brooklyn, New York are different and the masqueraders are in the "parade" and the regular people are spectators. Toronto does it differently! Even though I am one of those who have jumped fences to join in the parade, I do prefer the style of parade I've seen in Brooklyn or Trinidad. I would pay money in Toronto to be in the parade if there were some way to keep it strictly masqueraders.
My adventures in Caribbean flavour continued at Harbourfront Centre's Island Soul Festival. Listening to Caribbean music, sampling foods and dancing under the Toronto skyline was amazing. The festival included performances, dance classes, history and culture. Harbourfront is always a good time.
Where the twin-island nation of Trinidad is reflected in the Torontonian portrayal of Carnival, the island of Jamaica is reflected in the Irie Music Festival celebrating the best of reggae and soul. I watched Fab5 perform on Monday night and they were great!
It was an amazing recreation of the island experience in Toronto's hot summer heat. The whole weekend was hot, humid and the sounds, sights and tastes of the Caribbean were all over downtown Toronto - Queen's Park, Lakeshore and Exhibition Place, Ontario Place and Harbourfront.
