Tiffany of Beauty Is Diverse pictured (Right)

On Saturday August 4th 2012 I participated in the 45th Annual Grande Parade formally known as Caribana and now called the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival .  The weather was amazing it was island hot all day long, the vibes were good , amazing costumes from all the bands that participated .  I played with Louis Saldenah and my section was called RINGS of MYSTIC TOPAZ.  Overall are band placed 2nd with 421 points , Carnival Nations came 1st with 436 points and Toronto Revellers came 3rd with 419 points.  View images of the parade below along with photos from Funky Pepper on Flickr , Bruke K on Flickr , Deejay008 on Flickr , Charles Pickens on Flickr , John Tavares Jr 

Image credits Beauty Is Diverse / Brandon Bhola

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival Gala 2012 took place at Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex on Saturday July 28th , the evening was presented by El Dorado – “The Official Rum of the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival” .  The gala which included a formal dinner , musical performances, award recognition and costumed masqueraders raised funds for The Caribbean Children Foundation .

Image credit Kimroy Delicia -North Star Photography via Scotia Bank Caribbean Carnival Toronto

The Junior Caribana Carnival took place over the weekend on July 21st at Downsview Park . This years winners are :

Band  1. Toronto Revellers , 2. Carnival Nations , 3. Tribal Knights

Female Individual 1. Desiree Pennant (Fantazia Intl ) , 2. Caneisa Edwards (Tribal Knights ) , 3. Reeyana Singh (Lil Nationz)

Male Individual 1. Aaron Degraff (Fantazia Intl ), 2. Deon James (Toronto Revellers ) , 3. Jaden Nelson (Lil Nationz)

King – Malik Adams of Tribal Knights

Queen – Celena Seusahai of Tribal Knights

Image credit Kimroy Delicia -North Star Photography via Scotia Bank Caribbean Carnival Toronto

Caribana a.k.a Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2012 kicked off today at Nathan Philips Square in downtown Toronto.  The weather was great and lots of people were on hand to get a glimpse of all the beautiful costumes that will be making there way down the Lakeshore on August 4th 2012 .  Below is a list of all the events that will be taking place to celebrate Caribbean culture and more photos from today.

Junior Carnival Parade and Family Day – July 21, 2012: The first big event, the Junior Carnival Parade, will take place at Downsview Park. Think of it as a junior’s version of the big parade. In 2011, over 2,000 children performed for the judges and played Mas along the streets of the Jane Finch corridor. Downsview Park, better suited to handle the growingnumber of children taking part, is the new location of the parade.

Canada versus Jamaica Rugby League – July 21, 2012: Sport fans will want to watch the Canadian Rugby League take on the Jamaica Rugby League at Lamport Stadium. The Canadian team is the defending champion from the 2011 matchup. Game starts at 7:00 p.m.

FMC BBQ – July 25, 2012: BBQ being held at FMC Headquarters. Admission is FREE

Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Gala – July 27, 2012: The Annual Gala, a dress up affair to honour the rich history of the festival and to sample the Caribbean arts, will take place at the Liberty Grand Ballroom on the CNE grounds.

Carnival: Emancipation to Celebration – July 28, 2012: A unique display of the history and cultural significance of the Carnival in the City of Toronto capturing the festival around the city and featuring the pioneers of the festival with their recollection over the years. Takes place at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Calypso Monarch Finals- July 28, 2012 and All-Star Showcase – July 31, 2012: Many of the world’s best Calypso performers will show their stuff at the contest and the showcase taking place at Harbourfront.

Toronto Pearson Official Launch – July 31, 2012: Once again, Toronto Pearson collaborates with the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival to promote the festival at the gateway to the City of Toronto with Caribbean entertainment and tastings.

King and Queen Competition and Show – August 2, 2012: Each year this popular contest proves to be a sold-out event. Lamport Stadium has been reconfigured to allow for an expected 20,000 spectators – up from 11,000 last year.

Pan Alive – August 3, 2012: This is a thrilling evening displaying the musical and tonal qualities of the steel pan as members of the Ontario Steelpan Association compete before a panel of judges. This show is the best opportunity to hear this wonderful instrument in all its glory.

This event highlights the talent of pannists ranging in age from early teens to adults as they perform their original renditions.

Beyond de lime – Fish Friday and J’ouvert – August 3 & 4, 2012: Fish Fry from 10:00p.m. to 4:00 am. Reminiscent of so many island beach get-together, when seafood such as snapper, lobster, shrimp, conch, is cooked fresh and the conversation of the night’s events continues through to the early morning hours.

Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade – August 4, 2012: After months of preparation, masqueraders in colourful and striking costumes and steel pan bands whine their way from Exhibition Place along a 3.5 kilometre stretch on Lakeshore Boulevard.

Beyond De Lime – Food Festival & Concert – August 5, 2012: Lime and Breakfast on South beach: Starting at 8:00 a.m., greet the morning with a Caribbean beach breakfast -fresh juices, coconut breads, fish and condiments that enhance the taste buds.

Closing Festival Church Service – August 12, 2012: We give thanks for all the festival sponsors, donors, partners, participants and audiences for their support. This service takes place at St. James Cathedral.

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Image credit Tiffany @ Beauty Is Diverse

The Louis Saldenah mas camp Toronto Carnival 2012 theme is “Fantasy in Jewels” view the costumes in motion above and view photos and registration details here.

The Toronto Revellers Mas camp headed by NBA (Toronto Raptors) player Jamaal Magloire are doing a Bollywood : Lights, Camera & Action theme for the 2012 Caribbean Carnival in Toronto , Canada.  Check out the lovely costumes below and the video above.  To register with the Toronto Revellers check out their website and facebook fan page for more details.

Image credit The Caollabo Blog Spot

“Crop Over (formerly called “Harvest Home”), is a traditional harvest festival which began in Barbados, having had its early beginnings on the sugar cane plantations during the colonial period. The crop over tradition began in 1688, and featured singing, dancing and accompaniment by bottles filled with water, shak-shak, banjo, triangle, fiddle, guitar, and bones. Other traditions included climbing a greased pole, feasting and drinking competitions. Originally a celebration signaling the end of the yearly sugar cane harvest, it has since evolved into Barbados’ biggest national festival rivaling Carnival in Brazil and Trinidad. In the late 20th Century, the general schematic of Crop Over began to closely mirror the Trinidad Carnival. Beginning in June, Crop Over it runs until the first Monday in August when it culminates in the finale, The Grand Kadooment.”

Image credit Just Jared/Splash News

The 44th Annual Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival formely known as Caribana took place yesterday in Toronto, Canada.  It was a beautiful and summer hot day with over 18,000 dancers and musicians playing Mas on the Lakeshore.  Congrats to Carnival Nationz who won band of the year , Saldenah Mas-K Club (2nd), Toronto Revellers (3rd), and Tribal Knights placed 4th.  Actors Laz Alonso and Lance Gross were in town for the festivities and spotted along the parade route.

Image credits Toronto Lime/Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail/Dave Thomas/QMI Agency