What to know
- Four Caribana-season events are happening across Toronto this weekend, including free and ticketed options.
- The lineup includes the official Kaiso 365 Calypso Monarch Finals, a Caribbean cookout and two cultural workshops.
- Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s biggest events begin July 30, leading up to the Grand Parade on Aug. 1.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s biggest weekend may still be a few weeks away, but the city is already getting into the Caribana spirit.
Following the Junior Carnival celebrations over the past weekend, this week’s lineup shifts toward calypso, Caribbean food, folk dance and the traditions behind the festival’s towering moko jumbie performers.
The official King and Queen Showcase, Panorama Steelpan Competition and Grand Parade will take place from Jul. 30 to Aug. 1. But before that, there are plenty of things happening this coming weekend. Here are four events happening July 25-26.
BACKYARD: The Cookout
When: Saturday, July 25 at 12 p.m.
Where: Stackt Market, 28 Bathurst St.
Cost: Free, RSVP recommended
More information: Stackt Market
Stackt Market is celebrating Carnival season with a free celebration of Black and Afro-Caribbean food, music and community.
The Cookout will feature barbecue, reggae, steelpan music and other live sounds. Organizers describe the event as a summer prelude to Toronto’s largest Caribbean cultural celebration, inviting visitors to arrive hungry and ready to dance.
Rhythm and Roots: Caribbean Folk Dance Workshop
When: Saturday, July 25 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: Nia Centre for the Arts, 524 Oakwood Ave.
Cost: Free, registration required
More information: Nia Centre for the Arts
This beginner-friendly workshop at Nia Centre for the Arts will introduce participants to foundational Caribbean folk dance movements while exploring the history behind them.
Led by Trinidad and Tobago-born artists and choreographer Shelly Ann McLeod, the session will examine how movement, music and storytelling have helped Caribbean communities celebrate, preserve their histories and express resilience.
Kaiso 365 Toronto Calypso Monarch Finals
When: Saturday, July 25 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.; doors open at 7 p.m.
Where: Hungarian Canadian Cultural Centre, 141 Sunrise Ave.
Cost: $50 for regular admission
More information: Toronto Caribbean Carnival and TicketGateway
One of this week’s official Toronto Caribbean Carnival events will place calypso’s storytelling tradition centre stage.
Presented by the Organization of Calypso Performing Artists, Kaiso 365 is the finale of a multi-week competition that began with preliminary showcases in June. Calypsonians will perform their latest compositions while competing for the title of Calypso Monarch of Canada.
The performances combine melody and rhythm with humour, social commentary and stories about Caribbean life, history and resilience.
Stilted Stories: Moko Jumbie Workshop
When: Sunday, July 26 at 2 p.m.
Where: Nia Centre for the Arts, 524 Oakwood Ave.
Cost: $20
More information: Nia Centre for the Arts
Torontonians can experience Carnival from a new height during Nia Centre’s introductory moko jumbie workshop.
Multidisciplinary artist and international performer Pixel Heller will teach participants the fundamentals of stilt walking, including balance, movement and technique. The session will also explore the West African and Caribbean cultural practices behind moko jumbies, who are recognized as protectors, storytellers and symbols of ancestral wisdom.
No previous stilt-walking experience is required, but only 15 spaces are available. Priority will be given to participants aged 30 and older who identify as part of the African diaspora.
