Tag: Toronto Carnival

A Guide to Toronto Carnival: What You Need to Know

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Me in my carnival costume

Decked out in my carnival costume

Memorial day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer in the United States. For many, it’s the kick-off to cookouts, beach days, and…carnival season.

With the mother of carnivals, Trinidad under our belts this year, masqueraders will soon be headed to St. Lucia, Grenada, and Barbados. If you hesitated to jump on airfares and accomodations, you may feel like you missed the boat (or plane). If you’re Stateside, as  I am, or in Canada, you should consider Toronto Carnival, formerly known as Caribana.

In the Caribbean there is Carnival Monday and Tuesday, plus J’ouvert. In New York, J’ouvert is the same day as the parade. Toronto Carnival is on a Saturday and there is no official public J’ouvert celebration, though there are j’ouvert fetes you can attend.

Toronto Carnival is the largest Caribbean festival in North America. The route begins at Princes’ Gate at Exhibition Place, continuing down Gardiner Parkway and Lake Shore Boulevard on Lake Ontario’s waterfront. This year’s carnival runs Thursday, July 31st – Monday, August 4th, 2025. The grand parade (road march) will be on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025

GETTING There and Around

Toronto Pearson Airport

Welcome to Toronto Pearson Airport

Flying

Toronto Pearson International Airport (XYZ) is about a 35 minute drive or train ride to Downtown Toronto. If you’re coming from within Canada or the New York City area, you may fly into the tiny Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) in Downtown Toronto, which is super convenient.

From Toronto Pearson International Airport: take a the Union Pearson Express train directly to Union Station or catch a ride into town.

From Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport: YTZ is on a small island and you’ll need to take a 90 second ferry (seriously) ride across or a short walk via the pedestrian tunnel where you can catch a cab or light rail tram.

Public Transportation

Toronto is a large city and has good public transportation. The city’s metro is extensive with a supplementary streetcar and bus system. Uber and Lyft are both widely available, as well as the Canadian Hovr app. Downtown Toronto is very walkable and easy to navigate.

The official carnival and related events are held in Downtown Toronto. However, most fetes are in sections of Toronto like York and Scarborough, as well as suburbs like Markham and Pickering. Costume distribution is also typically in those areas further from the city center. While I’ve personally used public transportation to get to these places, it is time consuming and impractical — just cab it instead. Keep in mind that traffic can be intense and on carnival Saturday, you may only be able to get within a few blocks of the route by car.

Where to Stay

Carnival road march will be held in Downtown Toronto near Lake Ontario, so you’ll probably want to stay closeby.  I got an incredible deal two years ago at The Rex Hotel on the hip Queen Street West, which has a Jazz and Blues Bar on the ground floor with nightly live shows. You may also consider using Airbnb or VRBO for a local experience. Some revellers did stay close to the airport in Mississauga or Etobicoke due to the cheaper accommodations, though you’d spent more time and money travelling.

Here are some hotels to consider:

  • Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown
  • Sonder Hotels (various)
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto Downtown
  • Hotel Ocho
  • Chelsea Hotel
  • Cambridge Suites Toronto
  • Gladstone House
  • Hotel Victoria
  • Novotel Toronto Centre
  • Ace Hotel Toronto
  • Union Hotel
  • The Novotel Toronto Centre
  • Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre by IHG

Where to EAT and Drink

Toronto: Multiculturalism is our identity. Diversity is our beauty.

Toronto: Multiculturalism is our identity. Diversity is our beauty.

Did you know that Toronto is the most diverse city in the world? Coming from New York City, it was hard to believe anywhere could be more of a melting pot than here. But it’s true. One of the things I love most about travelling and visiting a new city is trying the restaurants. The Greater Toronto area, as you may have already guessed, has a huge Caribbean community — and great Caribbean food. Take a walk around Eglinton West aka Little Jamaica, eat your way through Chinatown and Kensington Market, or take a stroll down eclectic Queen Street West.

For Caribbean Food

A rum drink at Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen

Unwind with a drink at Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen

  • Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen
  • Chadon Beni
  • Rhum Corner
  • The Diner’s Corner
  • Miss Likklemore’s
  • SugarKane
  • Simone’s Caribbean Restaurant
  • Patois

 

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For Great Views of the City

  • The Rooftop
  • KŌST
  • W Toronto – SKYLIGHT Rooftop Bar
  • 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower
  • Harriet’s Rooftop
  • Rooftop Bar at the Broadview Hotel
  • Amsterdam Brewhouse & Restaurant

Participating Mas Bands

 

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This year, about a dozen mas bands will be participating, ranging from small (up to 301 masqueraders), medium (301-729), or large (up to ~3,000). If this is your first time on the road, a small or medium band may fit your needs.

Canadian law forbids mas bands from providing alcoholic beverages to masqueraders; Toronto is technically a dry carnival. People do (discreetly and creatively) find ways to bring their own. Some mas bands offer tasty fruit punch that *definitely does not* contain rum. Wink wink. ; ) You’ll likely receive a light breakfast, snacks like patties and granola bars, soft drinks and water, and lunch.

Instagram is the best way to find information on bands and updates regarding costume distribution schedules, meeting places, and general communications. With regards to local, many of the mas camps are at the periphery of the city, so plan your transportation situation accordingly, as public transportation may not be practical.

Fetes and Events

 

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Along with local DJs like Dr. Jay, D Enforcas, DJ Buzz B, and DJ Kevin, some New York City and the Caribbeans best, like Riggo Suave, Selectah Kerry, Barrie Hype, Kevin Crown, Ryan Sayeed, DJ JEL, Major Penny, One Gyal Army, and Freeze International will be on decks at fetes and on the road. Toronto Lime, FETELIST, Island Tickets, and Ticket Gateway, Frontline Ticketing, CaribanaToronto.com are good resources for buying tickets and information on fetes.

Official Toronto Carnival Events

  • King and Queen Band Showcase, Thursday, July 31st, 2025, Exhibition Place
  • Toronto Panorama – Keepin’ Pan Alive, Friday, August 1st, 2025,
  • Grand Parade, Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Boulevard

For more information, see the Toronto Caribbean Carnival official website.

Things to See and Do

A vividly painted building on Toronto's Queen Street West

A vividly painted building on Toronto’s Queen Street West

Toronto isn’t a touristy, per se. Still, it’s a large city with a lot of culture to offer and a pleasant place to travel. Because of its diversity, you could spend several days just wandering through different neighborhoods, eating and drinking your way through. You’ll find great street art all over the city and a walk along Lake Ontario is a must. Destination Toronto is a great website to browse through for ideas.

If you’re not ready to take the plunge yet and travel to the Caribbean, Toronto may just quell that carnival itch. If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to hop on a plane and get to know a different city. Sound good? Get in the spirit with this 2025 Soca playlist.