Caribana Toronto 2025: Dates, Parade Info & What to Expect
Caribana brings Toronto to life in early August, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll be there for it. The Toronto Caribbean Carnival returns this summer with its usual mix of sequins, steel drums, and enough jerk chicken to feed a small island nation.
Quick Facts about Caribana
- Started in 1967 as Canada’s centennial gift from Toronto’s Caribbean community
- North America’s largest Caribbean festival
- Draws over a million people annually
- Still called Caribana by most people, despite the official name change
Where and When
- Location: Downtown Toronto, centered around Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard West
- Dates: Thursday, July 31 to Monday, August 4, 2025
- Main Event: Grand Parade on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
What’s Happening for Caribana 2025
- Grand Parade: Thousands of dancers in physics-defying costumes, music trucks audible from space, crowds stretching along Lake Shore Boulevard
- Day parties: Pop up everywhere from hotel rooftops to parking lots across the city
- King and Queen Showcase: Costume competition featuring wearable sculptures that probably cost more than your car
- Junior Carnival Parade: Family-friendly version where kids get their own costumes without the mortgage-level price tag
- Food vendors: Jerk chicken, doubles, roti, and other Caribbean classics that will ruin you for regular food
- Club events and shows: Various venues across Toronto host parties and performances throughout the weekend
Costs
- Grand Parade public viewing: Free along Lakeshore Boulevard
- Premium viewing areas: Ticket prices vary by location and are announced closer to the event
- King and Queen Showcase: Ticketed event with prices announced in advance
- Day parties and club events: Range from free community events to premium parties with varying costs based on venue and performers
What to Bring
- Sunscreen: Unless you want to spend next week looking like a fashionable lobster
- Water: Staying hydrated is the difference between fun and needing to sit down every five minutes
- Comfortable shoes: You’ll walk more than planned, even if you swear you’ll stay in one spot
- Cash or card: Both work with vendors, but expect lines slower than Toronto rush hour traffic
- Patience: Transit delays and traffic jams are part of the authentic Caribana experience
Getting There
- Location: Festival centers around Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard West
- Transit: Check TTC for service updates and expect delays
- Parking: Best described as “good luck with that”
- Best approach: Walk from downtown or take public transit to avoid the parking situation
Media inquiries: media@torontocarnival.ca
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