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Caribana 2022 (Toronto Caribbean Carnival)

For any carnival lover or lover of Caribbean Culture, one of the most highly anticipated days of the year in Toronto, is the day of the Caribana Grand Parade.


For those of you straight from the Caribbean, or know about some elements of Caribbean culture, this is basically the day you play Mas.

For those of you not familiar with Mas, or what the Grand Parade is, this is the day which you get dressed up in the costume you bought, throw on those feathers if any, strap on your comfiest shoes, and join your fellow masqueraders on the road down by Exhibition Place, to either chip, wine, or jump down the road, and lose yourself for the day in the endless bliss that is Soca music and Carnival.



A lot of preparation goes into the day of the Grand Parade from the viewpoint of a masquerader. (And arguably the preparation is triple that as someone on the other end, who oversees putting on band launches, registering masqueraders, creating and distributing costumes and more.)


In this post I'll be doing a deep dive into the Carnival process from start to end, expanding on the following:

Tap any of the titles above to be immediately taken to that section of this blog post!


⚠ Warning: Long post ahead! ⚠



 

Carnival 101: Key terms, information, and the popular Carnival bands in Toronto

If you want to fully immerse yourself into the Caribbean culture, many argue that playing in a Mas band vs being a stormer* enhances the experience, not just for you, but for everyone else playing Mas around you. Be mindful though, that playing Mas with an actual band does have a price tag attached to it.


*What is a stormer? A person who did not register, or pay to play in a Carnival band, but still ends up in the mix with all the other masqueraders in the Carnival band on the day.


What is a Carnival band?: A group of masqueraders coming together to play Mas, adorned in all the different costumes that the different bands create, quite often by hand.


 

When it comes to Carnival in Toronto, whether you're a 'Carnival virgin' or a 'seasoned veteran,' there are a number of bands who participate in the annual celebration that you can choose to play with.


Many of the these bands were founded by once Caribbean immigrants who travelled across to Canada and ensured that the Caribbean culture would continue to be celebrated, regardless of the location.


Regarding your choice of bands here in Toronto, some of the most popular ones which I've often seen in the media, or people discussing and playing in include:

↠↠ Saldenah Carnival

↠↠ Toronto Revellers

↠↠ Carnival Nationz

↠↠ E.P.I.C

↠↠ Tribal Carnival

↠↠ Freedom Mas Band

↠↠ Fantazia Carnival

↠↠ Venom Carnival*

↠↠ Atlantic Mas*

↠↠ Sunlime Mas


As of 2022, I've only played with Saldenah and Toronto Revellers so far, but I'm hoping to try some others as the years go by.


Click on any of the names above to be taken to either their website, or instagram page.

 

Majority of these Carnival bands typically take part in the annual competition of the bands, in order to win the coveted title of Band of the year.


Here, they are judged by a panel, based on factors stemming from the costumes in the different sections, the attention to theme (since all bands have yearly themes) and the energy of the masqueraders when they cross the stage.



I’ll go into all this and more in the post.

 

Carnival season in Toronto typically starts in April, when many of the bands participate in band launch season. This is where the bands put on a show to announce and showcase their theme for the year, and the costumes and sections they'll have available.


A band launch back home is often a huge scale event, but the ones here in Toronto are a little more toned down. I would still categorize them as events though, especially since you usually have to buy a ticket to attend. l



At their band launch, they announced their theme, which was 'Bon Voyage,' and presented their sections and costumes displayed were inspired by different parts of the world, such as Japan, Peru, France and more.



 

A band launch is usually the best place to see what costumes are going to be available for the upcoming carnival season. The other options of viewing the costumes are either online (which tends to offer a limited view of the costumes) or by going in-person to visit the Mas camps** when they open.


**A Mas camp is essentially the “home” of a Carnival band. This is where a lot of the manufacturing of the costumes happens. It's where you can register to play Mas, where you may be fitted for certain elements of your costume (such as a wire bra) and where you'll pick up your costume on the designated distribution days (unless your band announces a separate location.)


Many bands typically schedule their distribution dates for about a week or two before the Grand parade itself, but this can vary, as some bands may even have pick up days scheduled for the day before the parade itself. The day before is usually the designated pick-up day for those not located in Toronto, unless the band or section ran into issues with the original distribution day(s) and had to push pick-up back.


I've also noticed that a number of the Mas camps are located in the Scarborough area, which is in the GTA, a little out of the Toronto core.


This isn't too surprising, since there is a large Caribbean population in this part of the GTA. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the GTA region, Scarborough is roughly to the east of Toronto.


(Fun Fact: The main city and most popular area in Tobago, is named Scarborough, so it's pretty fitting that a number of the Mas camps are located in Scarborough in Toronto, with Trinidad and Tobago being the birthplace of Carnival.)



 

Registering to play Mas in Toronto

Now the second step in playing Mas (a.k.a, playing in a Carnival band) after you've decided on who you want to play with, is to register and pay for which costume you want.


A lot of people attend the band launches, as this is their chance to see the costumes up close and in-person for the first time.


Not many websites offer a 360 view of the costumes online, so the band launch can save you a trip of having to visit the Mas camp till it's time to pick up the costume.


The band launch also gives you a chance to see what the costume looks like on a person vs. on a mannequin at the Mas camp.


Views from the Toronto Revellers Mas Camp, 2022



(I've noticed that Toronto Carnival bands promote a lot more body positivity by having band launch models of all different sizes, which promotes better inclusively; something I think the band launches back home could take note of.)

 

Most bands tend to open up registration the moments their band launches end, since for the more popular bands, costumes can sell out instantly.


This is what happens each year for the Dr. Jay section in Saldenah for example. Dr. Jay's section tends to have a costume that looks like it was hand-made fresh out of Trinidad and Tobago. It always looks really top notch, and and this year, it was sold out within days of being announced.




If you have your eye on a specific costume, you'll want to sign up to register as soon as possible, to guarantee your chances of getting it.


Most bands offer both in-person, and online registration options, but you'll always want to confirm first. Some persons who were unable to attend the band launch for example, may opt to register and pay in-person at the Mas camp, to have a chance to view the costume in its entirely before signing up.


Others who attend the band launch may opt to buy their costume online the moment registration goes live.


My advice would be that if you know for certain you want to play Mas, do not stick when it comes to registering for your costume.


I would recommend (if possible) that you register within the first two weeks at most following the band launch (whether you were able to attend or not) since this increases your chances of getting one of your top options. The longer you wait, the less likely you are to get your first choice costume.


This is especially important for those of you who may play Mas with a larger group of people. My first year playing Caribana for example, I waited way too long, and the section all my friends were playing had been sold out long time.


Don't make my mistake, and organize early!


 
Toronto Caribbean Carnival: Costume options & prices

In terms of how much you can expect to pay for a carnival costume in Toronto, the prices range from which band you play with, which section, what type of costume you want, and if you want any add-ons or customizations done.


Costumes in most bands, from in Toronto, to the Caribbean islands, and other parts of the Diaspora where Carnival is celebrated, are often sectioned in the following ways:

Backline

Midline

Frontline (and/or Ultra-Frontline)

Male Costumes/Male Backline

Whether you register online, or in-person, you'll be asked to provide the same information; Your personal/contact information, your costume/bra sizes, (Small, medium etc.) and if you'll be getting any add-ons.


Some bands and sections also offer different payment options, whether you want to pay the full amount at the time of registration, or do a down payment.


The options will be announced by the bands.


 

I should also note that one of the biggest shocks to me about Carnival in Toronto, is that it is NOT all-inclusive.




Back home, playing Mas is a two-day Celebration, Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday, where signing up to play with a band includes your Carnival Tuesday costume (Carnival Monday, you'll have to source what we label as 'Monday wear') in addition to food being provided, and drinks trucks (with alcohol) on the road all day long.


Up here, some bands may offer a lunch/food option, and water and juice on the road, not all bands do it.


This is why playing Carnival up here is a lot cheaper, because you're really only essentially paying for the costume and entry at most.


Other add-ons you might want to consider for the day of the Grand Parade itself, that aren't offered by the bands themselves, include:

↠↠ Fanny packs/Drawstring bags: These can be found in almost any department store, online through Amazon, Walmart etc. This helps to have something small on you to keep your personal items close by.


↠↠ Carnival tights: Sparkly fishnets are a staple item for many when it comes to their carnival costume. You can find ones close to your skintone, or jeweled/sparkly ones from stores such as FeteExpert.


↠↠ Nipple covers: You can never be too prepared. If you know you have bigger boobs, or your costume is a little small in the bust area, this can be a quick save to avoid any nipslips on the road.


↠↠ Shoe insoles (gel): Your feet are going to be getting hundreds of steps in. Ensure they're taken care of by sliding in some insoles if you're prone to back pain, or to help your feet feel less sore at the end of the day.


↠↠ Additional items to relieve any discomfort on the road: Ranging from pain-killers, sunscreen, tums, bandages. etc.

 

A lot of people, once they've registered for their costume, will start the workout for the 'Carnival body' immediately, but always remember that your Carnival body, is whatever body you throw your costume onto the day of Caribana itself.




There is a lot of pressure around wanting to look a certain way in your costume, wanting to look like the models who wear the costumes, but the experience is your own to have, so never subject yourself to any of the pressure.


 
Picking up your Carnival costume

Next up on our Carnival checklist, is picking up your costume.


This won't be for a few months after you registered, since most bands don't begin announcing the distribution schedule till about two weeks before the Grand parade itself


Unless otherwise stated, most bands would have the masqueraders pick up their costumes from the Mas camps themselves, which as I noted earlier, many of which are found in Scarborough.


If you're coming from within the Toronto core, it can be a bit of a commute to get to Scarborough, so there is also the option of asking someone to pick your costume up for you. In this case, you would need to provide some form of authorization, which the bands usually outline how to confirm this.


To avoid any potential hassle though, I would recommend if possible, to pick up your costume yourself, especially if you had any add-ons, customizations, or have to look into any last minute adjustments (which may or may not be possible.)


Many bands either announce via Instagram, through email, or both, when their distribution days would be. They are normally later in the day/afternoon, but this too will range from band to band.


You'll want to keep a close eye on your inbox, or Instagram in those two-three weeks leading up to the Grand Parade, because in the announcements for distribution days, most bands also warn that any costumes not claimed by a certain date will be resold, and you wouldn't want to run into that issue.




It's also ideal to keep an eye on your inbox, because it's not uncommon for some bands to run into distribution issues, and end up pushing back the originally intended pick up times.


 

Costume pick up day in general is either a calm and collected one, or there may be some mild chaos in-between, as I saw was the case with a number of people on TikTok and picking up their costumes this year.


If you run into any issues on pick-up day, or distribution dates were pushed back to times that no longer fit into your schedule, the first step is to not panic.


Unfortunately, from the end of a masquerader, there's little you can do to get the costume in your hand faster, but always be mindful that those who are working at the Mas camps are human beings themselves, and things tend to get get pretty tense leading up to the parade itself.


Always be mindful of how you are speaking to persons at the Mas camps, though there is also nothing wrong in feeling frustrated yourself, should you run into any costume pick-up issues.


While not ideal, it's not new, and the chances of bands running into costume creation delays will probably happen year after year to some people.


My best advice is to stay patient, and ensure that when you do get the costume, double check to ensure that everything in the box is exactly what you paid for, nothing more, nothing less.




This includes making sure you have the official Toronto Caribbean Carnival wristband which every single masquerader has to get, that is scanned when you enter Exhibition Place.


Your specific band you play with may also have an additional wristband worn by its masqueraders to be able to identify them, and give you access to whatever additional perks your band is offering on the road (essentially the water and juice.)


Many bands tend to have at least two wristbands each masquerader should have on.


 

In terms of what usually comes in your costume box (or bag) when you pick it up, it should include:

↠↠ Your costume (and all the pieces included; Arm and leg bands, headpiece etc.)

↠↠ A Toronto Caribbean Carnival wristband

↠↠ *Any other wristbands required by your band

↠↠ *A water bottle

↠↠ *Some small snacks and add-ons (my box had some wipes and chocolate)

↠↠ *Any little extra trinkets (my first time playing Mas, I also got a mini free manicure set)


*These will all vary based on the Carnival band you play with.


And if you got any feather collars or feather backpacks, you would also have been handed this at the mas camp when picking up your costume.


 
Caribana 2022: On the road again after 2 years!

In terms of my Caribana experience, mine I would say it was mostly an enjoyable one.


The morning started off a little shaky, and I was a bit low on energy, especially after the back to back fetes I had been to, but after my friend Zoe arrived and we began getting ready, my excitement started to build again.


The morning of getting ready for Caribana is always an exciting setting, and throwing your costume on after you've beat your face is usually one of the peak moments of the day, seeing everything coming together after all the months of anticipation.


As I mentioned earlier, this year I played with the Toronto Revellers, in the section, the Lost City.


It was a gold-brown based costume, with hints of reds and orange, so I paired it with a red and orange makeup look.


Here's a look at the costume below.



 

Now in terms of getting to Exhibition place itself, there are a number of ways to do this.


It's best recommended to commute there, since cars have limited access with a chuck of the Lakeshore Boulevard highway being closed for the parade, and Uber prices would be pretty high.


Your commute options range from the TTCs streetcars, and the GoTrain, which has a stop right at Exhibition where you need to go.




We got to Exhibition Place by about 10am, had our wristbands scanned, and started the search of trying to find where our band was.


Once we found the band and our team, it was just a matter of waiting as more and more people arrived. (Some bands offer breakfast items, but not all do, so always ensure you have a bite to eat before you leave home.)


This year, the parade of the bands crossed the stage before getting on the parade route, vs. crossing the stage at the end, which was done at the last Caribana 2 years ago.


I vividly remember waiting forever for us to cross the stage during my first Caribana in 2019, since there were so many stormers, and most of them refused to get out the band for those few minutes it takes to cross the stage, which delayed the process significantly.


By having the bands cross the stage at the beginning, this reduced the number of stormers at the beginning by probably hundreds of people.


To briefly explain, a large part of Caribana, and Carnivals across the world, is the moment when the masqueraders cross the stage, where we all have to get in our sections.


Intertwined in Carnival celebrations, is a competition for the title of 'Band of the Year' in terms of the costumes the bands present, how on theme the costumes presented are, and how much energy the masqueraders have.


This is all judged when the bands cross the stage, section by section in front of a row of judges, who then at the end of the day, announce who is the Band of the Year.



 

The funniest part of crossing the stage this year for me, is that my family back home was watching the parade (since it is televised) and with my band being the very first to cross the stage, they caught me right in the middle, 'dancing' about.


Now let me tell you guys, in that brief moment crossing the stage, knowing that one of the elements they judge is the energy of the masqueraders, I went all down to the ground.


To this day, I still don't know how much my parents saw me doing on TV, but we'll just pretend the video my sister sent me, is all they saw. Take a look below.




Once we crossed the stage, then the parade itself began.


It no longer matters as much to be in your section after you cross the stage, since that's when the judging ends, so everyone is essentially free to move about.


 

There were a number of music trucks playing different songs within the band, but we ended up jumping around from truck to truck a little more than anticipated, which eventually led to us loosing some members of the team.


Losing a friend or two during the parade isn't a huge shocker, since there are so many people, and it's hard to communicate clearly against the booming bass of a music truck blasting Soca, but it did make it a bit hard to find out footing for most of the morning.


Eventually, we reached a point where everyone was more or less synced up, and that's when all the looseness that really happens during Carnival time took place. People wining on the truck, on the wall, in between people, on top of people, underneath people, it was just such a blissfully chaotic energy.


That sun, was blazing hot too, and guess who only applied one layer of sunscreen, since I had almost forgotten to put any on at all.




I'm here writing this post about two months after Caribana, and I still have the sunburn to show for my day out on the road.


It's also always such a lovely experience to see all the men out in their carnival costumes, adorned in all the different colours.


There are usually a number of celebrity sightings that happen around Carnival time too, but my only one this year was seeing Cinco from the US Love island, though I am not complaining one bit.


 

I would say one of the more frustrating parts of Carnival, is having feathers in your face. This is more likely to happen the more you move about, but it's inevitable that you might get a face full of feathers from time to time, from either someone's feather collar, or feather backpack.


They say the only way to avoid it, is by having some feathers on your back yourself to kind of shield you. If you're playing in backline which comes with no feathers (unless you bought any add-ons) you'll be ducking and dodging all day long.


This is why sunglasses are always a good accessory, not just to protect your eyes from the sun, but so too, to protect them from getting stabbed with a feather. (been there, experienced that)




Caribana is also a lot, a lot, a lot of walking, so a key piece of advice is that even if you're not a big exercise fan, try to get some steps in at least two months leading up to the parade, because it is something you have to slightly prepare for if you live a more sedentary lifestyle.


I for example, don't love working out, and I had a really on-off-on-off workout schedule leading up to Carnival itself because I fell into the Carnival body pressure, but I do walk often and almost everywhere, and I was still mash up at the end of the day.


When I got home, I had to soak my feet in some warm water because they were killing me, completely sore. I checked the step counter for the day, and we did more than 20,000 steps.



 

Overall, I had a great peak times during the day, refusing to let anything get in the way and ruin my mood for long. Not after having to wait two years to be on the road in a costume again.


It could've been a smoother experience definitely, but nothing is without its flaws, as everything is ultimately a learning experience depending on how you choose to look at it.


Will I be playing Mas in Toronto again next year? Without a doubt, and for every year after that granted I'm able to.


For a lot of us from the Caribbean, who enjoy carnival, that one day can help relieve a lot of homesickness for us.




Yes, not every single costume made is on the same level of grandeur as a lot of other Caribbean Carnivals, notably Trinidad and Tobago's, but the point is that despite being thousands of miles away from home, we are still able to celebrate our culture and continue in ensuring we have that space to celebrate.


I was a bit taken aback, scrolling through Twitter at the end of the day while soaking my sore feet, seeing a number of Trinis back home and other Caribbean island locals bashing Caribana and the costumes. Calling them ugly and making fun of persons for spending their money on them.


The reactions were surprising, because if anything we should be proud of the fact that our culture extends across so many borders. Not everyone is as fortunate enough to have an entire day carved out, in a prime downtown hotspot, to shine a light on their culture.


In addition to this, the Grand Parade is not the only form of Caribbean culture being represented in Toronto. There is also kiddies carnival put on by numerous bands, King and Queens Showcases, Steelpan performances and showcases, and lots more.


If those of us in the diaspora are struggling with gathering support from those back home in the islands, it makes it harder for us expand our Cultural celebrations here in the bigger countries.


There is more to the Carnival celebrations than a costume, and the fact that so many additional elements of Carnival are celebrated here, in Toronto, Canada, is a big win for the Caribbean culture, and I for one will be continuing to show my support wherever I can.


Here's to attending more, and a variation of events next year, and being even more wotless on the road in whichever band we play with next!



 

Caribana Tips

↠↠ Attend the band launches to get an idea of who you might want to play with early.


↠↠ If you know for sure which band and section you want to play in, register for your costume the moment the band(s) announce their registration is live.


↠↠ If you're not able to attend the band launch, visit the Mas camp to see what the costume looks like in-person, since the online photos rarely do the costumes justice.


↠↠ Do some research, or ask around on people's experience playing with the band(s) you're interested in playing with before you formally register.


↠↠ Play with a larger group of people, and people you're comfortable with.


↠↠ Wear comfortable shoes on the day itself (if you buy anything new, break it in weeks in advance. You want to be comfy on the feet)


↠↠ Apply at least two layers of sunscreen, and apply more throughout the day.


↠↠ Have a check-in location you and your friends can meet up at in case anyone gets lost.


↠↠ Drink water regularly and throughout the parade.


↠↠ Get a bite to eat at least halfway through.


↠↠ Pace yourself with the alcohol.


↠↠ Try not too bounce from music truck to music truck. Eventually they will all play a little of the same thing, just at different times, and depending on the time of day, and how many feathers are on your back, it'll be increasingly difficult to move through the crowd.


↠↠ A fanny pack can do you wonders, and decrease your chances of dropping/losing anything on the day in the huge crowds.


↠↠ Pack light. Wallet, keys, phone, vex money, ID, and some pain killers.


↠↠ Have fun! Find a Carnival boo for the day, wine up on everyone you pass.


↠↠ Don't forget to get some pictures! (The best time is before you cross the stage, when the makeup, everything is fresh)


Caribana 2022: 60 second Rewind*



 

THINGS TO NOTE:


đŸ„ł Price/entry fee: $350.00CAD - $1000.00+ (Depending on what band you play with, what type of costume you get, and any customisations or add-ons)


đŸ„ł Time of year: Late July/early August - Either the last Saturday in July, or first Saturday in August


đŸ„ł Average amount of time excepted to spend here: 5+ hours


đŸ„ł Location: Exhibition Place




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