By Len Chan : The 2014 Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival will see some location changes and an expanded admission area on the CNE grounds. The main venues for the Caribbean Carnival are the King & Queen Show at Lamport stadium and the Grand Carnival Parade.
The King & Queen Show is on July 31 and the Parade is on Aug.2. For the Parade, the paid admission area in CNE grounds has been expanded to the whole area of the CNE with seating and prices from $20-25. There is no charge beyond the admission area and
down Lakeshore Blvd. The Junior Parade is now back at Malvern -Neilson Park (from Ontario Place) on July 19 and on Aug.3rd back to Toronto Island for the last event. . For the Grand Parade admission gates will be at Dufferin Gate-Go Train stop- TTC station-Princess Gate and Ontario Place.
This will hopefully give the Mas Bands more distance to parade without having street jumpers who are not in costume impede their fun. Performers pay for their costumes and so often in years past, many parade watchers clog the parade route resulting in a number of Mas Bands being unable to make it down to Lakeshore. In some instances the street jumpers in street clothes outnumber the Bands. With the expanded
admission area and better security the Mas Bands can Play Mas before heading down the main stretch of the route. For info www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com
