From the front desk

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2024 has come and gone, once again delivering a colourful and lively celebration of Caribbean culture, music, and dance. Although attendance numbers were lower this year—both in terms of masqueraders and parade-goers—those who participated were treated to an event that didn’t disappoint.

One area of concern, however, was the pricing of food along the Lakeshore and various other locations around the parade route. Many attendees found the cost of meals to be excessively high, with some vendors charging as much as $20 for bake and saltfish and $30 for dishes like oxtail and goat. The portion sizes were disappointing, leaving many feeling short-changed.

Given the steep prices, it’s likely that sales may have been down, as families had to budget carefully. For a family of four, the cost of entry alone amounted to $140, with adult tickets priced at $45 and children’s tickets (ages 6-16) at $25. For those purchasing tickets online, an additional 10% was added, making the experience even more costly.

In an effort to streamline the event, organizers made the decision to host all activities at a single location—the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds. This move proved to be convenient for patrons, offering a centralized location for all festivities. However, it remains to be seen what the financial impact will be for the organizers, particularly in terms of costs associated with using the CNE facilities.

As the dust settles and another year of Carnival wraps up, The Caribbean Camera is pleased to offer a retrospective of the parade through a collection of approximately 800 photos, now available online for public viewing. We hope that these images capture the beauty and splendor of our culture, and that you might even spot yourself among the scenes on display.

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