From the entrance desk
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2024 has come and gone, as soon as once more delivering a vibrant and full of life celebration of Caribbean tradition, music, and dance. Though attendance numbers had been decrease this 12 months—each by way of masqueraders and parade-goers—those that participated had been handled to an occasion that didn’t disappoint.
One space of concern, nevertheless, was the pricing of meals alongside the Lakeshore and varied different areas across the parade route. Many attendees discovered the price of meals to be excessively excessive, with some distributors charging as a lot as $20 for bake and saltfish and $30 for dishes like oxtail and goat. The portion sizes had been disappointing, leaving many feeling short-changed.
Given the steep costs, it’s seemingly that gross sales might have been down, as households needed to funds rigorously. For a household of 4, the price of entry alone amounted to $140, with grownup tickets priced at $45 and youngsters’s tickets (ages 6-16) at $25. For these buying tickets on-line, an extra 10% was added, making the expertise much more expensive.
In an effort to streamline the occasion, organizers made the choice to host all actions at a single location—the Canadian Nationwide Exhibition (CNE) grounds. This transfer proved to be handy for patrons, providing a centralized location for all festivities. Nevertheless, it stays to be seen what the monetary impression might be for the organizers, notably by way of prices related to utilizing the CNE amenities.
Because the mud settles and one other 12 months of Carnival wraps up, The Caribbean Digital camera is happy to supply a retrospective of the parade by means of a set of roughly 800 images, now out there on-line for public viewing. We hope that these pictures seize the wonder and splendor of our tradition, and that you simply may even spot your self among the many scenes on show.
