By Stephen Weir, photographs by Dan Moreland

Wave after wave of  young masqueraders showed off their wildly colourful costumes at  the Caribbean Carnival’s Junior Parade media launch held at the Malvern Town Centre mall in Scarborough on Tuesday.

“ This year we really want to bring it back to the kids and to the families,” said Kevin Carrington, the MC  at the launch. “We have the Junior Carnival King and Queen Showcase taking place on stage at the Woodbine Centre in Etobicoke on July 15th (2:00 pm – 8:00 pm) and, of course, the Junior Carnival Parade right behind us at Neilson Park on July 21.

“ That is also where on the same day the Festival will also stage the post-parade Junior Carnival Calypso Monarch Challenge and the Grace Foods annual Junior Chef Competition.”

The Junior Parade and Family Day brings together the Toronto Mas Bands Association, Organization of Calypso Performing Artists, and the Ontario Steelpan Association.

The Junior Carnival Showcase, which begins after the parade ends, presents the young performers of steelpan, calypso, and dance on stage at Neilson Park.

This year over 2,000 children in costume are expected at the parade.  All eleven mas’ camps currently competing in the festival, are taking part in this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

The Junior Carnival Parade will kick-off at 11a.m. ( on July 21st)  with the official opening ceremony at the McLevin Road entrance  to the Malvern Community Centre. The parade travels west on McLevin Avenue,  then north on Neilson Road to Neilson Park.

“ It is really fitting that the Junior Carnival Parade and Family Day event is once again in Malvern,” City Councilor Neethan Shan (Ward 42) told  reporters at the  the launch.

“ Malvern has one of the highest concentration of children of any community in Canada, and there are people from every Caribbean island living right here in Malvern.”

The day-long event is free and spectators are welcome to watch and cheer on the children in their creative mas’ costumes This year marks 51 years of  Caribbean Carnival in Toronto.

Junior Carnival King & Queen Showcase

July 15, 2018
Woodbine Centre, 500 Rexdale Boulevard, Etobicoke.
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

 Junior Carnival Parade & Family Day

July 21, 2018
Malvern and Neilson Parks, Scarborough
11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.