Toronto Reacts To Cancelled Caribana
The beloved festival has been cancelled for the first time in 52 years

One Canada’s biggest summer festivals, the Toronto Caribbean Festival (better known as Caribana) has been cancelled. The festival’s Board of Directors at the Festival Management Committee shared an update earlier this week that the two-month long summer festival has been cancelled, due to the spread of COVID-19, the severe public health threat, and global health crisis.
The Board of Directors of the Festival Management Committee has decided that due to the continued developments concerning the spread of COVID-19, the severe public health threat, and global health crisis, the… https://t.co/U3sKtClHT2
— Toronto Carnival (@GoTOCarnival) April 9, 2020
A statement issued by the Festival Committee reads: “It is therefore unanimous that the priority must be the health and safety of our patrons and having weighed all these considerations, there is no choice but to cancel this year’s festival.”
In addition, the statement read: “For the past 52 years, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (formerly Caribana) has delivered an exciting summer festival featuring elaborate costumes, Caribbean music and food in our Grand Parade. This festival is a labor of love, created by our extraordinarily talented artistic stakeholders, and supported by participants, and volunteers, who begin preparation for the spectacular King and Queen Show and the Grand Parade six-months in advance of the scheduled events.”
The Festival has revised its ticket refund policy in light of the rapidly evolving state of affairs regarding the novel coronavirus. A refund on tickets that have been purchased in advance is being offered via their Instagram page.
In light of the evolving situation with COVID-19, we have revised our refund policies to reflect the fast-developing nature of this public health situation.
Below are the options available for our event tickets,… https://t.co/qtuPZXArfp
— Toronto Carnival (@GoTOCarnival) April 9, 2020