Toronto Caribbean Junior Carnival 2013!

 

 

Trini-in-Toronto says: I love going to the Junior Carnival. It reminds me of mas when I was a kid. Every band kinda does something different, and the kids really have a good time. Its so nice to see a bunch of happy people getting together to celebrate mas and youth. Nobody walks around screw face... its really nice. When my Canadian friends tell me, I've always wanted to check out Caribana, maybe I'll come down this year. I always say come to kiddies and get a taste. This is where we put our best foot forward.

 

There was a vast improvement over last year. We started the parade on time at 11am, there was no log jam of bands, and the last band crossed the stage before 3pm. Excellent work by the organizers, the mas bands and all the volunteers.

As far as I could see, everything went really smoothly.

Band of the year winners:
 1st Toronto Revellers
 2nd Saldenah
 3rd Carnival Nationz
 4th Tribal Carnival
 

 

(This is Karabana now) - I really enjoyed Jr. Carnival this year at Downsview. It looked like  the assembly area worked well, and the judging point was certainly fast moving (Kudos Curtis!) The parade route was shorter, which is better for the wee ones, especially in the blazing hot sun. There were plenty of food vendors in the park and fun activities for the kids. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUNIOR FEMALE OF YEAR 

1st Place

Masquerade Theme: THE BEAUTY OF NATURE  

Theme For Female of the Year: THE BUTTERFLY MENAGERIE  

Band Leader: DEXTER SEUSAHAI  

Player:  CANEISHA EDWARDS

2nd  Place

Masquerade Theme: THE REEF

Theme For Female of the Year: D'ZEBRA FISH

Band Leader: MARCUS EUSTACE

Player:  KAI CASTLE

JUNIOR MALE OF YEAR 

1st Place

Masquerade Theme: ONCE UPON A TIME

Theme For Male of the Year: JACK AND HIS BEANSTALK

Band Leader: JAMAAL MAGLOIRE

Player:  JALEN MAGLOIRE 

2nd  Place

Masquerade Theme: THE BEAUTY OF NATURE

Theme For  Male of the Year: MANTIS, THE PREDATOR

Band Leader: DEXTER SEUSAHAI

Player: COURTNEY ST. Louis

JUNIOR FEMALE QUEEN  OF YEAR 

1st Place

Masquerade Theme: HEAVEN AND EARTH

Theme For Female Queen  of the Year: HEAVEN CAN'T WAIT 

Band Leader: LOUIS SALDENAH 

Player:  FAITH HERMELIJN 

2nd  Place

Masquerade Theme: THE BEAUTY OF NATURE

Theme For Female Queen of the Year: THE LOTUS QUEEN

Band Leader: DEXTER SEUSAHAI  

Player:  CELENA SEUSAHAI 

JUNIOR MALE KING OF YEAR 

1st Place

Masquerade Theme: THE BEAUTY OF NATURE  

Theme For Male of the Year: MARAHOOTAH THE GUARDIAN

Band Leader: DEXTER SEUSAHAI  

Player:  MALIK ADAMS

2nd  Place

Masquerade Theme: ONCE UPON A TIME

Theme For  Male of the Year: ANANSI WEAVES A TALE

Band Leader: JAMAAL MAGLOIRE

Player: TY WILLIAMSON

JUNIOR BAND OF THE YEAR 

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

FIRST: ONCE UPON A TIME - JAMAAL MAGLOIRE 

2 HEAVEN AND EARTH - LOUIS SALDENAH 

3 THE REEF -  MARCUS EUSTACE 

4 THE BEAUTY OF NATURE DEXTER SEUSAHAI  

5 MINI LEGENDS WILL MORTON 

6 IN FLIGHT MERVYN SKEETE 

7  CELBRATING OUR  HERITAGE - WHITFIELD BELASCO 

8 HOME FOR CARNIVAL - OSEI BRAND 

9 LOST CIVILIZATIONS - NARISSA ALI 

10 SUGAR AND SPICE - COREY HOWARD 

11 MAMA THIS IS MAS - MICHAEL WILLIAMS  

Kick it up a notch

So how's your costume extras shopping going? This year I'm finding many options for not only footwear, but accessories like purses, tights and jewellery.

I've been very impressed with how sneaker designs have improved greatly for us to wear to play mas in. There are so many fun, flashy, shimmery & sequined shoes out there to choose from.

 All found at Si Vous Play Sports On Steeles, $19.99. 

 

 

Wedge sneaks are now the big thing, my personal favourite for mas this year. They are ideal to play mas in. If you don't want to go with a full boot or flat shoes, these are a perfect middle ground.

 

Urban Behaviour, $30

All pictured were found on Orfus Road.

 

 Sirens, $35

 

 LA Star, $40

 

 Ducati, $30

 

 Designer Depot, $20

  

 Rainbow in Buffalo, $30

 

 For those who like to wear flats, Ardene sure has a massive amount in every colour, including glittery silver and gold. 

 I think we'll be seeing these on the road, studded "Tom's" style, only $10.

I've seen so many petite purses and wild wristlets that would work wonderfully with costumes.

I really like these tiger striped ones, $8, and the studded ones below.

 

 How fantastic are these?

 Small flower purses, only $6 at The Go Between Store, Albion Mall.

 

I had to include these eye liner stickers that they also sell, too cute!

Thank God gone are the days when we just threw on our beat up pair of white sneakers that detracted from the costume. Now there's no excuse to not have fun footwear that looks like it's part of your costume, it matches so well. 

So what extras like footwear are you going with, and where did you find them?

Glitter Party's got wings!

So you say you want wings for Caribana, but think it's too late, no wings for you? Think again, Glitter Party's got you covered in glittery colourful wings! Glitter Party specializes in temporary water proof, hypoallergenic glitter tattoos for all occasions.

Owner Melissa and long time mas player said "I have recently expanded my scope to include Carnival glitter as one of the focuses of my tattoos because I would get very upset when my Carnival make up and accessories would get ruined because of sweat, rain or excessive wining.  To me there was nothing worse than having my gems fall off or my make up run because of a little rain."

Glitter Party's artists will be providing glitter tattoos for Junior Carnival, this Saturday, July 20 based on appointments only. For Caribana parade day, they are making arrangements with masqueraders to accommodate their location and provide their tattoos. So be sure to call them now to schedule your appointment. You can also get your wings or tattoo ahead of time for a fete, as they last up to 7 days. Call (647)-401-4972. Email info@glitterparty.ca.

Pricing depends on what size of tattoo is required and what sort of embellishments you would like added to it.  Most tattoos start at $10 for things like flags or hearts, wings start at $25 for children and $35 for adults. 


Check out http://glitterparty.ca/ for more pictures and details. 
Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Glitter-Party/378752882189989 

Irie Music Festival 2013 - Bunji

It was a scorching hot night in Mississauga tonight at the Irie Music Festival.
And the 35° was sizzling too. 
You gotta love this festival for bringing in such excellent crowd pleasing performers like Bunji Garlin. Included in this show was a special performance for the first time with Kardinal Offishall. And then Fay-Ann Lyons riled up the crowd and closed out the show with a few songs. Great stuff.

 

 

 

 

  

Check out the schedule of performances for Oshawa and Toronto: 

http://iriemusicfestival.com/