Toronto, July 17 /CNW/ - With last week's official launch of Caribana, Caribbean communities across North America are set to discover and re-discover Caribbean flavour in Toronto. Caribana attracts close to one million visitors and spectators to the Greater Toronto Area. This year for its 40th anniversary, Caribana is expected to draw record crowds.

"Caribbean culture is ingrained in the fabric of the city. One only has to walk through the streets or visit our many neighbourhoods, such as Little Jamaica to step into the heart of Caribbean culture," said David Whitaker, President and CEO, Tourism Toronto. "Whether it's cultural events, cuisine or festivals you can always feel the rhythms of the Caribbean pulsing in our city."

The summer time is the most popular time of year for travellers from the Caribbean region to Toronto planned around Caribana. As direct flights increase from the Caribbean, capacity and access to the Toronto area is growing.

With close to 300,000 people, Toronto has the largest Caribbean population in Canada and a longstanding tradition of hosting culturally significant events such as Caribana.

As the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America, Caribana celebrates its 40th anniversary this year (July 10-August 12). Inspired by the carnivals of Trinidad and Tobago, Caribana is one of the first Caribbean Carnivals to be held outside of the Caribbean region. Caribana's main draw is its parade (Saturday August 4) and larger than life costume displays. The parade features colourful floats blasting reggae, calypso and soca music, steel-pan bands, salsa artists and thousands of brilliantly costumed dancers gyrating along the 3.6 kilometre parade route by Lake Ontario.

Please visit:
www.caribanafestival.com