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Montreal's Carifiesta
The Montreal Carifiesta Festival (Carifête de Montréal in French) proves that the spirit of the Caribbean is alive and well in Montreal. The Montreal Carifiesta festival features large costumes, calypso music, soca music, reggae music, steelpan, and hundreds of masqueraders dressed in exotic costumes. This Carnaval was inspired by the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, which happens to be the world's liveliest Carnival. It is also a tradition that occurs yearly in Montreal for the last 30 years.
The tropical-flavoured celebration of the Carifiesta Festival has always shwon the unity of Montreal's various Caribbean nationals, allowing the general public to sample island culture through music, food and art. The Carifiesta Festival is characterized by shows, dances, performances featuring different types of Caribbean music-calypso, zouk, reggae, racine-as well as the vibrant music of steelbands. Colorful "bands" of brilliantly costumed performers fill the streets with joviality and dance. At the end of the Carifiesta Parade, the best band is selected by the judges.
The most recognizable and popular part of Carifiesta has got to be the Carifiesta Parade of the Bands, making its way through the heart of Montreal on the first Saturday of July. Apart from the parade, there are other events leading into Carifiesta. The Junior Carifiesta, is for children between 2 and 16 years. The King and Queen Show, where masqueraders with the most elaborate and original costumes are selected to be the king and queen of Carifiesta. The Calypso Monarch, also a key figure in the festival is chosen as well.
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Montreal's Carifiesta