Toronto Caribbean Newspaper makes an appearance at Caribbean Days Festival, the largest annual cultural event in British Columbia

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“It will be a pleasure to meet with you. When you get to the park go to the Welcome tent, under the large Caribbean Days banner.  Ask for Flora or Irma and have them direct you to me (wherever I may be. Lol) See you soon!” Marilyn Perrin President TTCSBC

As many of our readers know, our work as journalists takes us to many different places all over the world, and regardless of where we end up, I am always on the search for the Caribbean community, eager to see how we are making our mark.

Last week, my travels had me in New Westminster British Columbia, and I want to start by saying, if you have not had a chance to travel out west, get your head out of the sand. One thing that my travels are teaching me is that Canada is an incredibly beautiful country, with a luxuriously, topography. It is only after this trip that I realize how narrow our scope of this country is; many of us end up in one part of the country and just stay there. I say now is the time to go out and discover.

My first day in BC, I reached out to the British Columbia Tourist Board, and they let me know about a Caribbean festival that boasts an array of delicious food and drink, with the flavours of the Caribbean, for all ages and palates from tame to adventurous.

Established in 1988, Caribbean Days Festival is one of the largest annual cultural events in BC. The festival is free to attend, open to all ages, multicultural, wheelchair accessible and 100% inclusive. The weekend features an amazing outdoor music festival as the main sound stage plays host to a line-up of bands delivering Soca, Reggae, Calypso, Latin, African and other international sounds.

This summer, Caribbean Days Festival returned to Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park for the hottest weekend of the year. On Saturday July 27^th, 2024, I made my way down to Town Centre Park situated near to Coquitlam Centre. I had a chance to take in Lafarge Lake, a five-hectare man-made body of water that anchors this idyllic green space.

For now, the third straight year, the festival has taken place in its new home at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park, and last year’s I heard that Coquitlam debut was an overwhelming success. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, sun seekers flocked to Caribbean Days 2022, breaking attendance records. An estimated 60,000 visitors took in the fabulous music, entertainment, costumes, food, and crafts that BC’s longest-running Caribbean event is known for. Now it’s back and bigger for 2024.

The festival opened with the carnival-themed Caribbean Days Parade. This colourful costumed celebration wound its way through Town Centre Park. I arrived a little after the parade and had a chance to enjoy a local craft beer while browsing the festival’s unique marketplace, featuring artisanal crafts and clothing. You already know it; I found a lot of hidden gems to bring back to Ontario.

This Caribbean Days Festival 2024 had an exciting line up and was held on two days Saturday July 27^th (10 AM –10 PM), and Sunday July 28^th (11 AM – 7 PM).

Hosted by Michelle St. Hill festival attendees were treated to two days of excellent entertainment:

10:00: DJ BJ John Edwards

11:00: Multi Cultural Parade

12:00: Opening Ceremony

Spotlight: THE BACK YARD in the Beer Garden

1:00: Sweet Pan

1:45: Boom Daddy

3:00: X-Kalibre

4:15: Mostly Marley

5:30: Julio Avila Cuban Band
Spotlight: THE BACK YARD in the Beer Garden

7:00: From Toronto: Moses Revolution

Until 10:00: BACKYARD JAM in the Beer Garden

The host for Sunday July 28^th was non other than Daniel Joseph, and the day line up included:

11:00: Carl Sound Vibes

11:30: Jessall & Roots Reggae Band

12:45: Tropical Breeze

Spotlight: THE BACK YARD in the Beer Garden

1:45: Children’s Parade on stage

2:15: Maffie alongside De Volcano

Spotlight: THE BACK YARD in the Beer Garden

3:15: Vancouver Soca Xperience

3:30: King Fish Limbo

3:40: Phase III Steelband

Spotlight: THE BACK YARD in the Beer Garden

5:00: From Toronto: Moses Revolution

6:00: Direct from Trinidad & Tobago: Farmer Nappy

I enjoyed the opportunity to mix and mingle with our Caribbean community in BC. My experience exemplifies the impact that we as a community are continuing to make across the diaspora, and that even three time zones away, we are representing!

Thank you to Marilyn Perrin, President of TTCSBC, and the TTCSBC team for hosting me at the festival. It is a memory that I will carry with me forever.