Costumes, closures and the Grand Parade: What to know about Toronto Caribbean Carnival this weekend

Toronto's Caribbean Carnival is back in town, with the big events kicking off Thursday night, bringing plenty of music, dancing and colourful costumes to the city's streets this weekend.

The Caribbean Carnival, formerly known as Caribana, is one of North America's largest festivals, with more than a million people taking in the Grand Parade each year, according to the festival website.

Kathy Motton, senior manager corporate communications of Destination Toronto, the official marketing organization for the city's tourism industry, says it's one of the most important tourist attractions of the year for Toronto.

"It's really embedded in who we are as a destination," she said.

"When people come here for Caribbean Carnival, it's about so much more than just the carnival. It's also about the culinary scene, the attractions, the unique neighborhoods, all the things that make Toronto worth visiting."

With that in mind, here's a guide to help you enjoy this weekend's celebration of all things Caribbean in Toronto.

Grand Parade

Arguably the Caribbean Carnival's main event, the Grand Parade takes place on Saturday. The parade starts at 8 a.m., ending at 8 p.m., with a route along the city's waterfront.

The parade will depart Exhibition Place Grounds at Princes' Boulevard, to Canada Boulevard, to westbound Lake Shore Boulevard W. It will then travel westbound along Lake Shore Boulevard W., turning approximately 100 metres west of Jameson Avenue before traveling eastbound on Lake Shore Boulevard W. The masquerade bands will return to Exhibition Place at British Columbia Road.

It's mostly free to watch, but there are ticketed areas. Ticketed entrances are located at Dufferin Gates, Princes' Gates and Exhibition GO Station. Those without tickets are encouraged to enter the parade grounds by foot from Lake Shore Boulevard W. and Strachan Avenue, or Lake Shore Boulevard West and Parkside Drive.

Here's what else is happening

There are several other events taking place as part of Caribbean Carnival this weekend. Here's some of the highlights:

• Thursday, 7 p.m.: See the grandest costumes unveiled at the King and Queen Showcase at Lamport Stadium.
• Friday, 7 p.m.: The Ontario Steelpan Association puts on a show at Lamport Stadium with Keepin' Pan Alive.
• Friday, 1 p.m. to Saturday, 10 p.m.: New this year, check out Carnival Village at Sankofa Square Friday and Saturday, where you can take in live performances, artisan vendors, a pop-up bar lounge and Caribbean cuisine.

Getting to the events

The festivities at CNE/Exhibition Place can be easily accessed by GO Train, with Exhibition GO Station located right next door. Transit riders can also use their PRESTO card to get a 20 per cent discount on tickets to carnival events.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is changing some routes during the Carnival:

• 503 Kingston Road: Effective Saturday 8 a.m. to Sunday 1 a.m., the 503 Kingston Road streetcars will be extended to Sunnyside Loop on King Street W. and The Queensway. Stops not served: Dufferin Street between King Street W. and Dufferin Gate Loop. 
• 307 Bathurst night bus: Effective Saturday 12 a.m.to Sunday 4 a.m., 307 Bathurst night buses will operate both ways on Bathurst Street, Fort York Boulevard, Fleet Street, Manitoba Drive and Exhibition Loop. Stops not served: Fort York Boulevard south of Fleet Street, Lake Shore Boulevard W., Strachan Avenue.
• 80 Queensway: Effective Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 80 Queensway buses will divert eastbound only on the Queensway, north on Roncesvalles Avenue, west on Howard Park Avenue and north on Parkside Drive, to regular route. Stops not served: northbound Parkside Drive, between Howard Park Avenue and the Queensway.
• 29/329 Dufferin and 929 Dufferin Express buses: Effective Saturday 12 a.m. to Sunday 4 a.m., buses on these routes will turn back north from Dufferin Gate Loop. Stops not served: Exhibition Place.

Road closures

With plenty of road closures in effect this weekend, Toronto police are encouraging locals and visitors alike to take transit around the Carnival events if they can. Those unable to leave their cars at home should expect delays and watch out for the following road closures:

Road closures for the parade take effect on Saturday at 12 a.m. and continue until Sunday at 7 a.m., including:

• Lake Shore Boulevard W. from Fort York Boulevard to Colborne Lodge Drive.
• Lake Shore Boulevard W., westbound between Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard, is open to local traffic only.
• Strachan Avenue southbound from Fleet Street.

The following Gardiner Expressway ramps will close at 12 a.m. on Saturday:

• Westbound Gardiner Expressway on-ramp at Jameson Avenue.
• Eastbound Gardiner Expressway off-ramp at Jameson Avenue.
• Eastbound Gardiner Expressway on-ramp from Jameson Avenue, and Lake Shore Boulevard W. at British Columbia Road.
• Westbound Gardiner Expressway off-ramp at Dunn Avenue.
• Lake Shore Boulevard W. will close to traffic at 12 a.m. from westbound Strachan Avenue to Parkside. Drive, and eastbound Lake Shore Boulevard W. from Colborne Lodge Drive to Strachan Avenue.
• The Princes' Gates will remain closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday starting at 1 a.m.

The following roads will be closed from 11 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Sunday:

• Lake Shore Boulevard W. between Bathurst Street and Colborne Lodge Drive.
• Strachan Avenue between Fleet Street and Lake Shore Boulevard W.
• Jameson Avenue between Springhurst Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard W.
• Dunn Avenue between Springhurst Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard W.
• Dufferin Street between Springhurst Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard W.

Restricted Access Points:

To assist with the flow of traffic and minimize disruptions to residents, the following streets will be restricted to local traffic only:

• Dufferin Street south of King Street W.
• Dowling Avenue south of King Street W.
• Stadium Road south of Lake Shore Boulevard W.
• Queens Quay W., west of Bathurst Street.
• Springhurst Avenue, west of Jameson Avenue.
• Springhurst Avenue, east of Jameson Avenue.
• Remembrance Drive.

Other streets, although not restricted to vehicles, will be strictly enforced for parking infractions, Toronto police said in a news release. These streets include those south of King Street W., east of Colborne Lodge Drive and west of Bathurst Street.

Police upping safety measures

Deputy Chief Robert Johnson said Friday that Toronto police will up staffing levels throughout this weekend for public safety, and implement measures for "hostile vehicle mitigation, to help protect large gatherings and pedestrian spaces."

He said Toronto police prepared similar strategies to keep crowds safe for Pride Toronto, the first major festival in the city following a deadly vehicle ramming attack at a Lapu-Lapu Day festival in B.C. earlier this year.

Johnson also reminded festival-goers this weekend to keep their cellphones close and secure after more than 300 were stolen by pickpockets at last year's Pride festivities.