Who Owns the Caribana Name?

 Question of  the Decade Who Owns the Name "Caribana"?

By Stephen Weir

On the job at the Caribbean Camera I received a head-scratching question recently (not uncommon): "could we answer a shipping inquiry?"

An aging ocean-going cargo ship named Caribana Express was sold a few months ago, and the reader wondered if the seller had any connection to Toronto’s annual Caribana festival.

We gave a quick “No,” and zoom — the email sank to the bottom of our trash bin.

A week later, we spotted something curious on the Caribana Toronto website. Even though Toronto’s 2025 carnival season has only just begun with the launch of Mas Bands, the site was already advertising that 85% of its "3 Night Quad Packages" at downtown hotels had been sold. The package — priced from $545 to $765 per person — includes a three-night hotel stay and three event tickets per person (four people per room, luxury accommodations with two double beds).

Obviously, the website (which is not owned by the Caribana Arts Group) — much like the used cargo ship sellers — is making serious money using the Caribana name.

The paper's intrepid reporter (me!) began poking around the internet and found even more examples: a rum company using the Caribana moniker, a New York-based business selling “Caribana” T-shirts, and an Etsy merchant offering sexy underwear called — you guessed it — Caribana (yes, skimpies!).

The Caribana name is, in fact, a trademarked property. It was created by the Caribbean Centennial Committee in 1967, when the annual parade was first launched. Control of the trademarked word was later handed to the Caribbean Arts Group (CAG), which organizes the parade and related carnival events.

In the early 2000s, the Festival Management Committee (FMC) took over the festival's operations. However, in 2011, the Ontario Superior Court ruled that the FMC had used the “Caribana” name without proper ownership, and CAG’s rights were reaffirmed. The ruling granted CAG the exclusive right to use the Caribana name across Canada. As a result, the festival was renamed the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

Caribbean Camera Newspaper carried the story

South of the border, however, at least three U.S. firms own versions of the Caribana trademark. “Caribana” is registered to Hargell Limited for hair care products, including lotions, shampoos, and brushes. Another trademark belongs to Joaquin Martin Morales Castellanos for Caribana cigars, made in the Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, Caribana Festival Switzerland is a lively lakeside music event near Geneva. Known for its eclectic lineup — rock, pop, reggae, and electronic music — it attracts international acts and fans for five days of summer celebration. The 2025 edition is scheduled for June 4 to 7 in Crans-près-Céligny, a picturesque village on Lake Geneva. This year's headliners include The Prodigy, Air, and Tayc.

“We do, in fact, still own the name,” confirmed CAG president Chedwick Creightney in an interview with The Caribbean Camera. “However, there have been challenges that resulted from decisions made by a past board. We are currently in a legal battle to have this resolved. Once complete, we will issue widespread cease and desist orders.”

The “bad decisions,” he says, refer to previous boards allowing other entities to gain legal use of the Caribana name.

“As a board, we are committed to not repeating the mistakes of the past. We are focusing on tightening our governance and are currently working on a new strategic plan.”

Creightney added that the CAG has some exciting programs lined up for the coming months, including Caribana Ignite in Pickering, a Kids’ Club, a golf tournament, a VIP Brunch in October, and — possibly — “a Caribbean multi-island cruise early next year!”

Picture Proof Cutlines

The Good Ship Caribana and Other Trademark Abuses

The Caribana Express is a roll-on roll off Cargo Ship built in 1979, After being declared abandoned in Nov 2022 she was subsequently sold for $740,000.

Caribana Cigars, trademarked in 2019, are crafted by Joaquin Martin Morales Castellanos and offer rich, Caribbean-inspired flavours.

Bomb Caribana is a pre-Christmas party featuring a carnival-costumed angel carrying bombs. It’s held at Bombshells Restaurant & Bar, a Katy Freeway, Texas-based sports bar where the staff wear military-inspired uniforms—and in the case of "Katy," next to nothing.

TeePublic sells a "$31 Cartoon Face Carnival Caribana Trini Party" T-shirt online.

Yes, there is a rum called Caribana Sol produced by Innovative Liquors, LLC. Despite the name Caribana Sol Rum is not affiliated with the festival.

The I Miss de Caribana Toronto Carnival hoodie is currently sold through Amazon.

Although no longer current, one can still purchase the Nike Air Force 1 Low Caribana Festival Sneaker via select websites—along with a

matching Nike Air Max 95 Caribana shirt from Keuka Clothing Company in New York.

The Caribana Island Grill, a restaurant in Gurnee, Illinois, offers a vibrant fusion of Caribbean flavours. Dishes are inspired by Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Latin America, with signature items such as jerk chicken tacos, oxtail dinners, and rasta pasta.

Caribana Festival Switzerland is a lively lakeside music event held each June, featuring international acts, vibrant crowds, local food, and scenic views.

Caribana Skimpies (below)