Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

March 31 will see an Epic costume launch.  Now that the Trinidad Carnival is over, Toronto Mas camps are getting ready to kick-off the 2023 Toronto Caribbean Carnival season. In a matter of weeks there will be late night costume launches and the opening of mas camps and pan alleys. E.P.I.C Carnival will be the first of the bands competing in this year’s summer parade to hold a costume launch. It will happen at the 400-person Grand Luxe Event Boutique on Bayview Avenue in North York on Friday March 31st.   “ Yes, we are coming out first this year and we can’t wait to kick off the season some EPIC costumes,” said Band leader Jerrol Augustine (aka “Stretch”). “Passion is the theme for 2023 and our 13 sections will tell a story of each of the designers’ passion!” The Mas Band has not yet revealed its costumes yet. However, it is already pre-registering revellers who wish to play mas with EPIC this year.  “On our website you can connect to buy $30 band launch tickets, pre...

The Energy in the Hall on Saturday Night?  It was E.P.I.C By Stephen Weir The E.P.I.C. Carnival Mas Band lived up to the meaning of its name – Energy. Passion. Imagination. Culture – and then some. After the two year lay-off staging a costume launch (because of Covid) came out of the gate just smoking! The Saturday night’s Costume Launch at Scarborough’s Grand Cinnamon Convention Hall was a passionate preview of what they are going to bring to the street at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival in 2022.  According to our photographer Herman Silochan there over 1,000 people at the launch to see the costumes of a dozen sections over the course of the midnight show.  The theme this year?  Energy of course. And lots of it. With section names like Pulse, Shockwave and Animale it is only natural that their costumes work the Energy theme. Lots of electric blue and fire red are worked into the costumes’ colour scheme, and like the other Bands that have launched before sk...

City and Mas Bands Getting Ready for Carnival 2022 Celena Seushai By Stephen Weir “The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is back,” exclaimed special events expert Petronilla Marchan, after she helped Mayor John Tory and City Council announce the return of Carnival and many other major festivals to the city. Mas Costumed models, the Face of the Festival and carnival festival organizers braved the cold to warm up the May 4th Nathan Phillips Square pressers. “ We were feeling the vibes at Friday’s Press Conference,” continued Marchan. “The beautiful Face of the Festival for 2022 Celena Seushai  was  stunning and warm in Hot Pink. Her official costume added to the beauty of the Toronto Carnival costumes presentation. The city is welcoming back all, and we are ready with open arms. Get ready because the party now starts.” Standing amongst a group of models in Carnival costumes, Mayor John Tory announced to the media the return of major festivals and events to Toronto’s streets, publi...

It Was A Three for Three Junior Carnival Weekend By Stephen Weir  Photographs by Don Moreland It started Friday night and ended early Sunday evening. Three days. Three Junior Carnival costume launches. It all played out this past weekend in Scarborough. D’ New Regulars & Foreva Carnival, Venom Carnival and Epic Carnival held parties and costume shows for youngsters interested in taking part in the Junior Carnival Parade later this summer. About 50 parents and their children came to the Nugget Avenue Twilight Restaurant early Friday evening to see the junior costumes designed by D’New Regulars & Foreva Carnival. It was a free event – complete with food and face painting - to show children what costumes they could wear in the coming July 21 st Junior Carnival Parade in Malvern as part of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival. The launch fashion show got off to a late start with about 20 children taking to the stage at 8pm just when the fete was suppose to end.   ...