Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Poster for Swiss Caribana Music Festival By any other name would Caribana smell so sweet? By Stephen Weir Toronto’s annual Carnival has had many names since it burst out of the gate in 1967as Caribana.   Since then the summer street festival has been called, Scotiabank Caribana, Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Peeks Caribbean Carnival and the current Toronto Caribbean Carnival. No matter what you might see on the official logo, for the past 52 years the citizens of Toronto and visiting carnival tourists call this amazing festival and parade simply Caribana. Caribana Swimsuit Caribana is the name that just won’t go away. So embedded is the name in our collective psyche the first Monday in August is always been called the Caribana holiday.   There are Caribana parties, cruises and concerts.   Stores have Caribana specials; hair dresses have stay open late for Caribana treatments. There are even Caribana porno movies! So pervasive is the name that it a

--> Make Way For Montano’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival Story and Photographs by Stephen Weir Forget Peeks, the name sponsor of the Grand Parade. This year the annual festival could well be called Machel Montano’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival. The 2018 Mas Camp Costume Launch season ended last Saturday evening at the Rebel nightclub when Atlantic Mas held the 11 th and final mas fashion show.   What a way to go -- the King of Soca, Machel Montano stood on stage and told Torontonians to go down the road with him this August 4 th .   “Get your costume from Atlantic Mas and join me as we party till 6 am” the Trinidad singer told the estimated audience of 1,000+ at the high-energy costume launch. The world’s most recognizable Soca performer jetted in from New York City on the weekend, to perform at the costume launch and introduce his own Atlantic Mas section. “I am going to be on the (Atlantic Mas) truck! And after the parade we party” he said from the stage.