Organizers of the inaugural Scotiabank Caribana Gala, held Friday at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, used music, dancers, and food to create an island feel for the event, which paid tribute to the festival's founders and launched the Caribana Arts Foundation to fund yearly scholarships for students in the Toronto area. "Tonight not only will you be entertained by many talented carnival artists, you will learn more about the history of the Caribana Festival,” said festival chairman and C.E.O. Joe Halstead.
Event manager Bobby Adore reported that the sold-out event for 650 guests was intended "to set the tone and the mood for the rest of the festival." He also noted that Scotiabank, title sponsor for the 41st annual Caribana Festival, was heavily involved, which helped to attract additional sponsors. “They really led the way for other sponsors coming aboard. It accelerated conversations [with other companies], from liquor to media," he said. The list of sponsors eventually included Amarula Cream, Van Ryn's, Drostdy-Hof Wines, Pepsi, Grace Kennedy Foods, and Air Jamaica.The evening began with a cocktail reception in the outdoor courtyard. Servers passed signature "Scotia Splash" cocktails to guests lounging on park benches around the perimeter of the garden. In addition, bartenders offered a selection of drinks concocted by sponsor Appleton Rum at three bars. Caterwaiters passed hors d'oeuvres like mini Jamaican patties and plantain and taro root chips with curried tomato salsa. A steel pan band played throughout the cocktail hour, while dancers in traditional costumes and the Swizzlestick Theatre stilt performers mingled with guests.
Centrepieces designed by Walter Elliot—each featuring candy-coloured feathers, hats, and masks from the Caribana parade costumes—topped tables throughout the Governor’s Ballroom, where guests dined on traditional Caribbean food, including a duo of curried braised short rib and jerk-marinated chicken accompanied by caramelized onion mashed potato, sweet potato puree, roasted eggplant, and baby carrots. Dessert included a pineapple and coconut tart with caramelized mango and passion fruit coulis. The Ngoma Drum and Dance Ensemble performed during the meal. Structure and Macomere Fifi also took to the stage.
The party continued in the Artifacts room—which had earlier housed the V.I.P. lounge for the founders—where Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, a Jamacian ska band that performed at the first Caribana Festival in the summer of 1967, played late into the evening. In an effort to maximize the proceeds for the Caribana Arts Foundation, Silent Auction Partners organized a silent auction featuring 129 luxury items ranging from sports memorabilia to antique furniture.
Additional sponsors of the 41st annual festival include the CBC, The Toronto Sun, the Royal Ontario Museum, Hudson Bay Corporation, the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, and State Farm Insurance. The Scotiabank Caribana Parade takes place Saturday.
Event manager Bobby Adore reported that the sold-out event for 650 guests was intended "to set the tone and the mood for the rest of the festival." He also noted that Scotiabank, title sponsor for the 41st annual Caribana Festival, was heavily involved, which helped to attract additional sponsors. “They really led the way for other sponsors coming aboard. It accelerated conversations [with other companies], from liquor to media," he said. The list of sponsors eventually included Amarula Cream, Van Ryn's, Drostdy-Hof Wines, Pepsi, Grace Kennedy Foods, and Air Jamaica.The evening began with a cocktail reception in the outdoor courtyard. Servers passed signature "Scotia Splash" cocktails to guests lounging on park benches around the perimeter of the garden. In addition, bartenders offered a selection of drinks concocted by sponsor Appleton Rum at three bars. Caterwaiters passed hors d'oeuvres like mini Jamaican patties and plantain and taro root chips with curried tomato salsa. A steel pan band played throughout the cocktail hour, while dancers in traditional costumes and the Swizzlestick Theatre stilt performers mingled with guests.
Centrepieces designed by Walter Elliot—each featuring candy-coloured feathers, hats, and masks from the Caribana parade costumes—topped tables throughout the Governor’s Ballroom, where guests dined on traditional Caribbean food, including a duo of curried braised short rib and jerk-marinated chicken accompanied by caramelized onion mashed potato, sweet potato puree, roasted eggplant, and baby carrots. Dessert included a pineapple and coconut tart with caramelized mango and passion fruit coulis. The Ngoma Drum and Dance Ensemble performed during the meal. Structure and Macomere Fifi also took to the stage.
The party continued in the Artifacts room—which had earlier housed the V.I.P. lounge for the founders—where Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, a Jamacian ska band that performed at the first Caribana Festival in the summer of 1967, played late into the evening. In an effort to maximize the proceeds for the Caribana Arts Foundation, Silent Auction Partners organized a silent auction featuring 129 luxury items ranging from sports memorabilia to antique furniture.
Additional sponsors of the 41st annual festival include the CBC, The Toronto Sun, the Royal Ontario Museum, Hudson Bay Corporation, the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, and State Farm Insurance. The Scotiabank Caribana Parade takes place Saturday.
A sister act known as the Swizzlestick Theatre stilt performers entertained guests during the cocktail reception.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Dancers modeled costumes typical of those worn during the annual Caribana parade.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Servers passed red "Scotia Splash" cocktails to guests during the cocktail reception.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Organizers held a cocktail reception in the outdoor courtyard at the Liberty Grand.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Christopher Pinheiro, artistic director of Swizzlestick Theatre, coordinated the dance performances and decor in the Governor's Ballroom, where guests dined on a three-course meal.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Centrepieces created by Walter Elliot featured colourful feathers, hats, and masks taken from Caribana parade costumes.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Colourful lighting and white draping decorated the Artifacts Room, where Byron Lee and the Dragonaires performed late into the night.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Caterwaiters passed plates of plantain and taro root chips during the cocktail reception.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Two white bars sat below a projection of the Caribana logo in the Artifacts Room, where the V.I.P. reception took place prior to the dinner.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
