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,โ 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. โThey 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 Elliotโeach featuring candy-coloured feathers, hats, and masks from the Caribana parade costumesโtopped tables throughout the Governorโs 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 roomโwhich had earlier housed the V.I.P. lounge for the foundersโwhere 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. โThey 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 Elliotโeach featuring candy-coloured feathers, hats, and masks from the Caribana parade costumesโtopped tables throughout the Governorโs 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 roomโwhich had earlier housed the V.I.P. lounge for the foundersโwhere 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.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash