Caribana parade route and time in Toronto for 2025

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival, formerly and affectionately known as Caribana, returns this weekend with its signature Grand Parade set to take over the city's waterfront on Saturday, Aug. 2. 

The parade is the crowning jewel of a month-long celebration of Caribbean culture, food, and music across the GTA. Founded in 1967, the pan-Caribbean Carnival has been touted as North America's largest festival, welcoming over 1.3 million tourists every year for the Grand Parade. 

Thousands of costumed masqueraders, organized into Mas Bands, will take part in the vibrant procession that winds its way from Exhibition Place along Lake Shore Boulevard West. Each band features handcrafted, colourful, and elaborate costumes and dancers moving to the rhythms of soca, calypso, dancehall, and more all day long.

Here's everything you need to know about the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grande Parade 2025.

Parade route and schedule

The Grand Parade officially runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2. The celebration will depart Exhibition Place Grounds at Princes' Boulevard, to Canada Boulevard, to westbound Lake Shore Boulevard West.

The parade will continue to travel westbound along Lake Shore Boulevard West and will turn approximately 100 metres west of Jameson Avenue and then travel eastbound on Lake Shore Boulevard West. The masquerade bands will return to Exhibition Place at British Columbia Road. 

Most of the parade is free to watch, and you can find alternative routes to enter by foot from Lake Shore Boulevard West and Strachan Avenue or Lake Shore Boulevard West and Parkside Drive.

Tickets for the parade are available online, ranging from $25 for kids aged 6 to 16 to $45 for adults. Ticketed entrance locations can be found at Dufferin Gates, Princes' Gates, and Exhibition GO Station. 

If you're really trying to splurge, you can also purchase VIP tickets online for $210, where you'll get access to exclusive floor seating and VIP zone, breakfast and lunch, and a cash bar. 

Road closures

If you're planning on heading down to the parade, there are several road closures you should take note of. Road closures for the parade take effect on Saturday, Aug. 2, at 12 a.m. and continue until Sunday, Aug. 3, at 7 a.m. 

Closures include Lake Shore Boulevard West from Fort York Boulevard to Colborne Lodge Drive, Strachan Avenue southbound from Fleet Street, and Lake Shore Boulevard West westbound between Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard will be open to local traffic only. 

Multiple Gardiner Expressway ramps will also close at 12 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, including westbound Gardiner Expressway on ramp at Jameson Avenue, eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp at Jameson Avenue, eastbound Gardiner Expressway on ramp from Jameson Avenue, and Lake Shore Boulevard West at British Columbia Road, and westbound Gardiner Expressway off-ramp at Dunn Avenue. 

Lake Shore Boulevard West will also be closed to traffic at 12 a.m. from westbound Strachan Avenue to Parkside Drive, and eastbound Lake Shore Boulevard West from Colborne Lodge Drive to Strachan Avenue, and The Princes' Gates will remain closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday, August 2, starting at 1 a.m.

To assist with the flow of traffic, several streets will be restricted to local traffic only, including Dufferin Street south of King Street West, Dowling Avenue south of King Street West, Stadium Road south of Lake Shore Boulevard West, Queens Quay West, west of Bathurst Street, Springhurst Avenue, west of Jameson Avenue, Springhurst Avenue, east of Jameson Avenue, and Remembrance Drive. 

Other neighbouring streets, although not restricted to vehicles, will be heavily enforced for parking infractions, including those south of King Street West, east of Colborne Lodge Drive, and west of Bathurst Street.