Every August, downtown Edmonton transforms. The Cariwest Festival fills the streets with soca, calypso, and reggae, and a parade of dancers in elaborate costumes makes its way from Jasper Avenue to Churchill Square. It’s the largest Caribbean arts festival in Western Canada, and it’s been going strong since 1984, when the Western Carnival Development Association officially launched it. The roots stretch back even further, to Caribbean students performing in Edmonton in the 1960s and 1970s.
The festival spans three days and draws tens of thousands of attendees. You’ll find live music, dance performances, competitions, a j’ouvert, and food vendors serving up Trinidadian doubles and Jamaican jerk chicken patties. The parade and festival admission are free. Food and drink require tickets, so bring a little cash and an appetite.
For Edmonton’s Caribbean community, Cariwest is more than an event. It’s a lifeline and a connection to home. And for everyone else, it’s a chance to experience a culture that has quietly taken root in Western Canada. Have you ever been to a carnival celebration? Tell us about it in the comments.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
