Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 14th, 2009

Scotiabank Caribana King & Queen Competition

Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at Lamport Stadium
7pm – 12 Midnight; Rain or Shine

Toronto, ON, Canada – On Thursday, July 30th, 2009, the Scotiabank Caribana King & Queen Competition will be held at Lamport Stadium, 1151 King Street West, Toronto. Sold out for the past two years, it starts at 7pm and ends at 12 Midnight. Tickets at $27 in advance; $35 at the door; general seating.

This family-oriented event allows its audience to marvel at the elaborate large costumes that will accompany all of the 15 competing mas bands in a relaxed sit-down environment. The competition starts with the Male Individuals followed by the Female Individuals. There will be a half-time entertainment show featuring the Upscale Indian Dance Group accompanied by the rhythm section, De Iron Legend. The second half of the competition will feature the Queen of the Band costumes, followed by the King of the Band costumes.

Standing sometimes 20-40 ft high, these grand costumes take hundreds of hours to design and build, and cost thousands of dollars to produce. They are true engineering feats that require a special and separate show so that their artistry can be admired and judged. Each band must portray a theme that is suitable of the carnival tradition, and each of the costumes competing at this show must convey this theme in a stand-out, grand way.

A panel of volunteer judges awards points based on the following criteria: Visual Impact (max. 30 marks); Authenticity (10); Creativity (20); Clarity of Theme (10); Presentation (20); and Craftsmanship (10) for a total of 100 marks. The order of merit is determined by discarding the highest and lowest score per participant. The judges’ decision is final, and all results are announced at the end of the show.

Finally, there will be vendors selling tasty Caribbean food, and arts and crafts. This event has a licensed bar.

About Scotiabank Caribana

The Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an exciting two-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 42nd year, it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Caribana is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Chutney and Steel Pan music. The Festival Management Committee oversees the running of North America’s largest outdoor festival.

Last year’s top three winners from the King & Queen Competition were as follows:

2008 Scotiabank Caribana King of the Bands
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER – COSTUME’S NAME – MAS BAND
1st Ronald “Smokey” Alleyne – The Mystical Dragon – Callaloo
2nd Sateesh Narinesingh – King Abuitzoti, Savage Warrior of the Aztecs – Pleasure Players
3rd Ron Belfon – The Babarossa – Carnival Nationz

2008 Scotiabank Caribana Queen of the Bands
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER – COSTUME’S NAME – MAS BAND (BANDLEADER)
1st Joella Crichton – Rhapsody – Toronto Caribbean Connection
2nd Tamara Allyene Gittens – Anne Bonny, Mistress of Calico Jack – Carnival Nationz
3rd Lenore Caterson – Peesunt, The Daughter of Kitwana – Pleasure Players

2008 Scotiabank Caribana Male Individual of the Year
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER – COSTUME’S NAME – MAS BAND (BANDLEADER)
1st Martin Scott-Pascal – The Dance of the Worshipper Warrior – Toronto Revellers
2nd Shane Mungal – The Body Snatcher – Tribal Knights
3rd Kerth Alexander – Sextant Horizon – Carnival Nationz

2008 Scotiabank Caribana Female Individual of the Year
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER – COSTUME’S NAME – MAS BAND (BANDLEADER)
1st Alicia Anderson – The Birth of We Rhythm – Genesis Carnival
2nd Penny Sutherland – D’Princess of Ama Zulu – Toronto Revellers
3rd Carol Cuffie – Aurora, Godess of Dawn – Toronto Caribbean Connection

For complete listing information, visit www.caribanafestival.com.

Scotiabank Caribana 2009 Festival Office is located at 263 Davenport Avenue, Lower Level; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5R 1E9. It can be contacted at Tel: 416-391-5608; Fax: 416-391-5693; Email: info@caribanafestival.com