Junior Revellers ~ Welcome to Oz ~ Band of the Year 2011

They were amazing. The little tin man. The little ruby red crew. The witches of the east and west. And who can forget the lion, the bright greens and oranges, and all of the wonderful "munchkins" that made up the Toronto Revellers Junior band for WELCOME TO OZ. We were the biggest band on the road, 350 kids strong!

Special shout out to our Bewitched and Lil Soldiers sections who did us (Candice, Sonia, Cherr, and I) soooo proud :)

The temperature was well above 30 degrees, sunny, humid, and HOT on Saturday, July 16 in the Jane/Finch community, but the Scotiabank Junior Carnival was an absolute success. A few bottles of water, a few sprays of mist, and plenty of energy and good music kept everyone in good spirits as we headed down the road.

Our designer Roger Taylor Montano did an awesome job leading the construction of our feature pieces that resulted in recognition...final official results to be posted.

And if Saturday wasn't enough, on Sunday our Junior Revellers hit the stage at our mas camp for their las lap blocko, where they got to show off their costumes for family and supporters, and chip around the lot to demonstrate exactly why they came in top billing.

Congrats to the kiddies for doing a great job in their costumes. To the other section leaders...it's one parade down, and one more to go! Let's hope that the adult Revellers can do as great a job as our Junior Revellers did.

Less than two weeks to go...

Here's some footage from the kids this weekend at the parade:



And on Sunday evening at their las lap victory blocko:



Stay up to date with the Toronto Revellers at http://www.TorontoRevellers.com!

Order of the Bands ~ Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival [Caribana] parade ~ Toronto 2011

Revellers!

The parade is only weeks away, and before we know it, it will be the much anticipated Saturday, July 30. Here are a few details about the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival...

The order of the bands for the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival [Caribana] 2011 was announced this weekend. For category A, the order is as follows:

1 - MARK DELEONMAS (TORONTO MAS) IN ATLANTIS - A CARNIVAL MYTHOLOGY
2 - LOUIS SALDENAH (LOUIS SALDENAH MAS-K) CLUBSECRETS OF THE OUTER LIMITS
3 - THEA JACKSON (TRUDYNASTY )THE ROARING 20'S
4 - MARLON SINGH (CALLALOO) NATIVE AMERICAS
5 - DEXTER SEUSAHAI (TRIBAL KNIGHTS) LEGENDS
6 - JAMAAL MAGLOIRE (TORONTO REVELLERS) WELCOME TO OZ
7 - MARCUS EUSTACE (CARNIVAL NATIONZ) MYTHICAL CREATURES
8 - WHITNEY DOLDRON (MAS PLAYERS INTERNATIONAL) FAIRYTALE FANTASIES

Yes we are #6! A far stretch from last year's #1 position where we have a full clear view of the empty road ahead of us all day! But in 6th position we'll be in a good place between Tribal Knights and Nationz, and the parade route will surely be filled with spectators by that time!

Please note that there have also been a few changes to the parade route this year; here's a map: http://www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com/pdf/2011/parade_map.pdf.

In regards to the new route, the Toronto Revellers' have just noted: "This year the parade will look a bit different on the road. As usual we will be congregating in the CNE Grounds as we prepare to showcase our costumes. NEW for 2011, located midway on the parade route there will be a judging tent erected." 

Time is almost here...Revellers, yuh ready?!?

Machel Montano Celebrates Canada Day with the Toronto Revellers

The Toronto Revellers definitely deliver! After much hype and anticipation, it was wonderful to see Machel Montano hit the stage at our Canada Day blocko "Fete'ish" on Friday, July 1, 2011.

Our mas camp has been an all-purpose event and entertainment venue. This is where we had our band launch back in April, our Junior Carnival launch in May, and along with being the place where we continuously work on our costumes, it's a location that is already embedded with great memories.

Since the launches we've had a few informal BBQs, and just yesterday, an appreciation event for the hard working and loyal volunteers of the band.

To see Machel celebrate Canada Day with us was a joy. To the backdrop of fireworks, he engaged the crowd of Revellers and gave us a sweet reminder that the entire day on the road Caribana day (yes, I still can't help but call it Caribana!) he would be there right with us.

Along with the presence of Machel, we had the opportunity to see all of our costumes on stage simultaneously again. Not since the band launch have we had the opportunity to view the "Welcome to Oz" collection together like that. And what a sight it was!

Between Machel, the costumes, the beautiful weather, honouring our country, and just being with other Revellers and section leaders made it a fabulous day.

And so the countown begins. There are four weeks left. Four weeks of Socacize-ing, beading, glueing, fete-ing, and anticipating the day of the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival.

Revellers....yuh ready?