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• 1 2018-05-02T15:44:47-04:00 The places and spaces children occupied during Caribana, 1970 -1974 23 image_header 2018-05-07T11:15:04-04:00

  Introduction 

  A simple Internet search "Kids in Caribana" will undoubtedly bring the reader to photos of cute bejeweled children and newspaper articles covering the annual  Junior Carnival parade.   While accurate, the "Kiddie Parade" fails to capture the full extent of the ways children engaged in the festival. Since its inception in 1967 children have always been a part of Caribana, as organizers have always crafted  events directed at children to ensure they were immersed in Caribbean culture.  Limbo contests, story telling, arts and crafts and musical concerts took place in the St. Lawrence centre and on Centre Island were some of the more structured and popular modes of cultural transmission. Hence, the Kiddies Parade, as witnessed today in Scarborough, is a later incarnation of cultural transmission. This photographic essay illuminates the various spaces and places children occupied during Caribana prior to the large and organized Kiddies Carnival parade. Photographic evidence demonstrates that children both received and transmitted Caribbean culture through three locations: On the 'fixed' stage as competitive performers or ceremonial ambassadors, on the 'moving' stage of the main road as masqueraders or costumed accompaniments to adults, and finally on the 'side' road, without costumes but as wide eyed spectators. 

  On de Stage - Fixed Stage

  On the fixed stage, children either were cultural ambassadors for the opening ceremonies, or competed for the title of Junior King or Queen of Caribana. Often times they did this to large audience with press, public officials as well as their family and friends in attendance. 

  On de Main Road - Moving Stage

  On de Side Road - Spectators