Caribana weekend is known for its amazing music, fun and sexy outfits, plus showcasing the Caribbean community and celebrating it.
READ ALSO: 9 Caribana 2018 Events Happening This Weekend That You Absolutely Can't Miss
While the parade went off without a hitch in Exhibition Place on Saturday, the evening celebration was ruined for some. Only two hours before "Carnival Kingdom" was supposed to begin, a phone call sealed their fate of having to cancel the event.
Once again, thank you Toronto for your continued support !!! See you on the road tomorrow with @atlanticmastoronto and then at night, #CarnivalKingdom is gonna be a movie!!! 🍿💥🔥🙏🏾 #Monk #toronto #rp @sosfestto・・・IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - On be… https://t.co/LOnXNTHI74 pic.twitter.com/AFkD4OVhHS
"Carnival Kingdom" has been operating for seven years, with their website boasting that they are "what is legendarily known as the best carnival event in modern day history." Basically, it's a big concert with dancing and celebrating, hosting various types of performers.
The Toronto Star got in touch with one of the event coordinators, Katherine Andrews, and she shared that the City of Vaughan pulled the permits that were set in place to cancel the event. It was a choice made MP's of the area and the Vaughan mayor after some noise complaints from a previous event held at the same location
Staff revoked the permit of the event (SOS FEST) after it was determined that organizers did not comply with the terms of the permit. Enforcement staff are committed to taking the necessary action to ensure all permit conditions are followed in the best interest of the public.
While the city has confirmed they did revoke the permit, two letting the celebration know only two hours before start time has really set people off.
People travel across the city and province to celebrate Caribana. Finding out that the ticket you paid for and the event you were looking forward to is terrible.
I also have a really hard time believing that SOS Fest, which has been putting on #CarnivalKingdom for YEARS, mislead the City in its permit filing in terms of number of attendees. This is not a new event. It brings out thousands each year. None of this is adding up.
I’m still mad about carnival kingdom. I looked forward to it for weeks. It was to be my last caribana event as I won’t be back in toronto for a few years for caribana. 😩😩😩
I'm so maaaddddd. #CarnivalKingdom was the only thing I was looking forward to all summer. Who has the audacity to complain and ruin the night for my caribbean people?!?😡
@amandaf004Considering the time and dedication it takes to set up and get ready for a celebration like this. Many people are now calling out the city for being racist on Twitter.
They are also upset because VELD, an EDM music festival held this weekend in Downsview Park, is also very loud and still gets to happen.
The event was Carnival Kingdom. You literally stripped away our culture and OUR chance of being one during OUR weekend. This isn't the end of hearing our voice. Discrimination exists and you just proved it.@fordnation do something. https://t.co/7hZcWZxX4R
#CarnivalKingdom was the one party I looked forward to every year! This is #racism. This is #lateralviolence. #CityofVaughan you should be ashamed of yourselves. #Shame. #Caribana2018
I can’t believe the city pulled the permits for Carnival Kingdom like that. I’ve never heard of those drugged out EDM festivals having permits pulled.
Care to comment on why your people pulled the #CarnivalKingdom permit last night with 2 hours notice?! You weren’t too proud of celebrating our diversity then... https://t.co/NEl5SYPnRd
Tickets for the event cost between $35 to $95 and organizers have promised to issue refunds to ticket holders within 72 hours.
After all that time and money spent on an event like this, it's a real shame to see one of the biggest Caribana celebrations cancelled. Considering how many people are now angry at the City of Vaughan it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
Source: Toronto Star
