On July 23 and 24, Coquitlam’s City Center Park will be filled with the sounds and sights of the tropics for the Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Association of BC’s 33rd annual Caribbean Days Festival.
The Caribbean population in the Tri-Cities may be small, but there are notable leaders who have shaped the community over the years.
Len Traboulay, a former mayor of Port Coquitlam, was born in Trinidad and Tobago, while Colonel Richard Moody – for whom Port Moody is named – was from Barbados.
The late Percy Perry, a track coach from Coquitlam whose name is on the Town Center Park Stadium, was a prominent Trinidadian in the Tri-Cities.
And even Douglas College, which has a campus in Coquitlam, takes its name from a statesman born in Guyana: Sir James Douglas.
But later this month, Downtown Coquitlam will be filled with the sounds and sights of the tropics when the Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Society of BC brings its 33rd annual Caribbean Days Festival to Downtown Park.
Festival chairman Finderson Alves, a 40-year resident of Coquitlam with his wife, Shannon, the society’s secretary, told Tri-City News The free two-day party was moved to Coquitlam because it outgrew its North Vancouver venue.
He said the Town Center Park grounds not only offer plenty of space, but they’re easy to get to with a nearby SkyTrain station.
She had generous support from the city of Coquitlam, too, and, in particular, from Coun. Trish Mandewo who advocated the relocation of the festival.
Coquitlam is providing $20,000 to the society for professional event management services plus a one-time $18,000 to market the new event to the city. Also, with the help of city staff, the society secured $77,000 in federal and provincial grants.
“We hope our festival will be bigger and better than ever,” said society president Marilyn Perrin.
What awaits us at the festival?
The festival opens at 10am on Saturday, July 23, with the Parade in the Park at 10:30am, followed by the official ceremony.
The entertainment – featuring soca, reggae, calypso, Latin and African beats – will be on two stages: the Main Stage (TD Community Plaza) and the Multicultural Stage, on the southeast side.
There will be educational workshops where you can learn more about Caribbean culture, such as how to play a steel drum, wrap a sari and play cricket.
Children are also invited as there will be face painting as well as arts and crafts. Youth ages 11 to 16 can register for the 3×3 basketball tournament taking place on the nearby court (registration is $50 for a team of four via the Caribbean Days website).
On Sunday, July 24, kids can also dress up in costume for the Children’s Carnival Parade at 1 p.m.
In the meantime, the area will be cordoned off for an open liquor license. Coquitlam’s Mariner Brewing will run the beer service; Red Stripe beer from Jamaica as well as cider and coolers will also be available.
Alves said the festival typically draws guests from as far away as Vancouver Island and Washington state.
“The City of Coquitlam is excited to welcome the Caribbean Days Festival to our popular event venue, Town Center Park,” said Eric Kalnins, Coquitlam Tourism Manager. Tri-City News.
“Festivals support the local visitor economy and celebrate Coquitlam as a vibrant and diverse community in which to live and do business. We look forward to working with the Caribbean Days Festival to grow the event and establish that it was a signature festival in Coquitlam for years. come.”
of Tri-City News is the media sponsor of the event.
Can you help out at the Caribbean Day Festival? The Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Society of BC needs volunteers, especially those with Serve It Right, to help out. Go to caribbeandays.ca to register.
Fun lineup
July 23
- 10am = DJ BJ Roots Basement
- 10:30 a.m. = Parade in the park
- 11:30 = Official Opening
- 12:30 pm = Julio Avila Cuban Band
- 13:30 = Fantastic God
- 2:30pm = Belly Dancer
- 15:00 = Sweet Casserole
- 4pm = Limbo with KingFish and the Calgary Diversity Performing Arts Club
- 17:00 = Reflection of the roots
- 6pm = Boom Dad
- 19:00 = Tropical breeze
July 24
- 11 o’clock = DJ KIZUM
- 12 pm = X-Caliber
- 13:00 = Out of many
- 14:00 = Children’s Parade
- 3pm = Limbo with KingFish and the Calgary Diversity Performing Arts Club
- 4pm = Mostly Marley
- 17:00 = Steel Belt Phase III
- 18:00 = Super Blue
Cultural performances (both days)
- 13:00 = Calypso/Soca (Abbla)- Aubrey Sixtoe
- 14:00 = African Drumming – Len Blackford
- 3pm = East Indian Culture (Trinity) – Avita Sharma
- 16:00 = Steel Pan-Kenneth and Kenrick Headley
