Now the royalty’s in place, get set for a busy weekend

The Caribbean Carnival’s king and queen have been crowned.

A panel of judges commended creative costume ingenuity at Thursday’s colourful blend of extravagant outfits and exuberant dancing in Allan Lamport Stadium.

Both winners came from Torontobased mas band Carnival Nationz.

Joella Crichton became the queen for the fifth year in a row. She was joined by the king, Shane Reid-Mungal, who was also awarded the Ontario Science Centre prize for costume innovation.

The masqueraders are now gearing up for the showpiece event of the 48th annual Caribbean Carnival in Toronto: the grand parade.

On Saturday morning, nine bands and about 15,000 performers who will be wearing about a quarter of a million feathers will bring to vivid life a 3.5-kilometre stretch from Exhibition Place along Lake Shore Blvd. W. to Lake Shore and Parkside Dr.

The drums of calypso, soca, reggae, chutney, steel pan and brass bands will accompany the plethora of performers on the route from 9:45 a.m. until about 8 p.m.

This year’s theme is “The People’s Carnival,” according to outgoing Po- lice Board chairman Alok Mukherjee, speaking at the Toronto Police Services’ annual kickoff event on Friday morning.

“This is one of the great events in our city,” Mayor John Tory added at the event.

Tory called the carnival a chance to “show who we are and what we’re about” and why Toronto is “a special place to live,” as well as being a celebration of Caribbean culture.

On Friday, the main feature of the festivities was the Pan Alive competition presented by the Ontario Steelpan Association at Allan Lamport Stadium.

Sunday, the close of the three-week cultural festival, sees Carnival Island comes to Olympic Island Park. Caribbean chefs will prepare a range of local delicacies while comedians and performers with Caribbean roots entertain the crowds.