Carifiesta or Carifête is an annual celebration of Caribbean heritage held across the streets of Montreal in early July. The flamboyant festivities draw half a million revelers to Downtown Montreal. During this Montreal carnival, you will indulge in vibrant costumes, steelpan performances, soca and calypso music, various fetes and parties, and much splendor.
The central part of this festive program is the Carifiesta Parade, with masquerade bands representing different Caribbean countries. This parade is actually considered the largest one of its kind in all of North America. The colorful procession runs along René-Lévesque Boulevard, from Guy Street to Bleury Street. Then, spectators can also join in the after-party.
Carifiesta was established in Montreal back in 1974. Since then, it has grown into an annual mass merrymaking event. The festival is coordinated by the Caribbean Cultural Festivities Association, a non-profit organization.
We recommend visiting the official website or Facebook to keep informed on the latest announcements. You can find the links in the External Resources below. Also, you might want to explore vacation rental options, showcased on the accommodations' map and book your stay in advance, for there might be the shortage of rooms during the festive time.
