After a two-year hiatus, the energetic Carifiesta crowd takes over the center

The pent-up energy was evident in the size of the crowd in the city center, which at times grew to overwhelming proportions.

Author of the article:

Jason Magder • Montreal Gazette

People dance in the street as they take part in the Carifiesta Parade in Montreal, Saturday, July 2, 2022. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

The beautiful weather, colorful costumes and taste of Caribbean culture made a perfect Saturday afternoon for Sabrina Bohemier.

“It is our first time here for this festival; we have three children and they all have mixed Haitian backgrounds,” Bohemier said as he danced to music from a float crawling down Ste-Catherine St. with her daughter Maeva on her shoulders. “We come here to have fun, to listen to good music. Here for the beautiful people and the beautiful weather.”

For the first time since 2019, Carifiesta was back in the spotlight. Saturday was the 45th edition of the parade.

Artists stop for a selfie as they take part in the Carifiesta Parade in Montreal, Saturday, July 2, 2022. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

Thousands showed up along the parade route on St-Catherine St. W., which winds from Guy St. to Phillips Square. Flatbed trucks featured DJs and dancers dressed in carnival-style feathered costumes. Many stood to the side waving flags from numerous Caribbean countries, while others dressed in the colorful attire that represented their flags. However, it seemed that the parade took on a life of its own, as spectators got carried away with the celebration, with thousands walking in the middle of the street, following the floats and dancing to music throughout the parade run. There was a heavy police presence as many streets were closed. Officers were directing vehicular traffic and carefully monitoring the crowd through bike and horse patrols.

“I used to be in the parade, and now I’m too old for that,” said Jemma Mark, a Granada native who moved 30 years ago. “It’s nice to see everyone having fun and to see that each island has its own celebration. I never miss the parade, and it’s nice that it’s back now after two years.”

People dance in the street as they take part in the Carifiesta Parade in Montreal, Saturday, July 2, 2022. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

It was clear that there was pent-up energy, as the crowd on Ste-Catherine St. grew to overwhelming proportions at times. At one point, there were so many people crowding the street that it was difficult for people to get in and out of the Eaton Center mall.

Observers said the parade was shorter than in previous years, and that was possibly due to the little time organizers had to put everything together. The Caribbean Cultural Festivities Association (CCFA) only officially confirmed that the parade would start at the end of May.

A woman waves the Haitian flag as she dances during the Carifiesta Parade in Montreal, Saturday, July 2, 2022. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

“The energy was very, very powerful and there were so many beautiful colors,” said Russell Brooks, a Montreal-born writer whose parents were born in Barbados. “I think everyone came out just to enjoy the day.”

However, Brooks, who attends the event every year, said he found the parade less austere than usual and blamed a short time on organizing.

“With a little more time, there could have been more floats and bigger and better costumes,” Brooks said. “I also think it was a little sad that no one came from the city of Montreal, or from the Quebec government, or from Canada.”