Trinbago Toronto Festival Draws Record Crowds

Toronto’s largest Trinidad and Tobago Food and Music Festival returned in a new location in the heart of the city at Nathan Phillips Square, drawing bigger crowds than ever. Over 40,000 revellers came out to the 3rd annual Trinbago Toronto Festival hosted September 7 and 8 to enjoy non-stop live music, sample delicious food, shop local products, and get inspired to plan future visits to Trinidad and Tobago. 

The outdoor festival kicked-off with unseasonably cool temperatures, with lows of 11 degrees on Saturday and a sunnier Sunday at 20 degrees. But the crowd was not deterred, with scores of patrons generating lots of heat and energy while dancing to artists like Mical Teja and Moses Revolution featuring Tobagonian Shyann Bailey. 

The event was co-presented by the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL) and Trinidad Tourism Limited (TTL), under the auspices of the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Toronto.Set against the backdrop of Toronto’s City Hall, the Trinbago Festival was an inspiration for Trinbagonians and friends, both old and new, to “come home” for an authentic Trinidad and Tobago experience.

“It’s my distinct honour and privilege to welcome you to the third annual Trinbago Toronto Festival, this year held for the first-time ever at Nathan Philip Square, which through our diplomatic blessing we are calling Independence Square,” said Mrs. Tracey Ramsubagh-Mannette, Acting Consul General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Toronto. 

“This weekend is a celebration of all things Trinidad and Tobago - our music, our culture, our cuisine, our creativity, our humour, and our heritage. This festival was created three years ago out of a recognition that our cultural assets are adored all around this great city and beyond,” she said.

The City of Toronto also honoured the Festival with a special illumination of the iconic CN Tower and its beloved Toronto sign in Trinidad and Tobago’s national colours of red, white and black on the night of September 7th. 

Representing the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL) was its Chairman, Mrs. Dalia Jerry. She told the crowd gathered that she was bringing the “warmth of the lovely island of Tobago” which, as she highlighted, “is known as the unspoilt, untouched Caribbean gem where the undiscovered awaits you around every corner.” 

The event was supported in Toronto by Siren Communications, TTAL’s marketing partner in Canada.

“It was a pleasure and honour to represent TTAL this weekend at this incredible festival. To see how much the festival has grown over the past three years is a testament to the vibrant culture of Trinidad and Tobago. The energy and excitement at Trinbago Toronto was infectious, and we can’t wait to welcome more people from Canada to Tobago this winter.”

With the island set to welcome thousands of visitors to its shores next month for its signature Blue Food Festival and Carnival celebration, the energy and excitement of Trinbago Toronto gave all in attendance a taste of what’s to come in October.