Bac & All Festival at The Bentway

Dame Lorraines

Viey la cou, a presentation of traditional ole mas’ characters, will  be  the highlight of the  Bac & All festival to be held at The Bentway on Saturday July 28.

The performance, led by actor, director and storyteller, Rhoma Spencer,”will take guests through an engaging performance of Caribbean traditions complete with an upbeat rhythm section by Hornman International,” says a news release from the organizers of the festival.

Friends of  the  Pan Am Path (FOPAP), a non-profit organization which is “working to bring awareness to public spaces through arts and culture,” has partnered with The Bentway to present the festival.

Jade Lee Hoy, Executive Director of FOPAP, notes  that “Carnival in Toronto is part of the cultural fabric in our city.  Our goal is to continue the conversation by exploring the roots and traditional history and incorporate new innovations such as 3-D printed costumes and augmented reality.”

“Future visions of carnival will be explored through new mediums including a display of 3D printed costumes by the Inkwell Project, a joint partnership with SugaCayne Designs and Ryerson University’s Design Fabrication Zone (DFZ), ” says the news release.

The festival will also feature “socacize” classes by Ayanna Lee-Rivears, a mini mas’ camp for on-site carnival creations, artwork by local artists and “a virtual reality experience.”

The Bac & All Festival is sponsored by The Bentway and Ontario Trillium Fund.