More than 100 young masqueraders from several bands which will be taking part in this year’s junior carnival  parade , showed off their colorful costumes  at the Malvern Town Centre in Scarborough on Tuesday.

Present to witness the mas’ spectacle were proud parents, carnival  representatives, sponsors and members of the public.

Among the “special guests” were  Federal MP Gary Anandasangaree,  MPP Raymond  Cho and City Council  Neethan Shan.

“Watching these young people play mas’ in a parade of their very own is a very special part of the carnival and one of the  highlights of the festival,” said Chris Alexander, Chief Administrative Officer of the Festival Management Committee (FMC) which has been running  the Toronto Caribbean carnival  for the last ten years.

“These young people are the future of our Carnival. This event gives them an opportunity to learn about and share the Caribbean culture . They put on a great show,” Alexamder noted.

The 2017 Peeks Junior Carnival Parade & Family Day will be held in the Malvern community in Scarborough on July 22 from11 am -8 pm.

It starts with the official opening ceremony at the McLevin Road entry into to the Malvern Community Centre. The parade will then travel west on McLevin Avenue, north on Neilson Road to Neilson Park where families are welcome to enjoy the Junior Carnival Showcase, – children’s  crafts and games, food, music and the Junior Chef competition.

This year 2,000 participants are expected to register for the  junior carnival parade with 11 mas’  bands participating.

The Junior Carnival Parade and Family Day is an integral part of the three-week Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival. The2017 grand parade will be on August 5.

For more information about the programs and events, please visit the Festival’s official website at www.TorontoCaribbeanCarnival.com