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From its launch in 1967, Caribana (now known as Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival) has exploded into a giant island celebration, attracting crowds of more than a million people who come to Toronto take in the music, dancing and party vibe.

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A steel band performs during Caribana festival on Centre Island in Toronto on Aug. 5, 1967.John McNeill/The Globe and Mail

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A parade of Caribbean floats leaves Varsity Stadium in Toronto as part of Caribana on Aug. 6, 1967.Harry McLorinan/The Globe and Mail

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Summer, 1971 at Caribana. There were wall to wall people on Yonge St. during Canada's only festival of the Caribbean peoples.John Wood/The Globe and Mail

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The Caribana parade, part of the annual carnival staged by Toronto's Caribbean community, went on as planned despite torrential rain on July 31, 1976. The weather may have delayed the start, but it did not dampen the spirits of the participants, who once again produced some startling costumes.James Lewcun/The Globe and Mail

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The Carnival parade down University Avenue in Toronto, seen in this July 30, 1977 picture.Jack Dobson/The Globe and Mail

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Wearing giant wings, a dancer joins the Caribana festival parade along University Ave. in downtown Toronto on Aug. 2, 1980. The parade of about 8,500 dancers and musicians, including 250 performers who flew from Trinidad, lasted seven hours. Originally published August 4, 1980Steve Patriquen/The Globe and Mail

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A group representing the Bahamas sport elaborate costumes on July 29, 1988, while preparing for Toronto's Caribana festival.Barris Davis/The Globe and Mail

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Revellers dance along the Lake Shore Boulevard in Toronto during the Caribana Parade, Aug. 1, 1998.Ed Yee/The Globe and Mail

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Dancers at the Caribana Parade in downtown Toronto on Saturday, August 1, 2007. Photo by Philip CheungPhilip Cheung

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Crowds gather along the parade route as revelers take part in the Caribbean Carnival Parade in Toronto, Ont. July 30, 2011. The annual parade attracted an estimated 1 million spectators.Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail

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