Carifest
Through June 16, 2001
Various Locations, Calgary

Inner Circle, the well-known Jamaican reggae band that is the star attraction at this year's Carifest, had a hit called Everything is Great. That seems to sum up how Calgarians feel about the festival of Caribbean culture, which is marking its 20th anniversary this year.

"The sun always shines, and we always have a great day," says Dell Stephens, Carifest chairperson, about the June 16th celebration at Prince's Island Park that is the festival's main event. "A lot of people in Calgary look forward to it. It's a full day of good family entertainment."

The festival is a gathering place for people whose heritage ties them to countries like Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent, Antigua, Haiti, Guyana and Barbados, says Stephens. But it's also a major draw for Calgarians of all cultural backgrounds. The Prince's Island Park event - known as the Sunshine Festival - draws as many as 20,000 revellers.

"This is a festival for Calgary," says Stephens. "It's one way for Calgary to show that it's an international city."

A few preliminary events, such as a gospel concert and the Miss Carifest pageant, have already taken place. But the main Carifest action starts on Saturday, June 9th with the colourful parade through Kensington. You can expect it to be packed with bands and elaborately costumed dancers.

It forms at noon at Riley Park in the northwest, heads east on 5th Avenue to 10th Street, south to Kensington Road, west to 14th Street, and north to the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association on 5th Ave., where there will be Caribbean food and festivities, as well as judging of parade entries. Things will wind up around 5 p.m.

Part of Carifest's programming is an evening at Yuk Yuk's, June 14th, featuring standup comic Russell Peters. The Indo-Canadian comedian is a master of dialects and accents who pokes fun at his own background as a brown kid growing up in Brampton, Ont. Tickets are $12.50 by calling 258-2028. The Sunshine Festival on Saturday, June 16th runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The site features special stages for children and youth, a beer garden, vendors' market, and, of course, Caribbean food: roti, Jamaican patties, jerk chicken, ginger beer, and many other favourites from the islands.

Mainstage entertainment will feature seven or eight bands and three dance groups. The headliner is Inner Circle, which plays rock/pop-influenced reggae. The band's hits include Sweat (A La La La La Long) and Bad Boys, the theme of the TV series Cops.

Admission to Prince's Island Park is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and children ages six to 12. No pets are allowed on the site.

After the day at the park you can head over to the Grand Finale Dance at Our Lady of Fatima Church Hall, where Inner Circle will once again take the stage. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $27 at the door.

Don't be surprised if you hear reggae or soca wafting toward you throughout Carifest week. There are a number of lunchtime events at locations such as Stephen Avenue Mall and Eau Claire Market.

For more information, call the Carifest office at 292-0310; website www.carifest.org.