Series Season: 2024

Please note: Due to weather, our August 17-18 night market has been postponed to September 14-15. Join us for a vibrant celebration at Harbourfront Centre’s new Public Square! In partnership with Street Eats and sponsored by Food Network and Global News, our Harbourfront Night Market brings together an array of culinary delights, artisanal crafts and […]

To the music of Marta Elena’s band, join us for an unforgettable evening of dance that spans the vibrant beats of Latin America. The show begins with the fiery passion of salsa, where every step tells a story of love and longing. Next, be swept away by the exhilarating adaptation of a cha cha cha […]

OCPA’s Calypso Stars Showcase is the organization’s annual contribution to Harbourfront Centre’s Island Soul Festival. The showcase features veteran and upcoming Canadian calypsonians who perform their original material or cover versions of calypso standards by international artists. The cast for the showcase includes the current Canadian calypso monarch and finalists from OCPA’s annual competition. This […]

Presented by Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) and Harbourfront Centre, Calypso Workshop is a two-hour workshop on the rudiments of calypso composition. Participants will work individually and in groups in the workshop. At the end, they will have the opportunity to perform their compositions with percussive instruments.

Celebrate the music of Harry Belafonte with the seven-piece band, Pimento Soul, featuring the most famous music recorded by Belafonte while giving thanks for the life of the late great humanitarian and civil rights activist. The evening will take you on a journey through the Jamaican folk and Calypso music he recorded. The audience can […]

JUNO Award nominee, music producer and band leader of The Jay Douglas All-Star band, Jay Douglas performs at Island Soul, bringing his reggae rhythms to the stage. From his roots in Montego Bay, Jamaica, to his dynamic performances across the globe, his soulful voice and energetic stage presence make him a standout in the reggae […]

Jamaican singer and songwriter Etana returns for a live outdoor performance on the Concert Stage. Bringing her trademark soul-soaked sounds and honey-laced vocals, she will play a setlist of her reggae fan favourites infused with R&B.

At the height of the golden age of reggae, some of Jamaica’s brightest stars left their homeland behind to shine their light in an unlikely hub of Caribbean creativity: Toronto.   Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land follows the journeys of these icons. This captivating five-part anthology series takes you from Kingston to Kensington […]

A performance by EverythingOShauN accompanied by his three-piece band and cultural dancers. Blending influences from his Jamaican and Nigerian heritage with the Toronto sound, EverythingOShauN creates bold, melodic music that has captivated a global audience. Don’t miss this dynamic artist known for hits like “Come and See” and “Load MGMT” in an unforgettable evening of […]

Nicknamed the “Dancehall Godfather,” Johnny Osbourne is a living legend known for his classic hits “Buddy Bye,” “Ice Cream Love” and “Water Pumping.” This summer, he’s bringing his best Jamaican reggae and dancehall to Island Soul for a night of rhythm and soul.

Two film screenings featuring feature-length films examining cultural influences and social implications of multiple aspects of Caribbean life, home and abroad. The two films featured are Pressure, a 1975 film directed by Horace Ové, and A State of Madness, a 2020 film directed by Leticia Tonos. 

Tiny’s Session is a space for young and emerging artists to practice performance while sharing the love of their craft with an intimate audience. A multi-genre travelling showcase of new music and comedy, Tiny’s Session has produced living room, condo, rooftop and cafe shows in multiples cities across North America and Africa. Think Tiny Desk […]

Children and parents are invited to a literary Caribbean party with author Yolanda T. Marshall and musician Suzette Vidale. This interactive storytelling told through picture books and music, includes a C is for Carnival that celebrates Canada’s Caribbean carnival while you jump and wave to Soca and calypso music. Come prepared to dance, sing, and […]

Paradise Soul is a day party presented by LIT (Lagos in TO) to celebrate the dynamic Caribana weekend on the waterfront with Island Soul. Featuring a lineup of DJs and MCs, dance the day away, swaying to the melodies and rhythms of dancehall, Soca, and afrobeats in this Caribbean rave-style set-up. LIT is committed to […]

Join VIBE Artist Jade Kent Brewster and celebrate Caribbean culture. This fun and exciting workshop is perfect for everyone, no matter your age or ability. Together, you will create stunning Carnival headpieces to kick-off Carnival in the most colourful and vibrant way. Don’t miss out on this chance to get creative and enjoy the lively […]

DJ Starting from Scratch is a Toronto icon known for rocking venues internationally and the touring DJ for Toronto’s mogul Russell Peters. The Recipee Band (Jason Larmond, Juwayon Clarke, Jonathan Kerr and Omar ‘Oh!’ Lunan) have been a crowd favourite for decades across the city and have toured with artists such as Deborah Cox, Daniel […]

Di empress dem ah mash up di place! Empress Mash Up is an all-female reggae jam session featuring two dynamic artists with distinct but complementary styles and variations of reggae, dancehall and R&B backed by an exciting, growing seven-piece reggae band. Highlighting the frequently neglected presence, participation and contribution of women to reggae music at […]

Experience power-packed live performances from Unity Fest’s spoken word artists and rappers.

Take in street art and DJing, then come watch excellent beatbox and street dance artists perform before you learn some moves of your own and find your style in their interactive workshops. 

Toronto’s top Street Dancers compete one-on-one for the open-styles breaking battle to win prizes and the top spot on the podium.

 Join us on the floor as Toronto’s best b-boys and b-girls go head-to-head in an epic three vs. three showdown to compete for a place in the final battle to win cash prizes (and mad respect!) 

A storytelling and music workshop covering multiple parts of the Caribbean where specific styles of poetry and storytelling originated and have long since developed. This workshop brings into focus poetic styles of telling myths, legends and tales of real and imagines greats from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia and Creole. Storytelling is a distinct […]

Award-winning author Yolanda T. Marshall invites you to a captivating story time. Join her for a reading of C is for Carnival, an educational and rhyming alphabet book that follows children in colourful costumes as they “play mas.” The celebration continues by reading My Soca Birthday Party with Jollof Rice and Steel Pans and Keman’s […]