Image: Metrolinx / GO Transit.
You can jump up, jump around, jump along or just jump at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s Grand Parade in Exhibition Place and along Lake Shore Boulevard West on the western waterfront this Saturday. But first, jump onto GO Transit buses or trains or TTC streetcars, buses and subway trains.
Both GO and the TTC are adding extra service to get you to the parade and back home again.
Map of TTC services to and from the parade.
The parade starts off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9.45 a.m in front of BMO Field on Princes’ Boulevard in Exhibition Place. Bands will dance their way east along Princes’ and turn down to Lake Shore Boulevard West at Newfoundland Road. The bands head west along Lake Shore to British Columbia Road where they re-enter Exhibition Place and disperse.
The Toronto Revellers and the National Basketball Association’s Jamaal Magloire lead off the parade at 10:30 a.m. The last band is likely off the parade route by 6 p.m. Twelve competing bands, ten guest bands and several steel pan orchestras are taking part in the parade.
Only ticket-holders can watch the parade inside the grounds of Exhibition Place. But, most people probably choose to watch it free on the south side of Lake Shore West between Newfoundland and British Columbia.
GO Transit
You can travel to and from the parade along these GO routes — 01 Lakeshore West train, 09 Lakeshore East train, 21 Milton train, 30 Kitchener / Bramalea bus, 31 Kitchener train, 33 Guelph / Georgetown / North York bus, 65 Barrie train, 71 Stouffville train.
65 Barrie train
GO operates its regular seasonal train service along the line Saturday, July 30.
Best bet: the southbound train that leaves Allandale Waterfront GO Station at 9:40 a.m. and ends its trip in Union Station at 11:18 a.m. At Union, transfer to a westbound train along the 01 Lakeshore West line, leaving Union every 30 minutes all day. Or, board regular trains along the 12 Niagara Falls line or special Caribbean Carnival trains serving the 21 Milton, 31 Georgetown and 71 Stouffville lines. Exit at Exhibition GO Station.
Homebound, take any train from Exhibition to Union, then board a regular Barrie line train. Best bet: the northbound train that leaves Union at 6:20 p.m. and ends up in Barrie at 7:55 p.m.
You can view the schedule for the 65 Barrie line here.
33 Guelph / Georgetown / North York bus
33F branch
GO is operating extra buses along this branch of the route Saturday, July 30, so that passengers traveling to and from Guelph, Acton and Georgetown can connect with the extra trains operating along the 31 Kitchener line at Mount Pleasant GO Station.
Extra GO trains for Caribbean Carnival are not stopping at Georgetown GO Station this year, due to construction at the station this weekend.
An extra eastbound bus leaves the University Centre terminal on the University of Guelph campus at 9:23 a.m. It ends its trip in Mount Pleasant bus terminal at 10:39 a.m. The train leaves Mount Pleasant at 10:54 a.m., ending its trip in Exhibition GO Station at 12:08 p.m.
Heading home, ride the train that leaves Exhibition at 6:39 p.m., ending its trip in Mount Pleasant at 7:54 p.m. An extra westbound bus leaves Mount Pleasant at 8:02 p.m. It ends its trip in Guelph at 9:22 p.m.
You can view the schedule for the Caribbean Carnival Parade service along the 31 Kitchener line here.
31 Kitchener train
GO is operating extra trains along the line Saturday, July 30.
A special eastbound train leaves Mount Pleasant GO Station at 10:54 a.m. It picks up passengers at all stops to Union Station. It then continues to Exhibition GO Station, ending its trip at 12:08 p.m.
A special westbound train leaves Exhibition at 6:39 p.m. It drops off passengers at all stops to Mount Pleasant, ending its trip at 7:54 p.m.
Extra GO trains for Caribbean Carnival are not stopping at Georgetown GO Station this year, due to construction at the station this weekend.
GO is also operating extra buses along the 30 Kitchener / Bramalea and 33 Guelph / Georgetown / North York routes so that passengers west of Mount Pleasant can also travel to and from the parade.
You can view the schedule for the Caribbean Carnival Parade service along the 31 Kitchener line here.
30 Kitchener / Bramalea express bus
GO is operating extra buses along the route Saturday, July 30, so that passengers traveling to and from Kitchener can connect with the extra trains operating along the 31 Kitchener line at Bramalea GO Station.
An extra eastbound bus leaves Kitchener GO Station at 9:54 a.m. It operates express - without stopping - to Bramalea GO Station. It ends its trip in Bramalea at 10:54 a.m. The train leaves Bramalea at 11:09 a.m., ending its trip in Exhibition GO Station at 12:08 p.m.
Heading home, ride the train that leaves Exhibition at 6:39 p.m., arrives in Bramalea at 7:39 p.m. An extra westbound bus leaves Bramalea at 7:49 p.m. It ends its trip in Kitchener at 8:59 p.m.
You can view the schedule for the Caribbean Carnival Parade service along the 31 Kitchener line here.
09 Lakeshore East train
GO is operating its regular service along the line, with trains operating every 30 minutes from about 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. Saturday, July 30.
GO interlines Lakeshore East trains with trains operating along the 01 Lakeshore West line. That means that after arriving at Union Station, just stay on your train to travel one more stop westbound to Exhibition GO Station. Heading home, board an eastbound 01 Lakeshore West train at Exhibition to continue beyond Union along the 09 Lakeshore East line.
You can view the schedule for the 09 Lakeshore East line here.
01 Lakeshore West train
GO is operating its regular service along the line, with trains operating every 30 minutes from about 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. Saturday, July 30. Exit from or board trains at Exhibition GO Station.
You can view the schedule for the 01 Lakeshore West line here.
21 Milton train
GO is operating extra trains along the line Saturday, July 30.
A special eastbound train trip leaves Milton GO Station at 11 a.m. It picks up passengers at all stops to Union Station. It then continues to Exhibition GO Station, ending its trip at 12:13 a.m.
A special westbound train leaves Exhibition at 6:20 p.m. It drops off or picks up passengers at all stops to Milton, ending its trip at 7:34 p.m.
You can view the schedule for the special Caribbean Carnival Parade service along the 21 Milton line here.
12 Niagara Falls train
GO operates its regular train service along the line Saturday, July 31. Exit from or board trains at Exhibition GO Station.
You can view the regular schedule for the 12 Niagara Falls line here.
71 Stouffville train
GO is operating extra trains along the line Saturday, July 30.
A special southbound train leaves Lincolnville GO Station at 10:45 a.m. It picks up passengers at all stops to Union Station. It then continues to Exhibition GO Station, ending its trip at noon.
A special northbound train leaves Exhibition GO at 6:44 p.m. It drops off passengers at all stops to Lincolnville, ending its trip at 8:04 p.m.
You can view the schedule for the Caribbean Carnival Parade service along the 71 Stouffville line here.
Toronto Transit Commission
The TTC is increasing service along these routes to get you to and from the parade — 29 Dufferin, 121 Fort York / Esplanade, 504 King, 509 Harbourfront, 511 Bathurst.
It’s short-turning or detouring service along these routes: 310 Bathurst overnight, 329 Dufferin overnight, 363 Ossington overnight, 510 Spadina, 514 Cherry.
And, it’s operating special express buses along these routes: 29E Dufferin express and 511E Bathurst express.
511 Bathurst
Buses continue to replace streetcars along the route.
All day, Saturday, July 30, the TTC’s increasing the frequency of service along the route. Buses operate to and from Bathurst Station.
From 5 a.m. Saturday, July 30 until 2 a.m. Sunday, July 31, it’s also detouring the buses near Exhibition Place. Southbound buses operate along the regular route to Fleet Street and Gzowski Boulevard, ending their trips.
Southbound buses skip their regular stops:
- on Fleet Street west of Fort York Boulevard,
- on Manitoba Drive west of Strachan Avenue and
- in Exhibition Loop.
Northbound buses start their trips on Fleet Street and Gzowski Boulevard, then proceed:
northward along Gzowski; and then
eastward** along Fort York to Bathurst Street,
resuming their regular route northward along Bathurst.Northbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Exhibition Loop,
- on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue,
- on Fleet Street east of Fort York Boulevard, across from Bastion Street and at Bathurst Street and
- on Bathurst Street at Fort York Boulevard.
Instead, northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Fort York Boulevard at Bastion and Bathurst Streets.
You can walk from Fleet Street at Gzowski Boulevard to Lake Shore Boulevard West west of Newfoundland Road in five to ten minutes.
511E Bathurst express
All day Saturday, July 30, the TTC operates frequent express buses from Bathurst Station.
Southbound buses operate along Bathurst Street and Fleet Street to Gzowski Boulevard without stopping.
Northbound buses operate along Gzowski and Fort York Boulevards and Bathurst Street without stopping.
You can walk from Fleet Street at Gzowski Boulevard to Lake Shore Boulevard West west of Newfoundland Road in five to ten minutes.
310 Bathurst overnight
Sunday, July 31 and Monday, August 1, southbound buses operate along the regular route to Fleet Street and Gzowski Boulevard, ending their trips.
Southbound buses skip their regular stops:
- on Fleet Street west of Fort York Boulevard,
- on Manitoba Drive west of Strachan Avenue and
- in Exhibition Loop.
Northbound buses start their trips on Fleet Street and Gzowski Boulevard, then proceed:
northward along Gzowski;
eastward along Fort York to Bathurst Street,
resuming their regular route northward along Bathurst.Northbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Exhibition Loop,
- on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue,
- on Fleet Street east of Fort York Boulevard, across from Bastion Street and at Bathurst Street and
- on Bathurst Street at Fort York Boulevard.
Instead, northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Fort York Boulevard at Bastion and Bathurst Streets.
514 Cherry
All day Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31, streetcars start and end their trips in Charlotte Loop, instead of Dufferin Gate Loop.
Westbound cars operate along their regular route to King Street West and Spadina Avenue, then detour:
northward along Spadina Avenue;
eastward along Adelaide Street West; and then
southward along Charlotte Street to Oxley Street,
ending their trips.Westbound cars skip their regular stops
- on King Street West at Portland, Bathurst, Tecumseth and Niagara Streets, Strachan Avenue, Shaw and Sudbury Streets, across from Jefferson Avenue and at Joe Shuster Way and Dufferin Street and
- in Dufferin Gate Loop.
Instead, westbound cars drop off passengers at temporary stops
- on Spadina Avenue north of King Street West and
- on Charlotte Street at Oxley Street.
Eastbound cars start their trips in Charlotte Loop, on Charlotte Street at Oxley Street, then proceed:
southward along Charlotte to King Street West,
resuming their regular route eastward along King West.Eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- in Dufferin Gate Loop,
- on Dufferin Street at King Street West,
- on King Street West at Fraser and Atlantic Avenues, Sudbury and Shaw Streets, Strachan Avenue, Niagara, Tecumseth, Bathurst and Portland Streets and Spadina Avenue.
Instead, eastbound cars drop off passengers at a temporary stop
- on Charlotte Street at Oxley Street.
29 Dufferin
All day, Saturday, July 30, the TTC’s increasing the frequency of service along the route. Buses operate to and from Wilson and Dufferin Stations.
All day Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31, all buses start and end their trips in Dufferin Gate Loop and don’t proceed through Exhibition Place.
Southbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Saskatchewan Road east of Dufferin Street,
- on Manitoba Drive at Quebec Street and Nova Scotia Avenue and across from Exhibition Loop and
- in Princes’ Gate Loop.
Northbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Princes’ Gate Loop,
- on Princes’ Boulevard across from Newfoundland Road,
- on Nunavut Road beside the Horse Palace,
- on Manitoba Drive across from Nova Scotia Avenue and at Saskatchewan Road and
- on Saskatchewan Road at Dufferin Street.
29E Dufferin express
All day Saturday, July 30, the TTC operates frequent express buses from Dufferin Station.
Southbound buses operate without stopping:
southward along Dufferin Street;
westward along Springhurst Avenue;
southward along Fort Rouille Street; and then
eastward into Dufferin Gate Loop,
ending their trips.Northbound buses operate without stopping:
northward along Dufferin Street to Dufferin Station,
ending their trips.
329 Dufferin overnight
Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31, southbound buses operate along their regular route to Dufferin Gate Loop, then proceed:
northward along Dufferin;
eastward along Liberty and East Liberty Streets;
southward along Strachan Avenue; and then
eastward along Fleet Street to Fort York Boulevard,
ending their trips.Southbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Dufferin Street [northbound] at Liberty Street,
- on Strachan Avenue at Manitoba Drive and
- on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard.
Northbound buses start their trips on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard, then proceed:
southward along Fort York;
westward along Lake Shore Boulevard West and Princes’ Boulevard;
northward along Strachan Avenue;
westward along East Liberty and Liberty Streets;
southward along Dufferin Street;
westward along Springhurst Avenue;
southward along Fort Rouille Street; and then
eastward through Dufferin Gate Loop,
resuming their regular route northward along Dufferin.Northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard,
- on Princes’ Boulevard at Strachan Avenue,
- on Strachan Avenue north of Fleet Street,
- on East Liberty Street east of Pirandello Street and at Lynn Williams Street and Atlantic Avenue,
- on Dufferin Street [southbound] at Springhurst Avenue.
121 Fort York - Esplanade
All day, Saturday, July 30, the TTC’s increasing the frequency of service along the route. Buses operate to and from Union Station.
From 1 a.m. Saturday, July 30 until 6 a.m. Sunday, July 31, eastbound buses start their trips on Fleet Street east of Fort York Boulevard, then proceed:
along their regular route northeastward along Fort York.
Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Princes’ Boulevard at Strachan Avenue and
- on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard.
Westbound buses operate along their regular route to Fort York Boulevard and Bastion Street, then detour:
southward along Bastion; and then
westward along Fleet to Fort York,
ending their trips.Westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Fort York Boulevard at Fleet Street and
- on Princes’ Boulevard at Strachan Avenue.
You can walk from the end of the route at Bastion and Fleet Streets to Lake Shore Boulevard West west of Newfoundland Road in five to ten minutes.
509 Harbourfront
All day, Saturday, July 30, the TTC’s increasing the frequency of service along the route. Streetcars operate to and from Union Station.
You can walk from the end of the route in Fleet Loop to Lake Shore Boulevard West west of Newfoundland Road in five to ten minutes.
504 King
All day, Saturday, July 30, the TTC’s increasing the frequency of service along the route. Streetcars operate to and from Dundas West, St Andrew, King and Broadview stations.
You can transfer at King Street West and Dufferin or Bathurst Streets to TTC buses heading closer to parade. Or exit the streetcars at Jameson or Strachan Avenues to walk ten to fifteen minutes south to Lake Shore Boulevard West between Newfoundland and British Columbia Roads to enjoy the parade.
363 Ossington overnight
Saturday, July 30, southbound buses operate along their regular route to Strachan Avenue and Manitoba Drive / Fleet Street, then detour:
eastward along Fleet to Fort York Boulevard,
ending their trips.Southbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Manitoba Drive west of Strachan Avenue and
- in Exhibition Loop.
Instead, southbound buses drop off passengers at a temporary stop
- on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard.
Northbound buses start their trips on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard, then proceed:
southward along Fort York;
westward along Lake Shore Boulevard West and Princes’ Boulevard; and then
northward along Strachan Avenue to Fleet Street / Manitoba Drive,
resuming their regular route northward along Strachan.
510 Spadina
All day Saturday, July 30, streetcars start and end their trips in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop and do not serve Union Station. Board streetcars along the 509 Harbourfront route to travel along Queens Quay West east of Lower Spadina Avenue or to and from Union Station.
South- and eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- on Queens Quay West at Rees and Lower Simcoe Streets and beside Harbourfront Centre,
- at Queens Quay Station and
- in Union Station streetcar terminal.
West- and northbound cars skip their regular stops
- in Union Station streetcar terminal,
- at Queens Quay Station and
- on Queens Quay West at York, Lower Simcoe and Rees Street.
Subscribe to our news feed: (