É«É«À²

From event dates to road closures, here’s everything you need to know to plan the perfect Carnival weekend.

Events to watch

On Thursday, at Lamport Stadium will see designers and creatives competing for the titles of the King and Queen of Carnival.

Carnival Village can be found at Sankofa Square, previously known as Yonge-Dundas Square, from Friday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“This cultural hub bursts to life with live performances, artisan vendors, pop up bar lounge, and Caribbean cuisine,” the .Ìý

On Friday, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., enjoy a day of music at É«É«À² Panorama — Keepin’ Pan Alive, a steel band competition at Lamport Stadium in Liberty Village.Ìý

É«É«À² Caribbean Carnival’s Grand Parade is set to take place on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The festival’s main parade will bring rhythm, celebration and beautiful costumes to the Exhibition Place Grounds at Princes’ Boulevard, and will then make its way to Canada Boulevard and to westbound Lake Shore Boulevard West.

“The parade will travel westbound along Lake Shore Boulevard West and will turn approximately 100 metres west of Jameson Avenue and then travel eastbound on Lake Shore Boulevard West,” É«É«À² police said .

Road closures and restrictions this weekend 

The following road closures will be in place from 12 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday.

• Lake Shore Boulevard West from Fort York Boulevard to Colborne Lodge Drive
• Lake Shore Boulevard West westbound between Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard is open to local traffic only
• Strachan Avenue southbound from Fleet Street

Police also warned of the following Gardiner Expressway ramp closures.

• Westbound Gardiner Expressway on ramp at Jameson Avenue
• Eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp at Jameson Avenue
• Eastbound Gardiner Expressway on ramp from Jameson Avenue, and Lake Shore Boulevard West at British Columbia Road
• Westbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp at Dunn Avenue
• Lake Shore Boulevard West will close to traffic at 12 a.m. from westbound Strachan Avenue to Parkside Drive, and eastbound Lake Shore Boulevard West from Colborne Lodge Drive to Strachan Avenue
• The Princes’ Gates will remain closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday, Aug. 2 starting at 1 a.m.

The following roads will be restricted to local traffic to help with traffic flow and minimize disruptions to local residents.Ìý

• Dufferin Street south of King Street West
• Dowling Avenue south of King Street West
• Stadium Road south of Lake Shore Boulevard West
• Queens Quay West, west of Bathurst Street
• Springhurst Avenue, west of Jameson Avenue
• Springhurst Avenue, east of Jameson Avenue
• Remembrance Drive

Finally, police announced that vehicles parked illegally on the following streets will be towed.Ìý

• Lake Shore Boulevard West (including the grassed area)
• Bathurst Street
• Fleet Street
• King Street West
• Queen Street West
• Roncesvalles Avenue
• Dufferin Street
• The Queensway

“Members of the public who wish to enjoy the non-ticketed portion of the parade are encouraged to find alternative routes to enter by foot from Lake Shore Boulevard West and Strachan Avenue or Lake Shore Boulevard West and Parkside Drive,” police wrote.

Those who wish to attend the Exhibition Place paid ticket area can purchase tickets at the Dufferin Gates, Princes’ Gates, and the Metrolinx Exhibition GO Station.

How to plan for a safe celebration

Police are expecting nightclubs and restaurants in the downtown core and along the waterfront to be busy, É«É«À² deputy police chief Robert Johnson told reporters at police headquarters late Friday morning.

“We have people from all over the country, and frankly the world, coming to celebrate,” Johnson said, adding police are prepared with extra staffing and vehicle barriers.

Johnson urged people to use “common-sense strategies” to protect their belongings, with phone thefts on the rise at É«É«À² festivals this summer.

“Don’t have it hanging out of your pocket,” he said. “Just be mindful of where you are and who’s around you.”