Music filled the air around Toronto City Hall on Tuesday as dancers in colourful sequined costumes helped organizers and politicians launch the 40th edition of the Caribana festival.

Ontario's Children and Youth Services Minister Mary Anne Chambers confidently predicted Caribana will help fix Ontario's sagging tourism business this summer. The province granted the festival $436,000.

Revellers participate in the Caribana parade in Toronto in 2006.
(CP PHOTO)

Traditionally an August festival, this year's events are spread over five weeks, including:

• The junior carnival on July 21 at Yorkgate Mall, where young people dress in elaborate costumes for their own parade.
• De Caribana Lime on July 22 at Scarborough's Albert Campbell Square. This celebration of Caribbean cultures includes a food competition, drama and story telling.
• An art show running July 24 to Aug. 6 in the Distillery District.
• Caribana Village, a series of music, dance, drama and comedy performances at Ontario Place from Aug. 1-5.
• Crowning of the king and queen Aug. 2 at Lamport Stadium.
• A Machel Montano concert Aug. 4 at Lamport Stadium.
• The Imagine Music Festival on Aug. 5 at Ontario Place featuring Sean Paul, Ne-Yo and Destra.

The headline event of the festival is the Caribana parade Aug. 4 along Lakeshore Boulevard. Organizers bill the daylong event as North America's largest outdoor event and promise it's going to be huge.