Co-Director Gabriella Caruso breathes fire at Red Pepper's Festival of Lights in Kensington Market - photo by Taras Kovaliv

On the longest night of the year, Kensington Market becomes a winter carnival in its purest Canadian form… Red Pepper Spectacle Arts at once pays tribute to the winter solstice, carnival traditions from Europe and Brazil, and our land’s Natives Peoples’ heritage and folklore. A procession through Kensington Market and the celebration of fire and light makes it all come to life. Starting at 6 pm and meeting at the corners of Oxford andAugusta, a crowd forms to witness the start of the winter celebration.

Accompanying the solstice parade will be music from around the world and from many traditions. Samba Squad will delight revelers with their high energy beats and there are rumors that there will be some maracatu beats being played by some elvin characters among the people.

Who are Red Pepper Spectacle Arts? From their website “For over 20 years community artists Andy Moro and Gabriella Caruso have worked independently and in collaboration with numerous organizations toward accessibility in the arts.  With six Dora nominations and one win between plus international acclaim for their multi-disciplinary work, it had long been their desire to focus extensive professional experience and creative resources on an inclusive cultural practice. Founded in 2002, Red Pepper is now a creative home for an always growing community of emerging and established artists. Based in a 1300 square foot storefront studio in Kensington Market, Red Pepper provides resource sharing and collaborative opportunity in diverse media.”

The low down on the Festival of Lights: basically “Bang a drum or a pot or pan, ring a bell, sing a song, carry a lantern, wear a costume…this is a participatory event! Come celebrate the return of light at Toronto’s original Lantern procession!”

video from past Festival of Lights.

You can see the influence that Native culture has on the aesthetic and cultural vision of Red Pepper. The puppets are drawn from the world view and mythology of the land, and as a journey through the Red Pepper workshop reveals, ravens, thunderbirds, raccoons, and so many more elements drawn from Indigenous tradition. During my visit there I didn’t have the time to talk with Andy Moro, one of the co-directors, because he was so busy preparing for the festival. The event attracts possibly over 10 000 people if not more, and the parade winds its way through Kensington Market before ending in Alexandra Park south of Dundas near Scadding Court. At that time a big fire sculpture is lit to the cheers of people with wishes of a prosperous and bright new year. This year participating artists include: Phil Cote and Rebecca Baird of the Tecumseh Collective, the Samba Squad, Shadowland Theatre, Elizabeth Cinello and the Hags, Rich Underhill and the Kensington Horns,  Michelle Perpaul, Kehewin Native Dance Theatre, Larissa Pelletario, Gregory Odjig, Michaela Washburn, Raymo Weasel-Moccasin, Pat Bisset, Scott Shibley and the Racoons, Marie Gaudet and Gaa Dibatjimaat Ngashi, Lena Recollet and Jasmine Manning with Shaman.com, The New Model Circus Army, Shannon Olivier, Meghan Simao, the SolSticks, Clay and Paper Theatre,  Circlesing, Alkiks, and MORE! Well done! Long Live the Festival of Lights in Kensington Market!

video from solstice 2006

Big Puppets for parade

Again, Long Live the Festival of Lights in Kensington Market!

Alex Bordokas