been very successful and next time we'll know what pitfalls to avoid. One will be to forget any attempt to raise contributions or assistance from businesses." The organization began a year-round presence. The Caribana Serenaders performed at the Royal York hotel on Boxing Day, during the Mayor's annual clinic for the Canadian Red Cross Society. 1968 Scheduled to run from July 31 to August 7, the second annual event was to launch with a steel band performance at the Canada Trust Tower, however the local musician union asked them not to play, as they hadn't been informed in advance; Hell's Gate of Antigua did manage to perform at Queen's Park. A grand ball at the Royal York hotel on August 2 picked the king and queen. Events on the island attracted 25,000 Saturday, 34,000 Sunday, and 31,000 Monday; none of the days beat the one-day record of 38,000, set on July 14. More than 5,000 watched the parade. Reports of the event were limited, merely leading a story about the Simcoe Day weekend, which included notes on attendance at attractions like Fort York and the Tapawingo galleries near Kleinberg. Soon after the event, a letter to the editor complained of the lack of queuing at the Toronto Island ferries; as of 2011, this issue remains for the Toronto Island ferries. The parade ended up losing money. By year's end, the event would have a challenge. Metro Toronto council approved creation of a week-long Carnival Toronto, aiming to rival Mardi Gras. Chairman John Fisher of the newly formed Friends of the Carnival, Inc. conceived the event as being 2 million people "expressing themselves in an organized week of gaiety, frivolity and fun." The organization would also seek to merge the events of Caribana, the Italian Festival, Canadiana Week, Japanese Tanabata Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, and a summer music festival, plus all Dominion Day celebrations. He asked for a grant of $20,000, with up to $50,000 later; council indicated this level of support would only be given after a report by Metro's information officer. 1969 A pre-carnival dance was held July 4 at St. Lawrence Market, and a Caribbean-themed art exhibition at the Richview branch of the Etobicoke Library. The 1969 parade went from Varsity Stadium to the ferry docks. More than 75,000 watched the parade, in which 2000 performed. In the opening weekend, 30,000 visited in the Island. Cost of the