Carnival Barrie celebrates growth in second year

Thousands are gathering along Barrie's waterfront this weekend for the second annual edition of Carnival Barrie, a festival showcasing Latin American art, culture and tradition.

Organizers say the festival has grown tremendously compared to its inaugural event last summer.

"We ramped up the food vendors, stage size and the artisans," said Adrian Caraballo, the event's director. "We're celebrating the sacrifice made by countless families to come to this country for a better opportunity, and now we find ourselves being able to share our culture with the rest of the community in Barrie."

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24 food vendors and more than 30 artists are at the weekend festival, emphasizing family as an essential and relatable part of Latin American culture.

"Last year, we had about ten picnic tables; this year, we have over 50," added Caraballo. "Our [various Latin] cultures are similar in nature in that we want to celebrate with families, [and] every other culture that's not Latin can resonate with that family vibe and that family energy."

Carnival Barrie runs through Sunday.