About 1,500 children will march the streets of North York on Saturday in the annual Caribana Junior Parade, an event designed to teach kids how to participate in the grown-up version of the event.

Children from 15 masquerade -- or 'mas' -- camps will show off their costumes to judges and the public in a street parade, which will end at the Yorkgate Mall parking lot with a celebration including music, food and dancing.

Following opening ceremonies on Shoreham Road (south of Black Creek Pioneer Village) at 11 a.m., the parade will move west on Shoreham Drive, south on Jane Street, west on Yorkgate Boulevard, ending at Hullmar Drive at about 12:30 p.m.

Judges will be stationed in front of Shoreham Public School at 31 Shoreham Dr.

About 20 float trucks and sound vehicles will also take part in the parade, which has had higher registration numbers in 2009 than in any previous year.

The main Caribana Parade will be held on Lake Shore Boulevard on Saturday, Aug. 1.