Get your comfy clothes ready and your calendars clear, because Toronto’s favourite street festival Taste of the Danforth is making its long-awaited return. We at Streets of Toronto are beyond pumped to team up as the official Social Media Sponsor for what is easily going to be the biggest weekend of the summer!
From Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 9, over 1.5 million people are going to take over Danforth Avenue for three days of incredible food, live music, dance and non-stop energy. And the absolute best part is that admission is totally free.
While the festival’s deep Greek heritage will always be its heartbeat, the Danforth has grown right alongside the city. With the GTA home to over 200,000 residents of Hellenic ancestry, it is the ultimate place to be Greek for the day, while also celebrating the incredible mix of cultures that makes Toronto so special. Over 100 local restaurants and shops are lining the strip, serving up dishes from more than 25 international cuisines. Keep an eye out for the fan-favourite tasting menus, where you can grab individual dishes starting at just $6 to sample as much as possible without breaking the bank.
The party goes way beyond the food, too. Four free entertainment stages will host non-stop music, performance groups, and traditional Greek vocalists. If you want to get moving, head over to the Let’s Dance stage, where performers show off cultural dances from around the world before teaching the crowd how to join in on the fun.
There are also six different experience zones popping up along the street. Kids can run wild in an huge building brick zone with over 20,000 blocks, get their faces painted, or build robots. Adults looking to blow off some steam can head to the plate-breaking tent, write down whatever is stressing them out on a ceramic plate, and smash it to pieces with a big OPA! You can also cool down with an ice-cold drink at the beer garden, ride classic carnival attractions in the midway, or hit up the Warner Bros. set to win movie passes.
It’ surreal to think this whole thing started back in 1994 when a group of 23 local restaurant owners pooled their money together just to get more people visiting the neighbourhood. That first year drew 5,000 people, and today it generates over $91 million for local small businesses in a single weekend.
So, mark your calendars for Friday, August 7 (6 p.m. to midnight), Saturday, August 8 (noon to midnight) and Sunday, August 9 (noon to 10 p.m.). We cannot wait to eat our weight in souvlaki and celebrate with everyone on the street.
And don’t forget to follow @ all weekend long for live coverage, food guides, and behind-the-scenes action!