Taste of the Danforth is an annual street festival that takes place in and around the GreekTown BIA. The event celebrates not only Greek food and culture, but also the many other restaurants and vendors along the western end of the Danforth.
Several blocks of The Danforth are closed during the festival and admission to the area is free. Of course, you'll want to bring plenty of pocket money to sample the deliciousness. If you're not a fan of crowds however, you may just want to visit the Danforth on your own, because Taste of the Danforth can get very busy, especially on the weekend afternoons.
When & Where:
As the name suggests, Taste of the Danforth is held on Danforth Avenue. The street is closed between Broadview Avenue and Jones Avenue, which is the section just east of the Don Valley.
In 2009, Taste of the Danforth runs from Friday August 7th to Sunday August 9th. It's an evening event on Friday, beginning at 6pm. On Saturday and Sunday things kick-off at noon. Taste of the Danforth is open until 11pm on Friday and Saturday and wraps up a bit earlier on Sunday at 8pm.
How to Get There:
The best way to get to Taste of the Danforth is by subway. Broadview, Chester or Pape Station will bring you right to the action, and Donlands is just to the east of it. You can get off the subway at one end; walk, watch and eat; then get back on at the other end. How easy is
that?
Biking to the area is simple using the Don Valley Trail or the Jones Avenue bike lane, but maneuvering in the crowd will be tough. You'll probably want to lock up outside the festival area.
I don't recommend driving, but if needed there are
several Green P lots in the area, which will probably all be very busy.
The Tastes of Taste of the Danforth:
The main draw for the event is of course the food. Most restaurants in the area come up with a few special selections that are easy to eat while walking or standing, and serve them up from a table on the sidewalk. Expect lots of options for gyros, filled pitas and souvlaki skewers, but you'll also find flavours from all over, such as Japanese and Mexican cuisine. Desserts are readily available, and there's usually a few stands with carnival-esque fare such as roasted corn.
Entertainment at Taste of the Danforth:
There are usually three stages spaced out along Danforth for the festival. Musical and dance performances mix with a few fitness and dance demonstrations. Just like the rest of the festival, there is a heavy Greek influence to the programming, but not exclusively so. There are also areas for kids, and some patio seating where you can watch the fun unfold.
Two Tips for Taste of the Danforth:
- Come hungry and with your hands free for easy eating-while-walking
- Wear a shirt you don't mind dripping tzatziki on when you engage in said eating-while-walking. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything.
