Taste of the Danforth cancelled despite attempt to save beloved Toronto festival

[Vinson]

I don't know why, millions were going to this festival. Its good for the community to have festivals.


Organizers of the Taste of the Danforth tried to salvage the popular Toronto festival earlier this year after being suspended, but it appears it will be coming to an end.

The decision to scrap the longtime event was made during the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA‘s annual general meeting Tuesday evening.

Chris Christodoulou with Soulas Modern Greek Cuisine on Danforth Avenue called the decision “a shock.”

“Not having it again is like losing a piece of your history, of your culture, as an area in the Danforth Greektown,” he told CityNews Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s very unfortunate they had to cancel it because of financial problems.”

According to a report by The Toronto Star, it said BIA members rejected increasing annual levies by close to 20 per cent in order to hold an event in 2024. That raised concerns about affordability for business operators. The need to raise money was attributed to a drop in fundraising and sponsorships in 2023.

Christodoulou said consideration should be given for the City of Toronto to contribute towards the cost since the event brings a large turnout.

Coun. Paula Fletcher told the newspaper she was hopeful the event could be resurrected and the decision could be reconsidered.

CityNews contacted Fletcher’s office and the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA for comment, but representatives weren’t available by the time of publication. This article will be updated if responses are received.

In 2022, BIA members cited streetscape challenges, issues adapting to CaféTO patio installations and bike lanes in their decision to suspend that year’s event.

They went on to say the decision was also made after uncertainty during the previous winter over potential COVID-19 public health-related measures would allow for the festival to go ahead.

In 2023, the event returned to Danforth Avenue after planning was delayed.

The organization reported past festivals have attracted up to 1.6 million people throughout the weekend it is held. The first event was held in 1994.

Taste of the Danforth cancelled despite attempt to save beloved Toronto festival

The Taste of the Danforth was cancelled for three years after the COVID-19 pandemic first began. It returned in 2023.

toronto.citynews.ca

 

[dvous11]

That's a damn shame.

 

[explorerzip]

It was good in the earlier days, but It became too big for its own good. People that live in that area hate it because of all the crowds, noise and road closures. You could also forget about finding a sit down table at any of the restaurants during that time. I'm sure it was tough on the restaurants too because their own stalls cannibalized in-store sales.

There are plenty of other food festivals around the city offering the same food, but at a much smaller scale. Or go to the CNE's food building for nearly the same experience.

 

[unassuming]

Just go to Mr. Greek, that’s where I get my Greek food.

 

[GameBoy27]

I have a feeling many of the BIA members who get nothing out of the event in the first place (as many aren't food/drink related) and have no interest in paying higher dues. They probably lose money that weekend to begin with. I listened to a restaurant owner who said the necessity to allow access for emergency vehicles, coupled with the CafeTO patios and bike lanes were also factors in cancelling it.

 

[escortsxxx]

It was good in the earlier days, but It became too big for its own good. People that live in that area hate it because of all the crowds, noise and road closures. You could also forget about finding a sit down table at any of the restaurants during that time. I'm sure it was tough on the restaurants too because their own stalls cannibalized in-store sales.

There are plenty of other food festivals around the city offering the same food, but at a much smaller scale. Or go to the CNE's food building for nearly the same experience.

Toronto because of it's sardine like nature can no longer Support festivals like this. The sooner that Toronto sterilizers all events And realizes that it's sole function is to house newcommers. Hong Kong is the model to follow. Work sleep work again. Everything else is racist.

 

[kyleb899]

it used to be good years ago , in the 2000's , it all overpriced food , very crowded , less free samples now lol

 

[explorerzip]

Toronto because of it's sardine like nature can no longer Support festivals like this. The sooner that Toronto sterilizers all events And realizes that it's sole function is to house newcommers. Hong Kong is the model to follow. Work sleep work again. Everything else is racist.

Toronto hardly has a sardine nature. I do think there is a place for street festivals / street food like Taste though. They just don't need to be the size of Danforth's that take up so many intersections and most of the vendors are nearly the same. Hong Kong used to have many street food vendors called Dai Pai Dong https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dai_pai_dong They've scaled them way back though and many of the remaining vendors are now in "cooked food centres" that are usually above fresh food markets. Toronto could do the same by putting most or all food vendors in the new St Lawrence North building.

 

[escortsxxx]

Toronto hardly has a sardine nature. I do think there is a place for street festivals / street food like Taste though. They just don't need to be the size of Danforth's that take up so many intersections and most of the vendors are nearly the same. Hong Kong used to have many street food vendors called Dai Pai Dong https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dai_pai_dong They've scaled them way back though and many of the remaining vendors are now in "cooked food centres" that are usually above fresh food markets. Toronto could do the same by putting most or all food vendors in the new St Lawrence North building.

When we have 30,000,000 people We will adapt.

 

[explorerzip]

When we have 30,000,000 people We will adapt.

HK is definitely a big city, but nowhere near 30M people. Also, the Kai Tak airport in your video was closed almost 30 years ago.

 

[wonderingeye]

The BIA is done subsidizing this event with their annual membership fees. Way too much coin being dropped for these restaurants not to participate.

It will be back with corporate sponsorship. RBC presents Taste of the Danforth.
Or, Taste of the Danforth brought to you by Tourism Ontario. Hey, let some beverage company step in and become the exclusive drink of the festival.

Yes it is crowded, better value and food on all other dates. But it is an event that a lot of people plan to attend. This food festival is huge. Way too big to fail.

Didn't give it a second thought... it will be back.

 

[richaceg]

You do know why. People stopped caring after the pandemic. Many businesses will never return.

This...most businesses never recovered from the lockdowns...add the housing crisis...i'm still positive it might be reinstate back sometime in the future...

 

[Ref]

They should hold it on pride weekend and couple both events together.

 

[explorerzip]

The BIA is done subsidizing this event with their annual membership fees. Way too much coin being dropped for these restaurants not to participate.

It will be back with corporate sponsorship. RBC presents Taste of the Danforth.
Or, Taste of the Danforth brought to you by Tourism Ontario. Hey, let some beverage company step in and become the exclusive drink of the festival.

Yes it is crowded, better value and food on all other dates. But it is an event that a lot of people plan to attend. This food festival is huge. Way too big to fail.

Didn't give it a second thought... it will be back.

It will be back, but I think it's going take time and needs a restructuring. Keep in mind too that corporate sponsorships are way down. Bell recenly pulled out of sponsoring TIFF because it's media business is suffering. The festival used to be sponsored by Krinos, which is an importer of Greek, and European foods. So they were the perfect sponsor.

 

[explorerzip]

Just go to Mr. Greek, that’s where I get my Greek food.

Most Greek places including in the food court are the same to me. There may be some small difference, but I can't tell.

 

[Fun For All]

It's all about the money...London's Home County Folk Festival cancelled after 49 years.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/home-county-music-and-art-festival-cancelled-for-2024-1.7001483

 

[escortsxxx]

When we have 30,000,000 people We will adapt.

True Hong Kong Is going to look like a Tiny city compared to Toronto. 5,000,000 more people coming We will beat Hong Kong soon

 

[Adam_hadam]

We renamed Taste of the Danforth to "Taste of the Greasy Pig" . Skating along the pork fat being sprayed from the souvlaki vendors and the smell was like going into the pig stables at the Royal Winter Fair. I guess the pea brain bia never occurred to find a sponsor. They could rename the event The Oakleaf Steambaths Taste of the Danforth.

 

[wigglee]

I enjoy that neighbourhood all year round, but the Taste is an overcrowded shitshow. The best streetfest is the Beaches Jazz on the Thursday night.

 

[escortsxxx]

HK is definitely a big city, but nowhere near 30M people. Also, the Kai Tak airport in your video was closed almost 30 years ago.

That's the point at 7,000,000 it's a hellhole for space rent or was when People wanted to live there. At present projections