Celebrate Yonge festival kicks off, closing downtown lanes
Posted August 17, 2012 1:28 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Patio lovers have reason to celebrate now that two lanes of downtown Yonge Street have been blocked off for the month-long Celebrate Yonge festival.
The event, which has closed one lane of Yonge in each direction between Queen and Gerrard streets, kicked off Friday. Patios, planters and Muskoka chairs have taken up those north and southbound lanes.
Local councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam said the six-alarm fire that gutted a heritage building at Yonge and Gould streets on Jan. 3, 2011 started a conversation with urban planners, architects and others on how to beautify the downtown stretch of the iconic street.
“It’s all about creating a brand new experience and celebrating the street,” Wong-Tam said.
“There are a lot of things for people to do.”
Bars on the strip will be licensed to serve alcohol on the temporary street patios.
Landscapers will compete in the Livegreen planter box contest on Aug. 23. Breakfast Television’s Frank Ferragine is one of the judges.
The Yonge Street festival coincides with other major events in Toronto, including the Canadian National Exhibition, the Toronto International Film Festival and Brazilian Day Canada. It wraps up Sept. 16.
