Taste of the Danforth’s future could be in jeopardy due to ‘logistical’ issues

With festivals coming back to Toronto after two years gone, many have been salivating and looking forward to the return of the Taste of the Danforth, but carrying out the 2022 version may be easier said than done.

Former city councillor and current executive director of GreekTown on the Danforth BIA, Mary Fragedakis, says that the City’s CaféTO program and its many bike lanes are causing big problems for Taste of the Danforth’s would-be triumphant return this summer.

A spokesperson for GreekTown on the Danforth BIA confirms that its members have been communicating with the City for five months regarding “logistical issues” surrounding the festival.

“The permanent installation of CaféTO and the bike lane infrastructure has created challenges to staging the festival as we have in previous years,” they said.

“The City requires the middle two lanes of the road for emergency vehicle access. With the CaféTO and bike lane installations occupying the remaining two lanes, it is very difficult to stage any type of amusement rides, stages, sponsors, entertainment, etc. We rely on sponsorships and activations to pay for the festival.”

As a result, City of Toronto officials are being asked to remove the concrete barriers installed to accommodate bike lanes and protect CaféTO patios — something city spokesperson Brad Ross says is next to impossible.

“They’re new and are permanent infrastructure,” Ross told CityNews. “They weren’t there in 2019 when the last Taste of the Danforth occurred, and the pandemic necessitated a lot of change, many of which were to businesses like restaurants and bars on the Danforth with CaféTO.”

Ross acknowledges that the footprint is smaller on the Danforth due to the bike lanes and CaféTO space.

“We do believe that we can work with them to find a solution so that they can run their event.”

Ross says the City is offering an event design coordinator to work with the Greektown BIA to develop some new configurations.

“In the end, it’s their event, but the city is working with them very closely to find a solution that will meet their needs and allow the infrastructure to remain in place.”

A representative for GreekTown on the Danforth BIA said its volunteers have “continually asked the City to remove the CaféTO curb lane patios and bike lane infrastructure for three days” in an effort to host Taste of the Danforth.

“The City has been clear that this will not be considered under any circumstances and wants a reimagined Taste of the Danforth without allowing the use of the entire street,” the spokesperson said.

“The entire street is needed for a street festival the magnitude of Taste and to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance.”

Taste of the Danforth is tentatively set to take place from August 5 to August 7 on the Danforth from Broadview to Donlands.

Mayor Tory ‘hopeful’ for Taste of the Danforth’s comeback

Don Peat, Mayor John Tory’s Executive Director of Communications, says he’s been encouraging everyone to work together to ensure the Taste of the Danforth returns, similar to a bevy of other in-person events on Toronto streets this year.

“Every weekend this spring and summer, including this weekend, there will be events on countless city streets — many streets with cafes and bike lanes,” said Peat.

City of Toronto spokesperson Brad Ross says the City is offering an event design coordinator to work with the Greektown BIA to develop some new configurations. Photo: Taste of the Danforth.

Peat says members representing the Mayor attended a meeting last week with organizers and city staff where “progress was made.”

“City staff reached out to the BIA again this week to reiterate we will support an event planner to help the BIA develop a plan that will allow the patios to keep operating non-stop along with Taste of the Danforth,” Peat added.

“The Mayor fully supports the work underway to support the festival and the BIA to make sure Taste of the Danforth is back. Just this afternoon, the Mayor had an urgent meeting with City staff to make sure, once again, that the City is doing everything it can to support this festival.”

Toronto-Danforth councillor, Paula Fletcher, echoes that sentiment.

“I am deeply committed to the Taste of the Danforth going ahead in August,” Fletcher said. “CaféTO has been a lifeline to local restaurants — there are over 30 patios in GreekTown alone — and the Taste of the Danforth will help them even more.”

Taste of the Danforth first began in 1994 when the GreekTown BIA wanted to find unique ways to entice people to come to the Danforth. The festival typically welcomes around 1.6 million people over three days.