The weekend of August 8-10 is another busy summer weekend in Toronto. Here are some of the events to look forward to.
The signature festival of the weekend, and one of the most popular events of the entire summer in the city, is Taste of the Danforth. Running from the evening of Friday, August 8th to the evening of Sunday, August 10th and name-sponsored by Greek foods company Krinos, the largest of Toronto’s many summer street festivals closes down Danforth Avenue from Broadview to Jones for a celebration of the neighbourhood’s food and culture. As the Danforth is home to Greektown, there’s a particular focus on Greek food, music, and culture, with local restaurants offering delicious street food and performers on multiple stages and along the street entertaining the million-plus visitors that come down for the free festival each year. There are also contests, prizes, a midway with rides for the kids, and appearances by representatives of all of Toronto’s major sports teams. All told, it’s an exciting event not to be missed, one of the most vibrant of the city’s summer celebrations.
If the Danforth crowds are a bit too much for you, there are alternative events across the city. The Steam Whistle Brewery in Roundhouse Park at the base of the CN Tower plays host to the Roundhouse Craft Beer Fest on August 9th and 10th, featuring many of the Greater Toronto Area’s best craft-brewed alcoholic beverages and snacks from the city’s top food trucks. The TO Food Fest is held at the Chinese Cultural Centre at Sheppard Avenue East and Malvern Street on August 10th, featuring a multicultural variety of food vendors offering international fare. Centennial Park in Etobicoke is the venue for another food festival, JerkFest. Taking place August 9th and 10th, JerkFest displays the variety and flavour of Jerk cuisine.
For those more into athletic endeavours than foodie adventures, the Rogers Cup professional men’s tennis tournament wraps up this weekend as well, with the final on Sunday afternoon at the Rexall Centre at York University.
These are just some of the exciting events around Toronto this weekend. Save some energy for next weekend, however; the Canadian National Exhibition (a.k.a “The Ex”) begins next Friday, August 15th.