Regrettably, the Taste of the Danforth, an annual Toronto street festival celebrating Greek culture since 1994, has been cancelled for 2024. The GreekTown on the Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA) voted against a nearly 20% increase in member levies necessary to secure festival funding, citing a shortfall in 2023. Councillor Paula Fletcher expressed disappointment in the decision and hopes the board with reconsider. She intends to seek city support for the festival’s return in 2024. The three-day event typically held in August, faced cancellations from 2020 – 2022 due to challenges with the City of Toronto’s CaféTO program and extended bike lanes.
The 2023 edition encountered difficulties, including late planning, fundraising struggles, and sponsorship shortages. Concerns were raised at the BIA’s annual general meeting about the festival potentially losing ties to the Greek neighbourhood, offering limited benefits to non-restaurant businesses, and potential lower turnout due to the cost-of-living crisis. Consequently, BIA members rejected the levy increase, resulting in a budget without funding for the Taste of the Danforth in 2024.
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