PILAROS TASTE OF THE DANFORTH - POWERED BY THE IMMORTALS
DISCOVER A GREAT TASTE
TORONTO'S FAVOURITE FESTIVAL OFFERS FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Toronto's favourite street festival has a whole new way to celebrate the fun flavours of Greece and summer in the city. Every year in August, the city of Toronto flocks to GreekTown on the Danforth. Celebrating its 18th year, the Pilaros Taste of the Danforth is Canada's largest street festival, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors.
This year's festival begins on Friday, August 5th at 6:00pm and runs through to Sunday, August 7th at 8:00pm.
A Decima Research poll indicated that 90% of respondents identified "The Taste" as their favourite GTA festival event -- beating out such iconic events as the Toronto International Film Festival, Caribana and Pride Week. The Pilaros Taste of the Danforth won two Toronto Sun Reader's Choice Awards: a Gold for Favourite Community Festival and a Silver for Favourite Summer Festival.
The GTA lays claim to more than 200,000 residents of Greek ancestry, the third largest Hellenic community outside of Greece, and between August 5th and 7th, 2011, everyone who comes to the Danforth gets to be "Greek for the day". But there is much more than the celebration of the Danforth's Greek heritage at the festival. Here is a "taste" of what to expect ...
There are a number of exhibitors offering contests, prizes and free samples and, of course, dozens and dozens of tasty food stations from Danforth’s amazing array of multi-ethnic restaurants.
Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to win an incredible Trip for Two to Glorious Greece, courtesy of Transat Holidays.
About the Taste of the Danforth
The Taste of the Danforth was founded 17 years ago in 1994 by the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA. The first festival featured 23 restaurateurs and an eclectic mix of tastes from tasting tables. Approximately 5,000 people attended in the inaugural year. In its second year, attendance had grown to 100,000 and by 1996 the festival had become so large that the Danforth had to be officially closed down to accommodate its over 500,000 visitors. Today approximately 1.3 million attendees flock to the Danforth -- from Broadview to Jones Avenue (approximately 3 kilometres) -- to enjoy food, entertainment and culture, providing them with a 'taste' of what the Danforth area has to offer year-round.
The festival is supported by Ontario Tourism ... Ontario, Yours To Discover, as well as the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.
The festival's title sponsor is Pilaros International Trading Inc. Pilaros is a leading importer of Mediterranean food products, primarily olives and olive oil, what the ancient Greeks refer to as "the Essence of Life".
The festival is produced and presented by the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA, representing all the restaurateurs and merchants. The festival is organized by the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA Board and a volunteer committee led by Constantine Voidonicolas, who devote their private time to make the festival happen. Without their outstanding efforts, the festival simply could not take place.
In 2010 the festival commissioned an Economic Impact Study which revealed that the Taste of the Danforth makes a significant impact on the local economy, generating $32 million in economic activity. Event-related spending alone supports the equivalent of 158 full-year jobs. The festival also generated approximately $4 million in tax revenue.
A "Taste" of What to Expect
This year's Pilaros Taste Of The Danforth has loads of fun, family-friendly activities to engage and entertain Torontonians.
THE CELEBRITY STAGE
- Second City: Join Second City for hilarious, interactive comedy
- Stage West: A tribute to Elvis and Elton John
- Toronto Symphony: Enjoy the Toronto Symphony’s stellar brass quintet's lively performance
- A Taste of Beauty: Smashbox Cosmetics Celebrity Makeovers
- Frank D'Angelo with his 15-piece R&B band energizes The Taste of the Danforth
- National Band of the Naval Reserve
- Levon Ichkhanian & Global Village (Contemporary Jazz Music)
- Galaxy (Greek Music)
- Jorge Miguel (Spanish Music)
- CopperTones
- Patrizia (Classical with Rock fusion)
- Arkadia (Greek music)
- Yiannis Kapoulas (Greek music)
- Suzie Vinnick
- Dr. Draw
- Ruben Vazquez and friends (Cuban Music)
- Opa Dancers of London
... and many more great performers. Check www.tasteofthedanforth.com for updates and announcements.
THE BROADVIEW WORLD STAGE
Featuring an eclectic array of music and lifestyle-related programs and performances, including:
- Artists in Motion
- Broken Strings Blues Band
- Daniel Panetta
- Exodus
- Free Nia Class
- Hannan's Bellydance Studio Demo
- Imbayakunas
- Joy of Dance Centre
- Julian Taylor Band
- Moo'd Swing
- Rap artist Shaq
- Rock'n Blues Butcher Band
- Seb Agnello
- Small Wonders Dog Show
- Souls of Steel Orchestra
- Taste After Dark: Toronto's top dancers heat up the night: from So You Think You Can Dance Canada contestants, Tango Soul and Salsa Spectacle to Urbanesque, Male dancers and Bellydancing
- Yoga Sanctuary Demo
THE IMMORTALS GREEK STAGE
Featuring traditional Greek dancers, singers and musicians, including an opportunity for the audience to learn Greek dancing. Some of the performers include:
- Arabesque Dance Company - bellydancing
- Arkadia - music
- Danforth Six
- The Immortals Battle - swordfighting
- The Immortals War Dance
THE SPORTS ZONE
Including challenges created by Toronto's professional sports teams. Lots of chances for people to test their skills and win prizes:
- Toronto Argonauts
- Toronto FC
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Rock
- Toronto Raptors
THE KIDS' FUN ZONE
Offering fun activities including:
-
Centre of Gravity Circus Training Studios "You Can Try It" Circus
-
Toronto Zoo - experience the amazing 'Touch Table' and meet Explorer the Bear
-
East York Mirror's Kids' Activity Centre
-
Free Owlkids Magazines
THE "IMMORTALS" ZONE
Become an Immortal in a souvenir photo - "Immortals" in theatres 11-11-11
"ONE DAY" PHOTO SOUVENIR ZONE
Experience "One Day" in a souvenir photo
"DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK"
Experience our haunted house
"SPY KIDS 4" CHALLENGE
Do you have what it takes to become a spy?
GREAT CONTESTS, PRIZES AND FREE SAMPLES FROM A HOST OF EXHIBITORS INCLUDING
BEER GARDEN
There will be a Moosehead Beer Garden to help keep our thirsty patrons refreshed.
OPPORTUNITY TO WIN AN AMAZING TRIP TO GREECE
Opportunity to win an Aegean Splendour Trip For Two to Glorious Greece, courtesy of Transat Holidays.
Don't forget to stop at a Toronto.com information booth to pick up your festival brochure containing the event schedule and map. It has a secret code that you will need in order to enter the contest.
FOOD, FOOD AND MORE FOOD!
And, of course, dozens and dozens of tasty food stations from Danforth's amazing array of multi-ethnic cuisine.
The PILAROS TASTE OF THE DANFORTH is a proud supporter of the Toronto East General Hospital. The Taste Of The Danforth is close to achieving its goal of raising $2 million in support of its community hospital, Toronto East General.
The festival is supported by Ontario Tourism ... Ontario, Yours To Discover, as well as the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.
The Pilaros Taste Of The Danforth - Powered by the Immortals - is presented by the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA, in cooperation with the Danforth BIA.
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