Greek festival returns to its roots

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It's that time of year again, when people from across Toronto have the chance to be Greek for a weekend.

The 15th annual Taste of the Danforth festival kicks off Friday, Aug. 8, at 6 p.m. and runs all weekend on Danforth Avenue between Broadview and Jones avenues. This year the always popular event is returning to its roots with an emphasis on all things Greek.

"They year we're going back to a very Greek program," said Christine Dais, spokesperson for the festival.

That programming includes bringing in internationally acclaimed Greek musicians Zig Zag and Greece's only master of wine to host tastings and seminars. The three stages will feature musical and dance performance Friday evening, all day Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday to share the Greek culture with those in attendance.

"It's a fun way for non-Greeks to be Greek for a weekend," Dais said.

There is something for everyone with interactive games for children in the sports zone, a beer and wine garden, cooking demonstrations, and product samples and prizes. One lucky attendee will win a trip to Greece.

In 1994, GreekTown (the Business Improvement Area along the stretch) started the festival to showcase the best in Hellenic cuisine and culture. Since that time the three-day event has grown from attracting 5,000 people in its first year to now hosting more than one million visitors.

To accommodate all those people enjoying entertainment and Greek specialties such as souvlaki and spanakopita from vendors, the Danforth will be closed to traffic from 11 a.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

With crowds swelling in recent years, the pedestrian traffic along Danforth Avenue can be quite heavy, but Dais said they have worked to clear the street to make it easier to walk along the Danforth this year by moving the booths to the side.

With people attending from the GTA and beyond every year to experience the cultural event and fun, Dais has a hunch about why people keep returning.

"For the Taste it has to be the food and the Greek hospitality that keeps everybody coming back," she said.

And, she said, after they get a taste of the culture, they want more.

"There are a lot of people booking their trips to Greece after because they get a little taste," Dais said.

The Taste of the Danforth runs Friday, Aug. 8 from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.