After last weekend’s mess that was Do West, which left some Torontonians seething over packed crowds and rowdy teens invading their space, another major west-end street festival is about to take over the streets of Toronto. Taste of Little Italy returns from Friday, June 12, to Sunday, June 14, transforming College Street into a massive party with food, live music, extended patios, carnival rides and FIFA soccer watch parties.
Best of all, it’s free admission, which could be a good or a bad thing, depending on how well you handle the crowds. Here’s how to enjoy Taste of Little Italy without repeating the worst parts of Do West Fest.
1. Know the road closures before you go
You might want to skip the car for this festival. College St will be closed to traffic from Bathurst St. to Shaw St. starting Friday, June 12, at 10 a.m. until Monday, June 15, at 3 a.m. There will be a “Friendly Tow” service beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, so if your car is moved, it’ll be relocated nearby at no charge. Several side streets in the area will also temporarily become two-way streets and won’t have access to College Street, so just do yourself a favour and take the TTC, hop in an Uber/Lyft, bike or get some extra steps in by walking to the festival route.
2. How to get to Taste of Little Italy
Your best bet is transit, just keep in mind that the 506 streetcar route won’t operate on College St during the festival. Take the subway to Bathurst, Christie or Ossington and walk south or southeast into the festival area, depending on where you want to enter. Bathurst Station is the most straightforward option for the east end of the closure, while Ossington Station works better if you’re coming from the west. The festival area will be super packed once College fills up, so if you’re meeting up with friends, pick a specific corner or landmark before you arrive.
3. What time to go (hint: earlier than you’d think)
Head over earlier than peak evening hours, especially if your main goal is to eat or to hit up a patio. The festival runs Friday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. If it’s anything like Do West, Saturday night will likely be one of the busiest times, with music acts, soccer programming and late-night festival hours all overlapping! Sunday afternoon might be the best option for families or anyone who just wants a bit of breathing room. Friday afternoon is also a good time, since you’ll likely beat the after-work and evening crowds.
4. Have a ‘crowd plan’ before you get there
College will be packed, so choose a backup meeting spot on a nearby side street in case your group gets separated or you need a quick exit plan. If the street starts getting a little too crowded, don’t push deeper into the festival; move to the edge of the route and take a break on a quieter side street (this is where your crowd plan comes in handy). And don’t just stop in the middle of the crowd to check your phone or decide where to eat next; it’ll completely disrupt the natural flow of traffic, and your actions could very well end up being raved about at length on a local Reddit thread. Step off to the side when possible.
5. Protect your phone
Distraction theft is a huge concern at major festivals (again, Do West), so protect your phone. Keep your cell tucked in a front pocket or even an old-school fanny pack worn in front of your body. Keep a death grip on your cell when texting out in the open. And yes, there will be tons of people, and you’ll likely meet new BFFs, but stay aware of your belongings while dancing or squeezing through busy areas.
6. Who (and what) to see
You’ll have a much better time if you don’t try to fight through crowds to see everything, so maybe just pick one or two things you care about the most to experience.Taste of Little Italy has programming spread across several stages, including the Shaw Main Stage, Montrose Stage, Clinton Stage and Euclid Stage, with tons of food vendors, patios, music and cooking demos throughout the weekend.
Highlights this year include Magnet FC’s freestyle soccer demos, Chef Luciano Schipano’s cooking demo on Saturday, DJ dance parties, and performances from Malia Love, Carmen Spada, Kalascima and more. There are also soccer watch parties around Cafe Diplomatico, with match-day programming tied to games including Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, Brazil vs. Morocco on Saturday and Netherlands vs. Japan on Sunday.
You can see the full schedule here.
7. Leave before the late-night rush
Friday and Saturday both run until 1 a.m., so the end of the night will likely get super crowded as people leave patios and watch parties around the same time. If possible, just leave before the final rush. You’ll have a better chance of getting on the subway, and you won’t have to deal with Uber surge pricing.
