What to know
- Taste of Little Italy is taking over College Street from June 12 to 14 with food vendors, live entertainment, carnival attractions and patio experiences.
- This year’s festival will also feature World Cup watch parties at participating restaurants, bars and cafes throughout the neighbourhood.
- College Street will be closed between Shaw and Bathurst streets from June 12 to June 15, with drivers advised to expect delays and TTC service changes.
- Visitors can access the festival via the 506 Carlton streetcar and nearby Line 1 subway stations, including College and Queen’s Park.
- Friday is expected to bring sunny, hot weather, while Saturday and Sunday carry a risk of thunderstorms that attendees should keep in mind when planning their visit.
Toronto’s first World Cup match is happening today, but the tournament is not the only event taking place this weekend, as the beloved Taste of Little Italy returns to the city.
Street festivals are the mark of Toronto’s summers, and the Taste of Little Italy is one of the city’s biggest warm-day events.
The event is taking over a portion of College Street from June 12–14, bringing delicious eats, an electric atmosphere and soccer watch parties, and Now Toronto has gathered all what attendees need to know about the festival.
What to expect
Every year, the Taste of Little Italy transforms a portion of downtown Toronto into an energetic celebration that is free to attend.
The festival is filled with incredible bites provided by local businesses and dozens of food vendors that will take over the street, including flavours for every taste, from authentic Italian dishes to global bites from across the city.
Attendees can also enjoy non-stop entertainment, from carnival rides to extended patients to several live performances from local artists.
In addition to the usual celebration, with FIFA taking over the city this summer, soccer will also be a part of the festival. Several restaurants, cafes and patios across Little Italy will be hosting World Cup watch parties, so fans can enjoy the energy of the festival without missing the matches.
The game screenings will also be extended beyond the festival, with watch parties happening all tournament long in Little Italy. For more information on the matches being screened, attendees can head to the festival’s website.
Time and location
The Taste of Little Italy will run from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. on June 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on June 13, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on June 14.
As hinted by its name, the Taste of Little Italy takes place in the Little Italy neighbourhood, which is along College Street between Shaw and Bathurst streets.
Road closures
Drivers should note that for the duration of the event, beginning at 10 a.m. on June 12 until 3 a.m. on June 15, College Street will be closed between Shaw and Bathurst streets to accommodate the event. All side streets in the area will also be temporarily two way during the event, regardless of signage.
Toronto Police Service advises drivers to expect delays and consider other methods of transportation in the area.
The TTC will also not be operating along that stretch of College Street for the duration of the festival.
How to get there
To access the festival, commuters can take the 506 Carlton streetcar route, which will be stopping before Bathurst and College, right where the festival starts.
Those connecting from the subway can take the streetcar at Line 1’s Queen’s Park Station or College Station.
Weather forecast
Despite earlier forecasts indicating a chance of rain for Friday, the Environment Canada now forecasts sunny conditions for the day, with a high of 28ºC and low of 17ºC. Attendees should also prepare the sunscreen as a UV index of 9 is expected.
Things might be different on Saturday, which is expected to start with a mix of sun and cloud, but a risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon, with west wind gusts of up to 50 km/h, and a high of 29ºC and a low of 20ºC.
Thunderstorms are also expected to continue on Sunday, followed by cloudy periods at night, with a high of 21ªC and a low of 11ºC.
However, the festival is expected to happen rain or shine.
