Toronto

Taste of the Danforth brings road closures, increased police presence

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People walk on Danforth Avenue in the during the 24th annual Taste of the Danforth street festival on August 11-, 2017. (Photo by Anatoliy Cherkasov/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Portions of Danforth Avenue will be closed this weekend as the Taste of the Danforth street festival returns following a two-year hiatus.

Road closures will begin Thursday, with Logan Avenue closed from Garnock Avenue to Lane North Danforth West Logan, as well as Antonios Mavrakakis Lane, until 4 a.m. Monday.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, Danforth Avenue will be closed to all vehicular traffic between Broadview and Jones avenues. The closures will remain in effect until 4 a.m. Monday.

Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Pape Avenue will be closed from Lipton Avenue to Hazelwood Avenue until 4 a.m. Monday.

Those heading to the festival are being recommended to consider taking transit or alternate modes of travel as opposed to driving.

Police say they expect up to 1.6 million people to attend the weekend-long festival. There will be an increased police presence as well, they said.

The festival is returning after a two-year hiatus due to several factors, including budget shortfalls.

In June, the provincial government announced it would provide $200,000 in support, matched by the City of Toronto.

On Wednesday, The federal government confirmed it will provide $100,000 in funding to support the festival as well.