TORONTO, CANADA – The Taste of the Danforth is an annual tradition among Toronto’s Greeks. Approximately 1.6 million people gather for three days in August along Danforth Avenue in the city’s GreekTown section of food, music, and breaking world’s records. To the latter event, records shattered in years past included the World’s largest Zorba dance group, the world’s largest yogurt bowl, and other such Greek-related feats.

These records are not merely speculative: the Danforth events were measured against previous records (the Zorba dance in Volos, the yogurt bowl in South Africa).

Contest winners win prizes such as a trip to Greece, and the proceeds from the contest entry fees go to charity. As the Festival sponsor, the Danforth Business Improvement Association (BIA) states, “the Festival combines exquisite food, culture and music with extraordinary philanthropy to   benefit the local community. What most people don’t realize is that the profits from the Festival are donated back to the community by the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA.

Over the years, GreekTown has donated more than $2 million to Toronto East General Hospital. In 2012, GreekTown committed to a further $500,000 to enhance pediatric care. This year, GreekTown made a commitment to a joint hospital project between Sick Kids and a children’s hospital in Greece – Agia Sofia.”

The main sponsor is Krinos Foods, whose home base is in New York, but which has operations in other North American cities, including Toronto.

One record The Taste has held for years is being the largest street festival in Canada, easily drawing over 1.5 million per year, when 22 years ago it began with about 5000 people.

On its Facebook page, the Taste gave “a huge thank you to everyone who made it another great success! A special thank you to Krinos Foods Canada, the Greektown on the Danforth BIA President of the Board Constantine Voidonicolas, our sponsors, business members and volunteers who make the festival possible year after year! A special shout out also goes to Toronto Police Service for ensuring the festival’s safety year in and year out!

But most of all, thank you to all of you – the visitors – who make all of the work and effort all worthwhile. Until next year!”