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TORONTO -- A late summer tradition will be returning to the streets of the Gem City in just a few weeks.
The 48th annual Toronto Art Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 5 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 6, according to Julie Ault of Focus in Toronto, which puts on the event.
Vendors of all types are still being accepted for the weekend, she said.
While the wide variety of arts and crafts and the large selection of food are important components of the festival, entertainment also plays a big role. There will be an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. Sept. 5, which will include a presentation by Mayor John Parker and the Little Miss Lion competition. That will be followed at 11:30 a.m. by a performance by the Toronto High School band. The Titan cheerleaders, as well as the Toronto High School and middle school cheerleaders, will perform at noon.
The band parents will be operating their food booth throughout the festival, Ault said.
There will be hourly drawings in which attendees will be able to win prizes donated by the more than 60 vendors expected to be on hand, Ault said. A 50-50 drawing also will be held, as will a drawing for a prize that will allow the winner to select either $500 in cash or a $500 gas card.
T-shirts from previous editions of the festival will be available for purchase at discounted prices. There will be no T-shirt made in connection with this year’s festival, Ault said, adding that the next shirt produced will come two years from now and will commemorate the festival’s 50th year.
The remainder of the schedule for Sept. 5 includes the Mad River Men at 12:30 p.m., the poetry contest at 2 p.m., Owl Eyes at 2:45 p.m. and 90 Proof at 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 6’s schedule will include Shawn Villamagna at 11:30 a.m., Bucket List at 12:45 p.m., the Brasset Hounds at 2:15 p.m. and the Ron Retzer Trio at 3:30 p.m.
For information, visit Focus in Toronto’s website.