Mohmamed Eldakhakhni pours onions onto a grill during last year's Taste of Lawrence Festival. The 2014 Taste of Lawrence Festival begins on the evening of Friday, July 4, and continues on Saturday and Sunday. - Staff file photo/ADAM DIETRICH
Mohmamed Eldakhakhni pours onions onto a grill during last year's Taste of Lawrence Festival. The 2014 Taste of Lawrence Festival begins on the evening of Friday, July 4, and continues on Saturday and Sunday. - Staff file photo/ADAM DIETRICH
Scarborough’s largest street festival promises to be bigger than ever.
Taste of of Lawrence 2014 is expecting over 100,000 people to attend from July 4 to 6.
Lawrence Avenue East, between Warden Ave. and Birchmount Rd., will be filled with colours, tastes and sounds from ever cultural community across the Greater Toronto Area.
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The festival begins on Friday evening with retro night. The night’s main entertainment will feature tribute bands for Tina Turner, Donna Summer and The Supremes.
Saturday is a marathon of entertainment. During the day, the family stage will be featuring an interactive show from Treehouse TV’s Octonauts.
The main stage will also be host to local talent, featuring a live performance at 9:30 p.m. from Juno award-winning Canadian rock band Lighthouse.
World’s Finest Shows is the festival’s new midway company. The company boasts state-of-the-art rides and games for the whole family.
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World Cup fever is not lost on this festival as it will also be holding a number of soccer-related activities hosted by FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and Toronto FC. Activities include a skills competition site an a three-on-three inflatable soccer ring.
Festival goers will also be able to catch up on the live World Cup games with television screens set up throughout the weekend.
Sunday will close out the festivities with many ecclectic performances. Cultural performers will include the Sultans of Sting, famous for their unique cultural fusion of sounds.
"It’s very fulfilling to see so many people from all walks of life," said Bruce Scavuzzo, event manager from Sphere Entertainment. "It’s tangible evidence of making a difference in the community."
Now celebrating its 11th year, the festival was first celebrated in 2004 as the brain child of Ward 37 Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson and partners from local businessmen — Tony Kiriakou, Aryaz Kara and Keysar Nasr.
"When I was first looking for something we can celebrate as a community, I wanted the festival to develop a sense of understanding not only of food, but of culture," said Thompson. "We feel quite proud to see how it has grown."
For a full schedule and festival map, visit the official website at tasteoflawrence.com.
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