The 50th annual Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 5, 2017.
The parade will start at 8:30 a.m., and conclude at 9:30 p.m. According to the Festival Management Committee (FMC), a total of 11 large Mas Bands, six-to-eight guest bands, and six Steel Bands will depart from Exhibition Place from British Columbia Road, travel east along Lake Shore Boulevard West, and return into Exhibition Place at Newfoundland Road.
The bands will pass through the judging area, and then establish individual “Blockorama”-style concerts in various locations throughout Exhibition Place and along Lake Shore Boulevard West. The bands will continue to play music until 8:30 p.m. within Exhibition Place Grounds, and until 9:30 p.m. on Lake Shore Boulevard West.
Paid admission is required for access and viewing within the Exhibition Place Grounds. Viewing the parade from Lake Shore Boulevard West is free of charge.
Road closures
The festival will require numerous road closures and restrictions which will result in delays and congestion in the immediate area of the parade. Traffic conditions in the downtown area, Lake Shore Boulevard West, The Queensway, Queen's Quay West, and the Gardiner Expressway are expected to be very heavy.
Road closures within Exhibition Place Grounds and Lake Shore Boulevard West for this event take effect on Saturday, August 5, 2017, at 1:30 a.m., until Sunday, August 6, 2017 at approximately 6 a.m., including:
- westbound Lake Shore Boulevard West will be closed to traffic from Strachan Avenue to Parkside Drive
- westbound Lake Shore Boulevard West will be closed from Colborne Lodge to Strachan Avenue
- Dufferin Street, south of Springhurst Avenue
- vehicle access west of Bathurst Street on Fleet Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West may be closed after the parking lot at Exhibition Place and the Gore Lots are full. This closure will be determined by need
The following Gardiner Expressway ramps will be closed at 12:30 a.m., on Saturday, August 5, 2017:
- eastbound Gardiner Expressway exit to Jameson Avenue
- Jameson Avenue and British Columbia entrance ramps to eastbound Gardiner Expressway
- westbound Gardiner Expressway to Dunn Avenue exit ramp
The Gardiner Expressway is a restricted access highway which will be patrolled to ensure that vehicles are not parked adjacent to the parade route and pedestrians do not enter the highway area. Drivers who choose to stop or drive in a manner that puts other road-users at risk will be subject to strict enforcement.
Restricted access points
In order to assist the safe movement of traffic and to provide for as little disruption as possible to residents, the following streets will have a restricted access, for vehicles:
- Dufferin Street, south of King Street West,
- Dowling Avenue, south of King Street West,
- Stadium Road, south of Lake Shore Boulevard West
- Queen's Quay West, west of Bathurst Street,
- Springhurst Avenue, west of Jameson Avenue
- Springhurst Avenue, east of Jameson Avenue
Other streets, although not restricted to vehicles, will be strictly enforced for parking infractions. Those streets are bounded by King Street West., east of Colborne Lodge and west of Bathurst Street.
Towing policy
All vehicles, including tour buses, parked illegally on:
- Lake Shore Boulevard West. (including the grassed area)
- Bathurst Street
- Fleet Street
- King Street West
- Queen Street West
- Roncesvalles Avenue
- Dufferin Street
- The Queensway
- Gardiner Expressway
will be tagged and towed.
Vehicles parked illegally in the Parkdale Avenue and Stadium Road areas will be tagged and towed.
It is recommended those attending are aware of alternative routes to avoid delays.
The Toronto Transit Commission will provide additional service to and from the event.
TTC service to and from the east end of the event will be through the Manitoba Drive/Strachan Avenue area of Exhibition Place.
The TTC will stop at Strachan Avenue/Fleet Street to enable any passengers attending the parklands on the south side of Lake Shore Boulevard West to exit at this location.
It is recommended those attending use public transit.
Ontario Place parking access
Access to Ontario Place will be restricted to staff and service vehicles only, through Remembrance Drive at Lake Shore Boulevard West/Strachan Avenue. Vehicles exiting Ontario Place will do so at the same location.
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