Home

Contact

The Past

The Future

In The News

Press Releases

Links

Top 10

Guestbook

Wall of Shame



Parkdale festival looks to raise money and awareness

The Villager, Lisa Rainford, Aug. 19, 2005

Raising money and awareness of area youth centres in the goal of next weekend's first annual Parkdale Festival.
"The hope for this festival is to put these organizations together to create a database for youth," said Festival Innovator Bryen Dunn.

There is a need for awareness of available service organizations within the Parkdale area, to help kids find employment, a place to live (temporarily or permanently) or finding their next meal, Dunn said. Festival organizers hope to generate awareness through a fun interactive community-based event.

Dunn would like to see the creation of a database of services accessible to youth.

The festival, which takes place from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Masaryk-Cowan Park at Queen Street and Cowan on Aug. 27, will be a day of music and art. It is a family-friendly event with an "interactive art zone," where festival-goers can contribute to a mural.

At the end of the day, the art will be offered to various community organizations.

Throughout the day there will be a rotation of DJs at the "DJ station," spinning an array of musical genres; a variety of performances; face painting; a wading pool a marketplace of local artisans and vendors and a community information fair with displays from different youth organizations.

The festival is a free event that will take place rain or shine. If it does rain, the festival will be moved indoors to the Masaryk-Cowan Centre. Funds will be raised through donations and raffles with proceeds going directly to benefit services for youth.

back to top

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST BET - PARKDALE FESTIVAL

Eye Magazine, Kate Lacey, August 25, 2005

You’re still stuffed with souvlaki from Taste of the Danforth. Hell, you’re still shaking glitter out of your ears from Pride, but no matter — it’s time for another community party. Parkdale, the lakeside neighbourhood where gentry meets grunge, is having its first annual festival to raise money and awareness for various Parkdale youth services. Local vendors will sell arts and crafts (bowls from Inspirations Studios pictured) while community-information tables offer the lowdown on available programs. You can also test your hand at street art at the Interactive Art Zone, where the public is invited to add to murals-in-progress. The finished products will then be displayed at different organizations through the community. There will be a new spinner every hour at the DJ Station, as well as 15-minute performance pieces in between. Rain or shine, head to Masaryk-Cowan Park at Queen and Cowan. The event is free but proceeds from donations and raffle tickets go toward supporting kids looking for jobs, homes and meals.

Sat, Aug 27, 2-8pm. Queen and Cowan.

back to top

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

T.O. Music Notes- Upcoming, the Parkdale Festival, August 27, Masaryk-Cowan Park

Sometimes when you're young and need help, you know that community services must be out there somewhere but you don't know how to find them or whether they have anything to offer you. In Parkdale, they're remedying this predicament through the first annual Parkdale Festival .

Meant to raise awareness about youth services in the Parkdale neighbourhood, the fest brings together music, including rockabilly guy Ian Fitzgerald and dance rock project KQuattro , street art, kids' activities, vendors and more, with donations and raffle proceeds to be distributed among area organizations for youth. Most importantly, there will be a community information fair where local organizations can get the word out about their services. All activities are free.

Promoters hope the festival will lead to the creation of a database of area youth services so that a meal, a place to sleep or help getting a job won't be so hard to find.

The Parkdale Festival happens Saturday (August 27) from 2 to 8 pm in Masaryk-Cowan Park at the corner of Queen and Cowan. In case of rain, all activities move to the Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre gym (220 Cowan).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FESTIVAL RAISE MONEY FOR PARKDALE YOUTH

24 Hours Toronto - Jennifer Bill, August 26, 2005

Lend your ears and eyes to a music and art festival to raise awareness and funds for Parkdale youth services. The first annual Parkdale Festival takes place on Saturday from 2-8 p.m. at Mazaryk-Cowan Park, at Queen and Cowan. There will be heaps of community information and vendor tables for local artists to display their works. Interested performers and volunteers can contact info@themarsbar.com.

Performance Schedule

Community and Marketplace Partners

Contact Festival Innovator

back to top

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------