Fringe Festival Lane Closure Permit

The purpose of the proposed closure is to facilitate a festival hub and will include food and drink service, artisan vendors, and the festival box office. The Toronto Fringe Festival is the most accessible arts event in the city, presenting 77 theatrical shows at 16 venues across the city from July 3-14, 2024. Fringe has premiered some of Canada's most successful productions including Kim's Convenience, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, 'Da Kink In My Hair, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Mump and Smoot. All Fringe Festivals in Canada are mandated to choose their participants by lottery and return 100% of the box office revenues to the artist in the festival, which has seen a return of over $6.5 million over the past three decades to artists from across the country. It is one of the longest-running City-supported events and has received municipal endorsement each year for over a decade. Municipal Code Chapter 937-3 authorizes the General Manager of Transportation Services to temporarily close to vehicular traffic any portion of a road for a period of not more than four consecutive days for social, recreational, community, athletic or cinematographic purposes. This proposed closure will be in effect for more than 4 days and, therefore, requires Community Council approval. There will be no amplified noise outdoors after 11:00 p.m. The Toronto Fringe was granted the same street event closure permit in both July 2022 and July 2023, and received no noise or other complaints.