Panorama India’s “India Day Festival” is just one alternative to the wildly popular “Pilaro’s Taste of the Danforth” in Toronto on Saturday August 11, 2012.

I found several alternatives; some are actually free to attend, although you are likely to eat economically.

But can any or all the alternatives together beat out Toronto’s largest “Taste of the street” festival in 2012?

"Shish Kebab" image by jatalone (Hajime NAKANO)

What is “Panorama India”?

Panorama India, founded in 1999, is a “non-profit umbrella organization with a goal to help unite all Indo-Canadian cultural associations and groups in the GTA”.

What is the “India Day Festival”?

Panorama India celebrates a variety of India’s cultural traditions during its annual India Day Festival.

When and Where is the 2012 India Day Festival in Toronto?

Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square is the venue for the 2012 India Day Festival. The program starts at 10:30 on Sat. Aug. 11, 2012.

Naturally, the subway is the only civilized way to arrive downtown for anything, including this East Indian festival in Toronto.

The India Day Parade is scheduled to begin there at 12:30. Sidewalk performers, along with cultural, dance and music presentations, will continue until 8pm.

Kathak Dance one day after the 2012 India Day Festival

As a bonus, a Kathak Dance presentation occurs on Aug. 10 at 7:30 in the SVBF Auditorium at 80 Brydon Drive in Etobicoke. This event requires tickets, so check the official web site for prices and contact details on this follow-up to India Day Festival 2012.

Another Alternative: the 2012 Toronto Queer Arts and Culture Festival

The annual Toronto Queer Arts and Culture Festival 2012 runs from Aug. 10-18; their official site has details under the “Events 2012″ tab in the top menu bar.

Another Arts Alternative: Planet IndigenUS at Harbourfront

Running from Aug. 10-19, with some free events, “Planet IndigenUS” presents indigenous arts and culture. I can’t believe I didn’t write about this already, but the official site speaks for itself.

The Harbourfront Centre is on Queen’s Quay at Lower Simcoe Street. It’s a bit of a walk from Union Station, but the 509 Harbourfront Streetcar normally connects from Union Station. If, as rumour has it, these streetcars have been replaced by bus service, I expect that the same connection will work. The TTC still has a weekend schedule for this route.

The Danforth and Danforth Alternative is “Wheels on the Danforth 2012″

Only on Aug. 11, 2012, the “Wheels on the Danforth and Fun in the Park” festival returns for its third year. Classic and antique cars will clog the closed section at Danforth Road and Danforth Avenue. This is a free event, including children’s activities in Oakridge Park.

See the official “Wheels on the Danforth” for details about the events from 11am-5pm.

Although it celebrates cars, they advise that the nearest TTC subway station is at Victoria Park.

Pilaro’s Taste of the Danforth 2012

The “Wheels” event brought this article to Danforth Avenue. You might find me and over a million of my very closest friends enjoying the “street food” between Jones and Broadview Avenues at the 2012 Taste of the Danforth. By “street food”, of course I mean high-quality Greek, East Asian, South Asian, English pub, and Greek restaurants’ offerings available by strolling down the street.

Yes, they do ask you to pay for your meals, so they can send a donation to the Toronto East General Hospital’s new paediatric clinic.

For 2012, an umbrella might be handy as you take in the entertainment.

The 2012 Taste of the Danforth in Toronto runs from Fri. Aug. 10 at 6pm to midnight, Sat. noon to midnight, and Sun. from noon to 8pm.

With Toronto’s Danforth Avenue closed to cars, just take the subway to any station from Broadview through Jones. My preference is to start from Broadview, stroll east to Jones, then turn about-face and begin eating on the westbound leg of my trek.

Looking for More Annual Toronto Events?

I have a Squidoo lens that tracks all the annual Toronto events that I find interesting. Use “The DeHaan Lens of Annual Toronto Events” to plan your other weekends.

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article.

Thanks for reading about this East Indian festival in Toronto for 2012; Queer Arts; Planet IndigenUS; and the long-running Taste of the Danforth annual events in Toronto this summer.