UMVA has learned that a popular Toronto festival, intended to kick off summer in the city, was marred by unruly behavior and petty crime over the weekend, leaving attendees and residents shaken.
The Do West Fest street festival, which drew a larger-than-expected crowd on Saturday night, descended into chaos with fights and numerous reports of petty crimes, prompting Toronto Police to begin shutting down the event at around 10 p.m.
The Toronto Police Service received 66 calls about the festival, with 41 related to theft under $5,000 and 36 specifically regarding stolen cellphones, highlighting the scale of the disorder and the impact on attendees.
Seven arrests were made in connection with the festival, including five for alleged assaults, as authorities struggled to maintain order and ensure public safety.
The incidents have sparked a review of the festival's planning and execution, with Toronto City Councillor Alejandra Bravo vowing to support festival organizers in operating safe and successful events, and reaching out to the Do West Fest organizers to discuss ways to improve future events.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the festival, which is built by and for the members of the Little Portugal Toronto BIA, features music, art, food, and vendors over three days in the heart of Little Portugal, and is an important community event.
The City of Toronto is also reviewing the incident, with city staff working with Do West Fest organizers to develop mitigation strategies to prevent similar incidents in the future, and to support public safety efforts at other street festivals.
Toronto Police said they worked closely with organizers to review safety plans and staffing levels, but the larger-than-expected crowd posed significant challenges, and they will be reviewing their actions and reactions to improve performance in future duties.
Residents in the Little Portugal area have expressed concerns about overcrowding and capacity, particularly in the eastern portion of the festival, and Bravo has pledged to address these concerns and work towards finding solutions.
The Do West Fest organizers have released a statement, saying they continually review their operations and security measures to identify opportunities for improvement, and are already evaluating this year's event and discussing adjustments for 2027.
