AFROFEST, FREEDOM FEST THROWN A LIFELINE

The show might go on after all for Afrofest and Toronto Freedom
Festival, annual events set to draw a combined 80,000 revellers to
Queen's Park North until the city refused the organizers event permits
for 2011.

Toronto's parks department had cited the physical toll on the park and
numerous past violations of permit conditions, making the cancellation
of Afrofest in July and the Freedom Festival in May almost certain.

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, whose ward includes the park just north
of the legislature, told the Star earlier this week she would meet
with festival organizers and city staff to find other possible venues.

But Wong-Tam said Friday the meetings instead produced the option of
the 23-year-old Afrofest and 5-year-old Freedom Festival submitting
revised applications for downsized festivals at Queen's Park north --
with the understanding both will move starting next year.

"Both have three stages and many vendors -- Afrofest has 115 -- and so
we've told them if they reduce that, if they can scale back this year,
we'll take another look at the applications," said Wong-Tam.

"That's the compromise -- another year of soil compaction, knowing
there will be renovations in the park in 2012 so festivals will have
to go elsewhere and the grass and the trees will get a breather."

Afrofest, set for July 9 and 10 with an expected 50,000 people
enjoying live music, may get one or more roads around Queen's Park
closed, giving patrons an alternative to the grass, Wong-Tam said.

Toronto police are not willing to do that for the Freedom Festival,
which sees up to 30,000 people gather after the Global Marijuana
March, because of the use of illegal substances, she added.

Michael Stohr, president of Afrofest, said he's working to come up
with a new plan and the possibility of using street space means
revelers might not notice the change.

"We're not really looking at a smaller festival," he said. "We're
looking at setting up in a way that minimizes the effects on the park,
and we're grateful for the opportunity."

Freedom Festival organizer Gabe Simms said he's "cautiously
optimistic" both events will happen in the park.