Festivals expected to snarl city traffic

Toronto motorists are going to have to be patient again this weekend as a number of street festivals and thousands of screaming music fans are expected tie up roads across the city.

In the downtown core Saturday, The North by Northeast music festival will take over Yonge Street between Dundas Street and Queen Street from 6 p.m. until midnight.

While, the Taste of Little Italy will close College Street from Bathurst Street to Shaw Street until Monday morning.

And Luminato is hosting 1,000 tastes of Toronto. The food festival will shut down John Street between Adelaide Street and Wellington Street all weekend.

In the city's west end, the fusion of Taste Festival featuring South Asian food will shut down Albion Road until 11 p.m. The closure runs from Islington Avenue to Thistletown Boulevard.

Meanwhile, in Scarborough, The Highland Creek Heritage Festival closes Old Kingston Road to Watson Road and a parade will close Centennial Road until just after noon.

On Sunday, thousands of music fans will flock to Queen Street West as the Much Music Video Awards are broadcast live.

Roads in the block will be closed for the night starting at 4 p.m.

Road closures have become a source of irritation for motorists trying to navigate the streets and have been a hot topic for politicians.

Last year, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford suggested moving a number of events, including marathons and other road races, off main streets to minimize traffic disruptions.