The street becomes the stage on July 26 as the Beaches Intarnational Jazz Festival Streetfest takes over a section of Queen Street.

Queen Street East will shut down at 6 p.m. from Woodbine Avenue to Beech Avenue and over 50 bands set up on every corner.

Nearly all of the bands taking part in the event are local talent, including Dr Draw , The Paul James Band, Neil Chapman, Sultans of String and The Samba Squad.

Artistic Director Bill King programs the wide variety of music and told 680News he loves to see people walk down the music filled corridor

“It is so wide open and it’s about people coming, enjoying themselves and they stroll, they have a great time. They shop, they eat. It’s like I always say, not everybody can afford to leave the city and go to a cottage or go on an extended vacation. Come and have a great time and vacate here,” said King.

Producer Lido Chilelli puts on the event, which is free to the public, and makes an annual donation to Toronto East General Hospital.

Gary Grant with Toronto East General told 680News the funds are much appreciated

“Particularly now that we’re embarking on a major campaign to reinvent the hospital. It’s an aging structure and we’ve got a massive fundraising campaign going on and my hat’s off to Lido and his team at the Beaches Jazz Festival. Not only do they put on a great event that everyone in the Beaches community can appreciate, they put on an event that will eventually help the community in the long run,” said Grant.

Streetfest also runs Friday and Saturday night. Acts hiot the mainstage at kew gardens sat and sun afternoon