Toronto Magazine - Premier 2008 - (Page 33) CROWD surfers Is it the performance that makes this city’s festivals, sports and events so engaging, or the energy of the million or so people standing next to you? Photos by Sam Javanrouh and Doug Brown ‘FC fans are best in the league, the best I’ve ever been in front of. It’s something special.’ — Toronto FC defender Marvell Wynne Sigmund Freud’s crowd behaviour theory is that people in large groups act differently towards each other than those who are thinking individually. In many cases, the minds of the individuals in the group will merge to form a unified way of thinking. Each member’s enthusiasm is increased and, as a result, everyone becomes more uninhibited. The New York Times recently named Toronto as the next Los Angeles for culture and festivals, and the millions of visitors who crowd the streets on dozens of occasions throughout the year are a big reason why. Caribana, Nuit Blanche, the Santa Claus Parade, Pride Week, LuminaTO and Toronto Fashion Week — these events are part of what brings 20 million visitors to the city each year. But it’s that Freudian nature of the crowd that brings people back. www.torontotourism.com/inspiration/festivalshome toronto | 2008 33 http://www.torontotourism.com/inspiration/festivalshome
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