The annual Corso Italia Fiesta held this past weekend culminated Sunday with Italy's World Cup victory and the biggest street party ever in the festival's nine-year history.

"It was outstanding," said Lido Chilelli, co-producer and founder of the fiesta that runs along St. Clair Avenue West every year on the same July weekend.

The crowd turnout was high for both Friday and Saturday with local residents, young and old, coming out to enjoy the live music and visit the many sidewalk vendors.

But it was on Sunday that thousands of Italian fans across Toronto converged on St. Clair to watch Italy face off against France in the World Cup final.

Festival organizers had been anticipating a huge crowd and a massive celebration afterward that would continue long into the night.

"By all accounts, it was over the top," said Chilelli, estimating that half a million people took in the festivities over the weekend. "We let the world know St. Clair is alive and well."

People were cheering, dancing and waving their green, red and white flags as they flooded the streets. Cars were at a standstill. St. Clair Avenue was shut down from Caledonia Road to Oakwood Avenue.

Connie Lamanna, chair of the Corso Italia Business Improvement Area, had a hoarse voice Monday due in no small part to all the partying done the night before.

"It has all to do with it," she said, laughing.

Many of the businesses did extremely well, Lamanna noted, especially the restaurants and bars that served "wall to wall people" and tried to keep up with the demand.

She recalled the last time it was this hectic on St. Clair was probably in 1982 when Italy last won the World Cup. The celebrations then would be hard to beat, Lamanna thought.

"But it happened and then some."

Staff Sgt. Scott Gilbert of 13 Division said police were anticipating an Italy win and called in reinforcements from other divisions, deploying about 80 officers to help patrol the area.

There were no major incidents, but 11 arrests were made on various charges, he reported, including public intoxication and breach of peace. A few fights also broke out Sunday.

Even with minor complaints that there weren't enough washroom facilities to accommodate everyone, the weekend event seemed to have gone rather smoothly.

"Considering the number of people down there, it went well," Gilbert said