TORONTO

Doug Ford predicts Ford Fest will be a “turning point” for Mayor Rob Ford’s re-election campaign — although the Fords still claim its not a political event.

After a week of controversy around whether Ford Fest should be allowed in a city park and more than 100 complaints to the city bureaucracy, the Fords will finally be serving up thousands of free burgers Friday night starting at 5 p.m. in Thomson Memorial Park.

Doug Ford maintained Thursday that they’ll be following the rules at the event — which will be under the watchful eye of three city bylaw officers and three parks employees — and avoiding politics.

“There is not going to be any politics being spoken,” Ford told the Toronto Sun. “The only thing we’re allowed to hand out is anything that says ‘Ford Fest’ or ‘Ford Nation’ on it. We can’t hand out anything that says, ‘Ford for Mayor’ — we don’t plan on doing that.

“Rob and I won’t be speaking about politics.”

But the mayor’s brother and campaign manager predicted the politics-free and booze-free Ford Fest will still have a political impact on the 2014 mayoral campaign.

“There are many turning points, this is one of the key turning points,” Ford said. “Other (poll) numbers are going to be coming out probably next week showing Rob has gained massive ground and (John) Tory’s lost ground and so has Olivia Chow.”

Last year’s event in Scarborough drew between 10,000 to 15,000 people, according to organizers.

Ford is expecting a similar “good turnout” this year for the barbecue complete with live music and a chance to meet the mayor. The Fords have purchased “thousands” of pre-cooked frozen burgers for the event along with veggie burgers for those who don’t eat beef.

“I think thousands will show up,” Ford said. “It is going to be packed. We’re getting phone calls, they are coming in fast and furious.

“It is going to be a rockin’ time, I can sense it.”

Ford maintains last year’s event in Thomson Park pushed the provincial Liberals into supporting the Scarborough subway.

“I’ll stand by this till I push up the tulips, there is one reason Scarborough got subways, our friend showed up (then-Transportation Minister Glen Murray), nice guy and he saw over 10,000 people chanting subways,” Ford said. “They all of a sudden, literally within that week, changed their mind.”

City spokesman Jackie DeSouza said city staff at Ford Fest will be watching for any infractions to city bylaws and the park permit conditions.

“It could be things like littering, it could be drinking alcohol in the park when there is no permit, it could be distributing campaign literature,” DeSouza said.

The parks staff will be working overtime but the Fords, who requested the park permit, will be on the hook for that bill.

DeSouza confirmed the city has received more than 100 complaints about Ford Fest — that’s on top of the more than 100 complaints Ombudsman Fiona Crean has received.

Councillor Paula Fletcher said Thursday that the city should reconsider granting Ford Fest a permit.

Fletcher said she was fine with Ford having his fest until he fired off a robocall invitation to the event that asked people to indicate whether they “support” the mayor and briefly posted an ad for the party on his campaign website.

“He didn’t start off breaking the rules but he quickly got there,” Fletcher said Thursday. “Ford Fest is fine now you’ve created something different.”