An annual event that has occupied the same space over the same two-week stretch for nearly all of its 136-year existence can get awfully stale after a while. Good thing, then, that the Canadian National Exhibition has been constantly evolving and freshening up since 1879. The 2015 edition is no exception.
The Ex kicks off on Friday night — yes, that means it’s the beginning to the end of summer — with a few new tricks up its sleeve. Sure, there’s a slew of old returning favourites, from classic rides to the Food Building to the CNE Casino to the signature Air Show. But for past Ex-goers, the questions in the lead-up to each year’s festivities are typically tied to what’s new at Exhibition Place.
You’ll likely hear plenty about the wacky food options debuting with much fanfare and curiosity, but less talked about are the new options for what to do when you aren’t stuffing your face with oddly intriguing concoctions. Whether you’re looking for exciting shows, a celebrity chef showcase, a craft beer extravaganza or Big Bang Theory-inspired art, the Ex has you covered.
RUSH Parkour Demonstrations
The free shows which are put on at various venues on the CNE grounds can serve as nice time killers and a welcome break from traipsing around in the sun, but don’t always offer thrills and excitement. The ice skating show can tend to be predictable and bland, while once is plenty for witnessing the Super Dogs showcase. Parkour demonstrations, however, represent something distinctly new to the CNE landscape, an outdoor show that could excite a wide variety of spectators while offering an element of unpredictability.
Celebrity Chef Stage
Celebrity cooking displays have been such a popular feature of recent Exhibitions that the CNE has doubled down on the concept this year. Hall A will bring what is practically a revolving door of famous culinary headliners for cooking demos this year, including Lynn Crawford (Restaurant Makeover), Michael Smith (Chopped Canada) and local standout Zane Caplansky.
Craft Beer Fest
Food Truck Frenzy, the hotbed area of food truck options located near the Princes’ Gates, is about to get a little more boozy. For the first time, 11 local brewers will showcase their homegrown products at the Craft Beer Festival. Local craft breweries like Sawdust City Brewery, Mill Street Brewery and Muskoka Brewery will be on hand to dole out samples while trucks like Gourmet Gringos and Bacon Nation sit tantalizingly nearby.
The Big Bang Art Exhibit
I bazinga you not – the stars of the long-running CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory are set to appear at the Ex in art form. An international roster of visual artists has combined to develop a 30-piece art collection based around all things Leonard, Penny, Sheldon, Raj and the rest of the ‘Big Bang’ crew. Each piece from this exhibit, which has already made its way through the US, Spain, France, Mexico, Italy and Russia, was created by a different artist inspired by the hit series.
