Every year, as the summer season starts to wrap up, hundreds of thousands of people descend upon Toronto to attend the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) as a sort of end-of-summer ritual before heading back to school or the office. Whether they’re there for the over-the-top carnival treats (like pepperoni pizza cookies or peanut butter chocolate corn dogs), carnival rides, or choreographed performances — the 18-day extravaganza promises an array of attractions as well as plenty of opportunities to take some perfect Insta snaps.
This year, the 145th annual CNE takes place from Aug. 16 to Sept. 2, 2024, from 10 am to midnight at Exhibition Place in Toronto (note that on Labour Day, Sept. 2, the grounds are open from 10 am to 9 pm, and the gates close at 5 pm). The midway (where you can experience all the rides and games) is open from 11 am to midnight on weekdays and 10 am to midnight on weekends. On Labour Day, the midway is open from 10 am to 9 pm.
Before you attend the CNE this year, here’s everything you need to know!
WHAT IS THE CNE?
The CNE (also known as the Canadian National Exhibition or the “Ex”) was founded in 1879 and has since become one of North America’s largest fairs as well as the largest community event in Canada. Each year, more than 1.5 million people visit the Ex for the midway rides, games, concerts, food, live music, exhibits, and more!
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2024 CNE
The midway will feature tons of games, food, and more than 60 rides. The SuperWheel (which attracts about 80,000 people a day) and iconic Sky Ride will likely be hot spots. North America’s tallest travelling Ferris wheel will also be back, soaring 150 feet high at its tallest point, offering panoramic views of the city!
The super popular waterskiing show, CNE Aquarama, will return this year on the West Channel of Lake Ontario from Aug. 16 to 18 and Aug. 23 to 25. Here, world-champion water skiers and top Canadian athletes will showcase their incredible flips, spins, flyboarding, and human pyramids at the waterfront.
Three-time world champion skater Elvis Stojko will perform an all-new aerial/acrobatic ice-skating show in “ACTION!” (Aug. 16 to Sept. 2 at Coca-Cola Coliseum). Wrestling icons will perform in Classic Championship Wrestling bouts (Aug. 16 to Sept. 2), so fans can get autographs from WWE Hall of Fame members like Jimmy “The Mouth of the South” Hart, Tito Santana, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and WWE Legend “The Mountie” Jacques Rougeau.
For gamers, FAN EXPO Canada isn’t the only place where pop culture geeks can unite! At the CNE Gaming Garage, gamers can experience the first-ever national CNE Master Clash ft TEKKEN 8 Tournament, with qualifiers on Aug. 24 and finals on Aug. 25. Families and young gamers can also enjoy interactive play in the new Byte-Sized Gaming Zone, watch the FIRST Robotics Competition, or even play retro arcade classics. The CNE Casino will also be a huge draw, featuring a variety of games like multi-action blackjack, roulette, WAR, Spanish 21, three-card poker, and OmahaPoker. Players can also participate in No Limit Hold’em poker, which will have a maximum prize pool of $320,000. Bonus: this year, the casino will operate for an additional two weeks (to Sept. 8).
Animal lovers can meet “Mr. T” at the CNE Farm at the Better Living Centre — no, not the retro TV personality, but the shaggy-haired three-year-old Highland cattle, known as “Mr. T”! The farm is also a great place to learn about where our food comes from, watch demonstrations on sheep shearing, and meet Ontario farmers.
For music lovers, some of the most influential music icons can be found on the Bell CNE Bandshell Stage! Toronto band Sloan with The Tragically Hip’s Paul Langlois will open on Aug. 16. Also look out for the Manchester Orchestra, Big Boi, Brittany Howard, and Big Wreck, as well as Down with Webster — a rap rock band from The Beaches area. Some awesome returning acts include Drag EXtravaganza with Tynomi Banks and Sapphira Cristál, Soca Night with stars from Trinidad and Tobago, Destra and Farmer Nappy with DJ Dr. Jay, and a Tribute to Bob Marley by Classic Albums Live, featuring Canadian reggae fav Jay Douglas.
The Ex isn’t complete without some aerial extravaganza! The 75th anniversary of the Canadian International Air Show (Aug. 31 to Sept. 2) will include the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, Royal Air Force Red Arrows, the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor, and Trevor Rafferty Pitts 12, with aircraft providing some mind-blowing aerobatics.
WHERE/WHAT TO EAT AT THE CNE IN 2024?
From the CNE Food Building to food trucks and outdoor concessions — there will be over 150 food vendors offering a variety of options from multiple backgrounds (just make sure to check out these 19 new food vendors coming to the CNE this year!)
Visit the Kitchen Stage to watch top celebrity chefs and some of Toronto’s most popular restaurateurs (including Fire Masters judge Andrea Nicholson, Food Network Canada’s Afrim Pristine, and chef Lindsay Greflund) put on daily demonstrations. The chefs will also share some of their fav recipes as well as kitchen and food hacks.
Make sure to stop by Ribfest at Bandshell Park to savour some of Toronto’s most delicious ribs. This year’s RibFest will feature an international theme, presenting flavours from the Philippines and Caribbean, as well as Asian-fusion, Halal ribs, and traditional smoked ribs!
On Aug. 17, more than 20 food trucks and craft breweries will take over Princes’ Blvd for the Food Truck Frenzy and Craft Beer Fest! Foodies can feast on delicious cuisines from across the globe in one afternoon, everything from Egyptian street food to butter chicken samosas and Caribbean roti. For dessert, munch on a BeaverTails pastry and wash it down with an ice-cold craft beer from one of the 10 local breweries.
HOW TO GET TO THE CNE
TTC: Direct service to the CNE is offered, stopping at the Dufferin Gate Loop (west end of CNE grounds) and Exhibition Loop (via the east end of the grounds). From Bathurst Subway Station, take the 511 Bathurst Streetcar south to the Exhibition Loop. From Broadview subway station, take the 504B King Streetcar to the Dufferin Gate Loop. From Dufferin Subway Station, take the 29 Dufferin Bus south to the Dufferin Gate Loop. From Union Station, take the 509 Harbourfront Streetcar to the Exhibition Loop. Click here to plan your TTC trip.
GO Transit: You can ride the GO directly to the CNE — just get off at the Exhibition GO Station! Click here to plan your GO trip.
Bike: Follow the Martin Goodman Trail along the waterfront to Lake Shore Boulevard and British Columbia Road (Dufferin Street). Parking for bikes is available outside the CNE’s Saskatchewan Gate (at the west end at Dufferin) and the Princes’ Gates (at the east end of the grounds at Strachan).
Drive: If you drive, accessible parking areas are available at the CNE, assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. For underground parking inside the Enercare Centre, Lot 850, enter the grounds from the east side via Strachan Avenue to Canada Boulevard. To access Lot 852 (at the south end of the grounds), enter the CNE grounds at Ontario Drive. A daily parking rate applies (fees are posted on-site each day).
WHEN TO GO TO THE CNE?
For quieter times, try visiting on a weekday morning (the crowds build as the day progresses). The CNE anticipates that the lightest traffic days, particularly during the mornings, will likely be on Mon. Aug. 22, Tue. Aug. 23, Mon. Aug.29, and Tue. Aug. 30.
If you prefer crowds, then the CNE is the busiest (and noisiest) on the final weekend of the fair (so this year, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2); this is especially due to the Canadian International Air Show practice day (which takes place on Friday) and weekend performances.
HOW MUCH IS THE CNE?
You can purchase tickets online or at the gates. When purchasing in person, they accept Visa, MasterCard, Debit, Visa Debit, and cash. Discounts for advanced passes are available online before Aug. 16 and all charges are in Canadian funds.
Advance Sale Admission Pass, all ages (includes grounds admission, and access to all shows/exhibits on any one day of the 2024 CNE): $22.12.
Advance Sale Ride All Day Pass, all ages (includes grounds admission, access to all shows and exhibits/unlimited midway rides on any one day of the 2024 CNE): $44.25
General Admission (ages 14-64): $26.55
65+ Admission: $22.12
Child Admission (ages 5-13): $22.12
Family Pass (2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children): $84.07
Children 4 and under: Free
After visiting the CNE, check out these top 5 fall fairs and horse shows near Toronto for an amusing road trip!