Canadian National Exhibition: 'The Ex' a staple summer event
The Canadian National Exhibition, more commonly known as “The Ex” has been a staple summer event in Toronto for years. Now celebrating its 132nd year, the CNE is Canada’s largest annual community event taking place in the last two weeks of August. Reminiscent of old school fairs, against the modern city views of Toronto, the CNE marks the end of summer with a variety of activities for both young and old.
Attracting more than 1 million visitors each year, the CNE offers entertainment, events, midway rides, games, a farm, parades, sports, international food and shopping, kids’ world, and a three-day air show. Taking place at Exhibition Place on Toronto’s beautiful lakefront, the 18-day fair is spread across 192 acres of land. The CNE is now the fifth largest fair in North America.
This year’s attractions include stunt and stage shows, aerial acrobatics and ice skating show, a Splash Zone, celebrity demonstrations from top chefs, designers, and decorators, live entertainment and concerts, parades, the Canadian International Air Show, movies under the stars, horse show, interactive farm, a casino, a garden show and various exhibits, just to name a few.
The CNE also includes the annual Midway complete with some 50 rides, a ton of shopping and a great food building with more 100 vendors offering a variety of foods from around the world.
No fair would be complete without typical fair food-corn dogs, fries, ice cream waffles and the famous Tiny Tom donuts are just some of the few fair favorites available at outdoor concessions throughout the CNE. Take part in the fun that is the CNE this summer from August 20 to Sept. 6, 2010.
HelloToronto Tip: The CNE offers Express Trains, a free shuttle service that transports visitors around the grounds. There are six stops throughout the grounds and the train leaves every 20 minutes.
Posted by Rosanna Bonura
