It’s not too early to start planning your trip to the 2024 Canadian National Exhibition.

The summer won’t be complete without a visit to Canada’s largest annual fair. 

Whether it’s the rides, the games, or the food building, people tend to have a favourite thing about ‘The Ex’ – but one thing everyone can agree on is a good deal. 

PRESTO discounts for CNE 2024

There’s where your PRESTO card comes into play. 

PRESTO cardholders can save up to 44 per cent on CNE advance sale admission and ride tickets until Aug. 15 with PRESTO Perks. Click here to buy your passes and visit prestocard.ca/perks for full details. 

There are two options for discounted advance sale tickets: 

• Single admission which includes grounds admission, and access to all shows and exhibits on any one day of the 2024 CNE for $22
• Ride all day pass which includes admission, shows, exhibitions plus unlimited midway rides for any one day of the 2024 CNE for $45

Grab your tickets early. After Aug. 16, PRESTO cardholders can save up to 37 per cent on event admission and ride tickets.

Let’s GO to The Ex

The Canadian National Exhibition runs from August 16 to September 2, 2024, at Exhibition Place in Toronto. It’s been an end-of-summer tradition since 1879. 

And the best way to get to ‘The Ex’ is by taking the GO Train. 

Exhibition GO is just steps from Exhibition Place and with the weekday group and weekend unlimited passes, it’s also to the most economical way to get there. 

Plus, with Ontario’s One Fare Program, riders only pay once when travelling between TTC and GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay and York Region Transit. And as always, kids 12 and under ride free on all GO Trains and GO Buses. 

We’re also increasing train service along Lakeshore West and East to help you GO to the EX. On the Lakeshore West Line, we’re adding fourteen new weekday trains between Union Station and Burlingto GO to provide you with more options to get to the CNE.  

New eastbound trains:

• 4:44 p.m. Oakville GO to Union Station.
• 5:14 p.m. Oakville GO to Union Station.
• 5:45 p.m. Oakville GO to Union Station.
• 6:15 p.m. Oakville GO to Union Station.
• 6:45 p.m. Oakville GO to Union Station.
• 9:51 p.m. Exhibition GO to Union Station.
• 10:21 p.m. Exhibition GO to Union Station.

New westbound trains:

• 8:32 p.m. Union Station to Oakville GO.
• 9:02 p.m. Union Station to Oakville GO.
• 9:34 p.m. Union Station to Burlington GO.
• 10:02 p.m. Union Station to Burlington GO.
• 10:34 p.m. Union Station to Burlington GO.
• 11:02 p.m. Union Station to Burlington GO.
• 11:32 p.m. Union Station to Burlington GO.

Please note that some departure times will be adjusted to help maintain consistent schedules during busy periods, and some trains that normally run express will be adjusted to make a special stop at Exhibition GO.

On the Lakeshore East Line, we are adding three weekday trains to provide you with more options to get you to the CNE.

• New westbound train will depart Durham College Oshawa GO at 5:25 p.m., arriving at Union Station at 6:27 p.m. You can then connect with the Lakeshore West train departing Union Station at 6:55 p.m., arriving at Exhibition GO at 7:03 p.m.
• New eastbound trains departing Union Station at 10:05 p.m. and 10:35 p.m., making all stops to Durham College Oshawa GO.

If you will be travelling on Lakeshore West or East between Aug. 16 – Sept. 2, please plan ahead. Check GO Train schedules, look out for any GO service updates and you can even sign up for real-time service updates from GO Transit. 

Originally published: August 2023 

Last updated: July 2024