Does anyone else associate the return of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) with back-to-school season?

Summer may be ending, but the highly anticipated carnival is making its grand return from Aug. 16 to Sept. 2, just steps away from Exhibition GO station. This year’s CNE is bringing you even greater attractions, musical performances by Grammy nominated artists and even wackier food!

Thrilling attractions

The 2024 Exhibition will offer some new and exciting entertainment while also bringing back some fan favourite games and shows.

CNE’s Gaming Garage is returning for another year of all things gaming and innovation! Visitors have the opportunity to compete in live Esports competitions with over $25,000 in cash prizes to be won across three tournaments.

Get ready to bring your best dance moves to the CNE with the carnival’s Silent Disco held at the new Beach Bar Stage. From Top 40 hits to Taylor Swift and Soca, you can groove from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. all week long from Aug. 20 to Aug 27.

Also new for 2024 is the EX Games which is a thrilling sports half-pipe show featuring top athletes in skateboarding, BMX and in-line skating. Skateboarder and recent Paris Olympics athlete, Andy MacDonald will be travelling directly to Toronto, following his Olympic faceoff, to perform and headline at the CNE! With three shows daily, guests will be amazed with these performances.

Award-winning performances

To close out the summer music festival season, you’ll find some incredible headlining performances at the Ex. Visitors can look forward to seeing some big names in music from the 90’s and 2000’s including renowned guitarist Paul Langlois from The Tragically Hip, and Big Boi, a member of the iconic group Outkast.

Attendees will also be happy to learn that the exhibition’s Drag EXtravaganza will be making a come-back this year with an even more fierce and hilarious spectacular with Tynomi Banks.

Extravagant food and new vendors

The CNE is known for its wacky food concoctions and classic carnival eats, and this year’s menu lives up to the well anticipated hype.

Craig’s Cookies is bringing a unique twist to their delectable treats with the introduction of pepperoni pizza and poutine flavoured cookies exclusive to the 2024 Exhibition. CNE guests can dip these one of a kind baked goods in a marinara or gravy sauce depending on the cookie they select.

It’s not the CNE without something deep fried and this year’s featured menu certainly promises that. Visitors can enjoy a Footlong Deep Fried Mozzarella Stick, Deep Fried Butter Chicken Lasagna, Deep Fried Pickle Oreos, Kool-Aid Fried Chicken Sandwich and a Deep Fried Birria Taco Bomb.

There are many new food vendors this year, too. From award winning tacos from Los Vietnamita to sweet and spicy mochi funnel cakes from O-Mochi you will be sure to find the right bite!

Here some of the new food vendors for CNE 2024:

• Lucky Chicken - House of Funky Tenders
• Farm Fresh Roasted Corn
• Egg Club
• The Super Noodle Company
• Bombay Spice Street
• Amazing Sichuan Cuisine
• O-Mochi
• Tamarind Modern Indian Bistro
• Halo/Chilaquiles Mexican Street Food
• Greekery Bakeshop
• Los Vietnamita
• Tut’s Egyptian Street Food
• RJ’s Roadhouse
• Fry-R Food Truck
• Randy's Halal Ribs
• What A Jerk
• Slow Jam
• DK Concessions
• BBQ Boyzz
• And more!

GOing to the CNE

The best way to get to ‘The Ex’ is by taking the GO Train, and with promotions like GO’s  Weekday Group Passes and Online Weekend Passes, it’s also the most economical way to get there. Metrolinx is 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 Burlington GO to provide you with more options to get to the CNE. 

PRESTO cardholders can also save big with up to 44 per cent on CNE advance sale of Ride All Day tickets and 27% on Admission until Aug. 15 with PRESTO Perks. You can still save after Aug. 16, just not as much. Click here to buy your passes and visit prestocard.ca/perks for full details.

To learn more about increased service and discounted tickets check out our recent article and GO Train schedules.

We look forward to taking you to taking to the CNE!