Canadian National Exhibition Blog

Whoosh, what the heck was that? Then I remember that the final CNE weekend means the Air Show is in town. The Ex must’ve ordered up picture perfect weather for these last few days. Not a cloud in the sky means excellent views of the exotic winged hardware up in the sky. I hear and feel a high powered military jet roar by. Then, seconds later I spot it buzzing the Toronto skyline. A sight like this is enough to get anyone’s heart pounding.

Needless to say we’re all feeling the pinch of higher gas prices and that applies even more so to jet fuel. With many smaller airshows disappearing, it is reassuring to know that the CNE one is proceeding full speed ahead. The crowds both in transit on the way down and then at the fairgrounds themselves tells me that the Ex knows a good thing when it sees it. This attraction literally tops them all. With an intoxicating combination of speed and daring, all the elements are in place for a truly unique experience.

Once that wraps up I feel incredibly patriotic and decide that it is time to check out the Canadian Forces display. With men and women on active duty around the world, it is important for us to show them our support and encouragement. The machines they have available in their area are truly formidable. We climb aboard APVs, planes, and much more. The souvenir freebies that they distribute are also a welcome touch and I soon lose track of all the silicon wrist bracelets I spot people sporting around the fair.

Hard to believe that this is the last weekend already. However, if anything can make the end of summer easier to deal with it is a visit down to the CNE. The rides, attractions, and most importantly, people make it the place to be for a few precious weeks in late August.

Precision timing, crowd-pleasing performances, and unbelievable skills. These are just some of the elements that characterize unique CNE shows that are not to be missed. The seats in the Ricoh Coliseum were almost all full. We were there to catch the legendary RCMP Musical Ride. With 32 riders wearing the traditional RCMP red uniforms this act is truly magic to behold. Each rider is paired with a lovely black horse and together they make a formidable duo. We learn that the Musical Ride is just one of many opportunities available within the RCMP across Canada. In fact, just a handful of the riders this time are from Ontario so the group makes up a perfect cross section of our country’s demographics.

Enough about the specifics and onto the show. The ride starts in dramatic fashion and I tend to agree with the announcer who suggests that the best seats are actually the ones highest up. From that vantage point you get a true sense of the complexity of their various maneuvers all set to music. Check out the “Cloverleaf” and you’ll feel what rush hour traffic looks like on our busy highways. However, instead of chaos, the RCMP version is like a beautiful equine ballet.

Continuing the horse theme, we come back to Ricoh for the CNE Rodeo. This is the first appearance for the attraction here in 25 years so the crowd is amped. The majority, including myself, have never seen live rodeo so we’re in for a real treat. The cowboys, and girls, demonstrate amazing control over their steeds during roping competitions. This is the real deal too because prize money is on the line and losers get nothing but our applause.

Both of these shows are phenomenal and demonstrate a healthy respect for the Fair’s roots while still pointing the way to its potential future. You owe it to yourself to check them out.

‘Twas a beautiful, cool summer night for a walk so I organized a small group to take in the history and architecture of the CNE. Appropriately enough for an agriculturally-based fair, we began with the Horse Palace, and although the horses were out on patrol that evening, the building still had plenty of “horsey” atmosphere (i.e. manure smell). Dating back to 1931, it is a beautiful old building that served as a focal point of the fair for many years.

From there it was on to sneak a peek at Ricoh Coliseum. It’ll host the world famous RCMP Musical Ride starting this final weekend. Next was the Direct Energy Centre. There we saw some prize winning plants and flowers. We also checked out a lovely and enormous “Quilt of Belonging” that is comprised of panels representing various native groups from around the world.

Soon we ambled over to a nearby stage to watch some young, talented dancers performing traditional Ukrainian routines. We were tempted, but resisted, the lure of chamois, amazing car waxes, and much more. A quick stop at the gorgeous Automotive Building (currently under renovation) then off to admire the Princes’ Gates.

From there it was on to the Better Living Centre, new home of the farm. We got to touch piggies, see giant ostriches, and marvel (or drool) over enormous butter sculptures.

Night was fast approaching, now so we zipped by the Shriner fountain, Scadding cabin which is the oldest building in Toronto, and the giant windmill – the first in a major urban centre in North America. A few of us ended the evening with the culinary delights of the Food Building including a delicious corn dog for me.

Sure the CNE signifies that summer is almost over but what a great way to commemorate the changing of the seasons. It offers architectural wonders, cool junk food, and a unique sense of timelessness and frivolity that you can’t help but love.

Precision timing, crowd-pleasing performances, and unbelievable skills.  These are just some of the elements that characterize unique shows that are not to be missed.  The seats in the Ricoh Coliseum were almost full.  We were there to catch the legendary RCMP Musical Ride.  With 32 riders wearing the traditional RCMP red uniforms, this act is truly magic to behold.  Each rider is paired with a lovely black horse and together they make a formidable duo.  We learn that the Musical Ride is just one of many opportunities available within the RCMP across Canada.  In fact, just a handful of the riders this time are from Ontario so the group makes up a perfect cross section of our country’s demographics.

Enough about the specifics and onto the show.  The ride starts in dramatic fashion and I tend to agree with the announcer who suggests that the best seats are actually the ones highest up.  From that vantage point you get a true sense of the complexity of their various maneuvres all set to music.  Check out the “Cloverleaf” and you’ll feel what rush hour traffic looks like on our busy highways.  However, instead of chaos, the RCMP version is like a beautiful equine ballet.

Continuing the horse theme, we come back to Ricoh for the CNE Rodeo.  This is the first appearance for the attraction here in 25 years so the crowd is amped.  The majority, including myself, have never seen live rodeo so we’re in for a real treat.  The cowboys, and girls, demonstrate amazing control over their seeds during roping competitions.  This is the real deal too because prize money is on the line and losers get nothing but our applause.

Both of these shows are phenomenal and demonstrate a healthy respect for the Fair’s roots while still pointing the way to its potential future.  You owe it to yourself to check them out.

I’ve never explored the CNE as thoroughly as I did this year.  Now I’m coming away with some tips I’ll be drawing on every summer from now on.  If you’re not a CNE expert, you may find them useful as well:

1. Take Transit
   Of course there’s the environmental concern.  But when I looked at the parking lots on the busy days, it made me especially glad we’d taken the TTC.
2. Use the Online Schedules
   Handy for making sure you get there on the right days and in time for the special shows you really want to see!
3. Take Water, Buy Food
   Having a bottle of water is indispensible, but if you’re going to be at the CNE you’re really missing out if you don’t indulge in what the Food Building and the midway have to offer.
4. For Quiet Places to Rest…
   Try a curb on the periphery, the lawn inside the kids’ zone or for an extended break head south to the Rose Garden.  We plan on going and visiting the Rose Garden again in the early summer next year, to properly admire the blooms, pool and statue.
5. Go Early, Go Often
   Obviously the Labour Day Weekend is the big blowout for the Ex and the energy, crowds and special events are well-worth a visit.  But also going much earlier in the run — the first weekend or especially on a weekday — gives you a great chance to check everything out with fewer lines and at a leisurely pace.  Two very different but equally worthwhile versions of the CNE!

‘Twas a beautiful, cool summer night for a walk so I organized a small group to take in the history and architecture of the CNE.  Appropriately enough for an agriculturally-based fair, we began with the Horse Palace and, although the horses were out on patrol that evening, the building still had plenty of “horsey” atmosphere (i.e. manure smell).  Dating back to 1931, it is a beautiful old building that served as a focal point of the fair for many years.

From there it was on to a sneak peek at Ricoh Coliseum.  It will host the world famous RCMP Musical Ride starting this final weekend.  Next was the Direct Energy Centre.  There we saw some prize-winning plants and flowers.  We also checked out a lovely and enormous “Quilt of Belonging” that is comprised of panels representing various native groups from around the world.

Soon we ambled over to a nearby stage to watch some young, talented dancers performing traditional Ukrainian routines.  We were tempted, but resisted, the lure of chamois, amazing car waxes, and much more.  A quick stop at the gorgeous Automotive Building (currently under renovation) then off to admire the Princes’ Gates.

From there it was on to the Better Living Centre, new home of the farm.  We got to touch piggies, see giant ostriches, and marvel (or drool) over enormous butter sculptures.

Night was fast approaching now, so we zipped by the Shriner fountain, Scadding cabin which is the oldest building in Toronto, and the giant windmill — the first in a major urban centre in North America.  A few of us ended the evening with the culinary delights of the Food Building, including a delicious corn dog for me.

Sure the CNE signifies that summer is almost over, but what a great way to commemorate the changing of the seasons.  It offers architectural wonders, cool junk food, and a unique sense of timelessness and frivolity that you can’t help but love.

Waiting for the streetcar at Queen and Roncesvalles on a Labour Day weekend afternoon, I and about two dozen other people looked suddenly skyward as a jet blasted across the intersection on its way north, presumably heading back to Pearson.  It came from the lake flying low in the sky, and I have a feeling that whoever was at those controls knew there’d be people lined up on the bridge over the Gardiner and on the lawn of St. Joseph’s Health Centre and was making sure they got a good show too.  The ad hoc audience wasn’t disappointed, including those of us who just happened to be standing on the right corner at the right time.

When the CNE comes to town, some parts of it seem to permeate throughout the city.  Get anywhere near the grounds and you’re liable to be amused by the sight of someone laden with giant stuffed animals won on the midway.  Keep your eyes peeled, and you may notice the colourful splash of the mardi gras beads thrown during the daily parade brightening someone’s otherwise normal day, just like I saw on the wrist of a TTC driver.

Even long after the Ex is done it remains a shared experience by many Torontonians.  You may find yourself comparing notes with friends who went on a different day than you and at first be astonished to learn they missed your favourite show.  But then it’s just as likely you’ll find out you missed something equally fantastic.

And then the only thing to do is promise yourself that next year, you’re going twice.

On our last day at the Ex we decided to visit the Kids’ World area we had so far avoided because we didn’t have any kids.  Going in was a whim, and we expected to just have a quick look around.  But as we got close to Ken and Jen’s Petting Zoo, that expectation went out the window.

I think it was the pair of goat heads straining through the fence that really got us.  My boyfriend and I are both animal lovers so it isn’t hard for big brown eyes to entice us, but I was worried we’d be in the way.  It turned out that although there were tons of families within the wood fences, there were even more animals vying for attention.

As soon as we got inside a billy goat who looked particularly gruff immediately leaned up against my leg and received a good ear scratch for his trouble.  My boyfriend meanwhile was being flanked by two tiny and adorable pigs.

We took our time visiting with those animals, plus the other goats, sheep and the llama who were milling about looking for attention — and food!  Then I got out my camera and we peered in at King the Yak and the other animals in the outer pens.

All in all, I think we spent about forty-five minutes of our quick walk-through in and around the Petting Zoo.  After a quick hand-washing we were finally ready to head back out to the “grown-up” area of the Ex.  But that’s when we spotted the Reptilia display…

Located in the Direct Energy Centre Hall D, there were shows at 1 pm and 4 pm as well as 7:30 pm.  I went to see the 1 pm show.  The show was approximately 45 minutes in length.  The only thing I found was there were no railings leading up the stairs.  They did, however, reserve the front row for people that required special seating who would have trouble with the stairs.

The show was very entertaining.  There were races of two teams of dogs.  After which a man would come out and give a plush dog on a stick to a child sitting on the winning side.  I believe there were 4 races in total.  The audience on each side rooting for their team.  I didn’t know dogs could go so fast.

There was audience participation.  A little bit of humour thrown in.  The music was uplifting.  The outfits of the handlers were colourful and shiny.  Disco balls twirled.

They had a dancing contest among a few dogs similar to So You Think You Can Dance.  They also had a frisbee catching.  Was a good show for young and old to see.

We stayed late at the Ex one night last week in the hopes of catching the Circus Orange show at 9:45pm.  Things didn’t go quite as planned however, as the rain that had been threatening to come down all day began in torrents.

When it first began we huddled under the awning leading into Heritage Court with a lot of other Ex-goers who were clearly enjoying nature’s show.  The look of the heavy rain slanting down across the lights of the midway was certainly a sight to see.  But as the wind picked up our awning was doing us less good by the second, so finally we relented and went into the Garden Show area of the Direct Energy Centre.

We’d already been to the building earlier in the day, but had used another door.  So coming in from the rain we found ourselves standing in front of the “100 Years of Anne” display we’d missed the first time through.  I think I’m one of very few Canadians who haven’t read the Anne of Green Gables books, but I was still fascinated by the details available about the author’s life and work and will be making a library trip in the near future because of it.

After the Anne display, we went back into the areas we’d walked through earlier.  I don’t know what we were looking at the first time through, but when we saw the sign for “The History of the Toilet” we made a bee-line for this highly amusing (oh, um, and educational) display.

Back out on the midway the rain had finally stopped but the wind still raging, so all was quiet in the Jump Jet zone for drippingly obvious reasons.  Still, we went home dry, happy and satisfied with our evening if indoor exploration.