CNE At Home: The Virtual Fair @ TheEx.com

2020 CNE Cancelled

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Toronto’s iconic summer tradition brings the fun of the fair online with popular shows, recipes, virtual rides, family fun, jam sessions, and memories from its 140-year heritage
 
Although the iconic lights of the midway won’t shine at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) this year, Toronto’s end of summer tradition continues in a new way – as the fair comes to life online from August 21 to September 7, 2020.  The new CNE At Home online portal, which can be accessed through TheEx.com will share some of its most popular shows, favourite food recipes, tricks of the trade from buskers, historical retrospectives, new music performances and much more.  
 
As Canada’s longest standing event and one of the largest fairs in North America, the CNE annually attracts more than 1.4 million visitors; and now, through its CNE At Home portal, the fun of the fair can be shared with more fans than ever before. The CNE has created interactive and engaging content for all ages, encompassing the quintessential CNE experience including: CNE Jam sessions online featuring Toronto bands and artistsGaming Garage powered by AMD online tournaments with cash prizes and giveaways up for grabs (Aug. 21-23) Rising Star Youth Competition and online voting“How To” tutorials to learn how to busker and make some favourite dishes from the CNE such as 99 Cent Spaghetti and Rainbow Grilled CheeseVirtual rides, ghost walks, and retrospective specials including a look back at the history of the CNE Grandstand (Bandshell), Best Of the Aerial Acrobatic & Ice Skating Shows, President’s Choice SuperDogs and much moreSpecial online events include a commemoration the 99th Annual Warriors’ Day Parade with a look back at its history (Sat. Aug. 22); and a virtual edition of the Canadian International Air Show (Sept. 5-7).

Visit the CNE at Home virtual experience at: theex.com/main/entertainment/cne-at-home.

CNE At Home Highlights

For Kids: Watch shows by TEAM T&J and Splash’N Boots.  Don’t miss the popular Pizza Nova Pizza Making SessionsChildren of all ages are encouraged to unleash their inner artist by printing off and colouring CNE themed colouring sheets, and to show off their “puzzle prowess” by assembling CNE-themed jigsaw puzzles! 

Rising Star Youth Talent Competition: The popular Rising Star Youth Talent Competition continues online this year but with a new twist!   Judges will narrow down the entries in each of the two divisions: Juniors (6 to 12 years) and Youth (13 to 21 years) to five finalists per division.  Then the general public can cast their vote as to who will win the Viewers’ Choice Award in each of the two divisions.  Results will be announced on Monday, September 7, 2020. The CNE Rising Star Youth Competition is sponsored by the CNE Foundation.

CNE Celebrates YOU Contest: This contest is themed around celebrating our “everyday heroes”: the families, friends, neighbours and communities who have stayed home or worked on the front lines, socially distancing themselves to help flatten the COVID-19 curve. Together with the support of its partners the CNE is bringing “smiles to faces” through an engaging contest that will invite fans to enter daily contests on Facebook & Instagram for a chance to win 1 of 18 daily prizes. The CNE will be awarding up to $12,000 worth of prizes to the lucky winners. One Grand Prize winner will bring home one of each of the prizes given away throughout the contest. The contest runs from August 21st to September 7th.

Music: An exciting line-up of local artists traditionally featured at the CNE will perform during the virtual CNE Jam Session.  All concerts begin at 8 pm and remain accessible for the remaining days of the virtual fair.   Artists include:  Neil Young Tribute (launches Aug. 21), Kenny V (Aug. 22), GYLES (Aug. 23), Paul James (Aug. 25), Robin Benedict (Aug. 26), Bullen Family Jam (Aug. 27), Practically Hip (Aug. 28), Greg Wyard Band (Aug. 29), Jay Douglas (Aug. 30), Ty Baynton Band (Sept. 1), Abraxas (Sept. 2), Fraser Melvin Band (Sept 3), Pat Temple (Sept.4), The Travelling Milburys (Sept. 5), LMT Connection (Sept. 6), and Marshall Dane (Sept. 7).

Buskers & “How-To” tutorials: Many of the CNE most popular park performers will also entertain viewers in the CNE At Home virtual experience.   As an added bonus, they (with the exception of the giraffes) share the tricks of the trade with “how-to” tutorials.   Performers include strongman Mighty Mike (launches Aug 22), The Fire Guy (Aug 24), How to Juggle (Aug. 26), Bex in Motion (Aug. 29), The Funny Waiter (Aug. 31), The Hockey Circus Show (Sept. 2), The Gallivanting Giraffes (Sept 3), the Farmer’s Daughter (Sept. 5), The Circus Drummer (Sept.6), and Tim Burr (Sept. 7) 

CNE SIGNATURE SHOWS

President’s Choice SuperDogs   
As the “dog days of summer” descend upon us, the CNE is bringing fans one of its most popular shows, the President’s Choice SuperDogs. 

Aerial Acrobatic & Ice Skating Shows
Enjoy six of CNE’s most popular Aerial Acrobatic & Ice Skating Shows and dedicated Aerial Acrobatic show, from the comfort of your home at TheEx.com

Canadian International Air Show
The CNE’s virtual fair comes to a spectacular finale with its iconic three-day Air Show (Sept. 5, 6, & 7), which like all other CNE attractions, will be featured online this year.

EXHIBITS & WALKS AND TALKS

  • The EX Goes to War – the CNE During the Great Wars
  • CNE Grandstand – A Brief Timeline
  • CNE Grandstand – Over the Years
  • CNE Bandshell: Music, Fashion and Community
  • CNE Buildings and Public Art
  • Evolution of the CNE Grounds 1879-2019
  • Ghost Walks: Explore the Spooky History of the CNE grounds

FOOD
A select array of CNE Food Vendors invite you behind-the-scenes to learn how they make their yummy fair treats.  Foods featured include:

  • Bacon Wrapped Grilled Cheese by Bacon Nation
  • Bulgogi Taco by Far East Taco
  • Dim Sum Bao by Oriental Express
  • Granny Smith Apple Fries by Event Foods
  • Homemade Japanese Soufflé Pancake by FUWA FUWA Japanese Pancakes
  • Lobster Roll by Jake’s Seafood
  • Philthy Philly’s Cheese Steak Sandwich by Philthy Philly’s
  • Primo 99 cent Spaghetti by Primo Spaghetti 99
  • Rainbow Grilled Cheese by Mac & Cheesery
  • Spent Grains S’mores Funnel Cake by Liberty Commons – is this a tutorial? I thought it is only available at the restuarant 

GAMING

The CNE Gaming Garage Powered by AMD is back, bringing all the fun and Excitement of gaming to players virtually at TheEx.com, August 21 to 23, 2020.  Since 2017, the popular three-day event has attracted more than 150,000 attendees as part of the Canadian National Exhibition.   With the cancellation of the CNE this year, fans will still be able to connect online, interact virtually, win giveaways, and compete for prizes.

Tournaments are being held across three popular esports titles: Fortnite (PC), the new game Valorant (PC) and Rocket League.  Both the Fortnite and Valorant titles are free-to-play.

Above and beyond the tournaments, the CNE Gaming Garage Powered by AMD features Fortnite Island Freeplay; a virtual robotics competition, an Online Dungeon & Dragons competitive adventure, and a Magic: The Gathering “learn to play” tutorial which includes free ice cream giveaways  courtesy of FacetoFbaceGames.com at its Danforth store in Toronto.

RIDES
Virtually experience the thrills and chills of two of the CNE’s signature rides on TikTok:

  • The CNE Crazy Mouse 
  • The Niagara Falls Ride

SHOPPING
Shopping has always been a popular part of the CNE experience, and although the fair is closed this year, there are many online CNE shopping experiences to indulge in:

  • Shop The EX;
    • Surf TheEx.com for your favourite vendors in the CNE’s six different shopping destinations and look for the Deal of the Day in:
      • Arts, Crafts & Hobbies Pavilion 
      • Home & Garden Show
      • International Pavilion
      • Outdoor Marketplace
      • Shoppers’ Market
      • Warehouse Outlets
  • CNE Box
    • CNE vendors have also contributed miniature goodies to a special box the CNE has created this year, which also includes tickets to the 2021 fair that will be delivered electronically. Visit TheEx.com for details.
  • CNE Signature Swag
    • Keep the CNE spirit “front and centre” during the COVID-19 pandemic by sporting CNE branded sweatshirts, t-shirts, caps, and so much more.  All CNE merchandise features iconic images of the fair and can be viewed and purchased online at thecneshop.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS

  • Virtual Robotics Competition (August 21 to September 7, 2020)
  • Warriors Day Parade (on the occasion of the Parade’s 99th anniversary, a historical retrospective will be featured on August 22nd beginning @ 10:30am) 
  • Pints and Painting with Toronto artist Doris Pontieri (Monday, August 24 @ 8pm)
  • Heritage Toronto Live Stream from the CNE grounds (Wednesday, August 26 @ 12:30pm) 
  • CNE & Me Stories by Evan Carter and June Brown (Friday, August 28 @ 4pm)
  • Dance Demonstration by Daniel Secord, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (Friday, August 28 @ 1pm) 
  • Poetry Reading by Chief Stacey LaForme, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (Sunday, August 30 @ 4pm)
  • CNE & Me Stories by Tabby Johnson and Briane Nasimok  (Friday, September 4 @ 4pm) 
  • Labour Day Parade (Monday, September 7 @ 11am)=

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