The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is Canada’s largest fair. It’s held annually for 18 days from mid-August and ends on Labour Day (the first Monday in September) in downtown Toronto at the Exhibition Place. The CNE attracts more than 1.5 million visitors annually and features an array of entertainment.
Since its founding in 1879 as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, the CNE started off with a focus on agriculture, industry, technology and livestock competitions before expanding to include more entertainment through carnival attractions, midway rides, food vendors, concerts and sporting events.
Listed below are some of the CNE’s most popular attractions to look out for when visiting the fairgrounds and what to expect from them.
Food Scene
The CNE’s food scene has turned into a must-try attraction at the fair over the years. It started off with selling carnival classics like cotton candy, corn dogs and funnels to also including unique culinary options in their yearly roster of creations, which can be found either in the Food Building or in various sections on the fairgrounds.
Out-of-this-world culinary creations have graced the CNE over the years, including deep-fried butter, mustard and ketchup ice-cream, rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches and deep-fried pickle Oreos. To celebrate the foods that are part of the CNE’s culinary scene or have been part of it in the past, the CNE introduced the CNE Food Hall of Fame in 2024. The inaugural inductees are Tiny Tom Donuts, the ice-cream waffle sandwich, pickle pizza, Primo Spaghetti and deep-fried butter.
Midway Rides and Games
The Midway rides and games are the most exciting part about the CNE for families with young children. These activities are provided by Conklin Shows (now part of the North American Midway Entertainment) and are available throughout the CNE’s 18-day run. Staple rides to look forward to include the Super Wheel (the tallest Ferris wheel in North America), Swing Tower, the Polar Express, Zipper, Alpine Bobs, the Berry-Go-Round, the Sky Ride, the Double Decker Carousel, Pharaoh’s Fury and Ring of Fire. Guests have the choice of either purchasing tickets for individual rides or an all-day ride pass. For games, have some cash in handy for a little fun competition and the chance to win a prize.
SuperDogs
This over four-decade-old spectacle features various dogs of multiple breeds, mixes, sizes and rescues. Over 100 trainers wow the audience in more than one way at the CNE’s Enercare Centre. Each year under a different theme, dogs will showcase their talents, larger-than-life personalities and simply dazzle the audience with an overload of cuteness.
Fun Fact: The SuperDog show has reached a global audience in recent years and brings in millions of views through virtual shows and shorts.
Air Show
The Canadian International Air Show kicks off the final few days of the CNE. The purpose of the air show is to honour aviation’s past and inspire its future by showcasing the best of vintage and modern air travel. While the show can be viewed from certain areas within the Exhibition Place, there’s an exclusive air zone where spectators can get a better look at the planes in action and listen to live narration throughout the event at an additional price.
Shopping
The CNE offers a unique shopping experience with indoor and outdoor spaces to explore and purchase items at. The International Pavilions in the Enercare Centre is a hotspot for shoppers. Each of the products sold has a booth aesthetic that represents a specific country or continent overall. The Enercare Centre also has a shoppers market filled with gifts, toys, pet items, jewellery and beauty items. Located outside is where cell phone accessories, sunglasses, leather coats, bed sheets and more will be sold.
While the CNE still maintains its roots in agriculture, technology and livestock, it has since evolved by incorporating other sectors into the annual festivities, attracting people from all walks of life to enjoy the largest fair in Canada.