CNE: Yea or Nay?

I’m not usually a fan of fairs and was going to pass going to the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) but I thought I might as well since I don’t know when I’ll spend my summer in Toronto again. Afterall, it’s meant to be the largest fair in Canada, an annual event that runs for 18 days until Labour day.

We entered from Prince’s Gate after paying the $20 admission fee and was greeted by a variety of food trucks and stalls offering a range of items from artisan ice creams to steak burgers. We tried some strange things during our visit including these black “charcoal” ice creams which were interesting to photograph but not so good on the palate (IMO). We also weren’t that impressed with the other food items we tried and felt they were too overpriced and did not excite our taste buds like we hoped.

The exhibition hall features a ‘night market’ style affair which offered an odd assortment of things from jacuzzi tubs to clothing and shoes on sale, as well as award winning plants and sculptures made with butter! They seem to have it all! There’s also performances both in the hall and outside. We actually really enjoyed the band which was performing near the food stalls but sadly I didn’t catch their name. 

Of course, a fair would not be complete without any rides and games but we decided not to partake in any of them as they had an additional fee. I did wish we rode on the cable car which takes you across the whole fair giving you a fantastic view of the area. I also think going later in the day is better when it’s cooler and apparently the light shows are quite spectacular in the evening so that’s something to consider for next time. 

So was it worth it? I think it depends on what you’re there for. Since we didn’t go on the rides or play any of the games, I can’t comment on them but if you’re after the food then you’ll probably be disappointed as they are overpriced and only looks interesting on the menu. (Or perhaps we just ended up buying the bad ones, who knows.) As for the shopping, it was amusing at best but we didn’t see anything we haven’t before. The vibe however did make it worth it for a tourist like me who’s never been to Toronto before and I can imagine why it would be an annual tradition for local families. Would I go again if given the chance? Probably not. 

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