A Day at the CNE - Canadian National Exhibition

I had the opportunity to visit the Canadian National Exhibition last week to cover the Grate Canadian Grilled Cheese Competition as a VIP media guest. I only ever visted the EX (as locals call it) once and that was 13 years ago, just before I moved to Canada. Founded in 1879 it is Canadas largest annual community event and the seventh largest fair in North America. It is located on 192 acres of beautiful lakefront property at Exhibition Place, just west of Toronto’s downtown core. 

I took the GO train, to avoid the Toronto morning rush hour, and arrived about 9:30 am and as you can see from the above and below photos, that it was pretty empty. The actual opening time was 10:00 am.

I like the idea in the below photo, of a water bottle fill-up station. 

There were food vendors everywhere, including Pizza Pizza (below photo) a favorite of Canadians.

Then I found the Food Building, which have everything imaginable inside. If I hadn't been full from gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches at the competition, I would have opted for one of my favorites, the Colossal Onion.  Its a take on Outbacks Bloomin Onion, which I miss because we only have one Outback Steakhouse left in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Too bad I didn't even read the sign that I would have received a free spiral spud taster.  Oh well, my arteries didn't need it. 

Left to Right: Colossal Onion, Spiral Spuds, Onion Rings.

Now if your a bacon lover, this next stand is for you. Bacon Nation! Yes, I did make a turkey recently all wrapped in bacon, but....

A bacon wrapped deep fried Mars bar. NO THANKS. lol

You can also get a deep fried mars bar without the bacon, at the booth pictured below.

Inside the Direct Energy building was a really cool display of Sand Castles.

The CNE takes place for the 18 days leading up to and including Labor Day and culminates with a three day air show.