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What it costs to spend a day at the CNE

Taking in the sights and sounds of the midway at the CNE. (Tori Floyd)
[Taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the midway at the CNE. (Tori Floyd)]

For those in the Greater Toronto Area, the unofficial end of summer begins when they start to hear that familiar ad refrain: “Let’s go to the Ex!”

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) 2016 began on Friday, opening its gates to shoppers, ride go-ers, game players, show watchers and every other kind of fun-seeking individual.

ALSO READ: Weekend at the Calgary Stampede: what it will cost you

If you’re in the area and want to check out Canada’s 138th National Exhibition, here’s how much you should be setting aside for a day of fun and excitement.

Transportation

If you’re driving to the Ex, be prepared to park further and walk, or pay a premium for convenient parking. Parking in the lots on side costs $30 this year.

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The TTC streetcar or GO Transit are affordable alternatives to get to the CNE, and both drop you right at an entrance. Depending on how far you’re coming from, you could be paying $3 for a TTC fare, up to $21.75 for a one-way GO Train ride from Niagara Falls to Exhibition (fares vary based on how far you’re coming from.

Getting in

First things first, it’s not cheap to get in those gates. If you haven’t bought discount tickets already through local GO Transit stations, you’re going to be paying full price for your entry (but pre-buying tickets, even now, will still get you in faster). Adults are $18, seniors (65 and over) are $15, children (13 and under) are $15, and you can buy family packs to save: two adults and two children, or one adult and three children cost $56 for the group.

If you’re into rides, you’ll want to consider the Ride All Day pass, which gets you access to all rides on the midway until it closes at midnight (or 9 p.m. on Labour Day). Entrance plus ride wristband is $60 for adults, and $57 for kids and seniors.

The free stuff

Once you get inside, you could get by without having to spend another penny all day (although there’s a good chance you’ll want to). The CNE has free entertainment throughout the grounds: you can watch either Olympian Joannie Rochette or Elvis Stojko skate at Ricoh Colesium in the Hit List! Aerial Acrobatic and Ice Skating Show; take in some talented pups at the always-popular Superdogs! agility show; or learn a recipe from your favourite celebrity chef at the At Home Pavillion, where a different chef takes to the central stage each day.

All of that says nothing about the street performers making music or performing feats of acrobatic excellence all throughout the midway. You can even enjoy some spooky entertainment after dark, by taking a CNE Ghost Walk around the grounds.

Enjoying a bite to eat

The shows may be free, but you’ll undoubtedly end up spending when your stomach starts to rumble. As with every year, food at the CNE runs the gamut from cheap and simple, like the 99 cent spaghetti, to the strange and gourmet, like the Philly Steakclair, which will run you $13 including tax.

If you’re looking for more traditional fairground fodder, you can enjoy a “bloomin’ onion” for $10, or a bag of freshly made Tiny Tom’s Donuts for $6 (your choice of flavour, of course).

Bloomin' onion at the CNE in the Food Building, before and after the deep-frying process. (Tori Floyd)
[Bloomin’ onion at the CNE in the Food Building, before and after the deep-frying process. (Tori Floyd)]

Other deep-fried delicacies abound at the fairground, including old favourites like deep-fried Oreos (three for $6) and funnel cake ($7 for a basic or $9.50 for all the fixings), and new additions like deep-fried cookie dough at Cookie Dough Me! ($2.75 for one piece, $6.75 for three or $8.75 for five).

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough balls with chocolate sauce from Cookie Dough Me! at the CNE. (Tori Floyd)
[Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough balls with chocolate sauce from Cookie Dough Me! at the CNE. (Tori Floyd)]

For the truly brave, there’s always the selections at Bug Bistro, a new stand in the Food Building this year that offers grub made with… well, grubs. Try crickets in a Bug Dog or Key Lime Pie with cricket base, or enjoy a smoothie with powdered mealworms.

If you’re thirsty, you can pick up a bottle of pop for $3, get a fountain drink in a collectable cup at the Coke Freestyle stand for $5.99 (refills $2.99) or go all out and get your fruit juice in a fruit for $10.

Fruit juice served in a piece of fruit -- with a jaunty umbrella. (Tori Floyd)
[Fruit juice served in a piece of fruit — with a jaunty umbrella. (Tori Floyd)]

Let’s play some games!

No visit to the midway is complete without trying your hand at a couple of games of chance (or no chance). Whether your game is skill based like darts or throwing balls, or you’re looking for something with a guaranteed win like the ‘pick a duck’ games, you’ll find the right one for you.

Try your hand at a skill-based game on the midway. (Tori Floyd)
[Try your hand at a skill-based game on the midway. (Tori Floyd)]

Prices for games run from 25 cents for a game of precisely rolling a bowling ball, up to $5 for many of the other attractions.

Shopping

It’s certainly not an obligatory part of the CNE experience, but chances are if you’re on the grounds, you may want to do some shopping while you’re there. Prices vary greatly depending on what you’re looking for: you can get small trinkets for under a dollar in the Arts & Crafts building, or a hot tub or Persian rug for your home in the At Home and International Pavilions. While most of the games and food vendors are cash-only, many of the retailers throughout the Ex welcome plastic.

Adding it all together

If you’re heading to the CNE before it closes on September 5, here’s what a day there will cost you:

Admission for one adult, plus wristband for rides all day: $60
Parking: $30
Four games on the midway: $20
Churro Burger: $11.95
Pop in a collectable cup: $5.99
Skating show: Free
Dog show: Free
Shopping: Sky’s the limit (but browsing is always free!)
Bloomin’ onion: $10
Bug dog: $6
Outdoor concert: Free
Total: $144