What’s Free at the Grey Cup Festival

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt Tuesday, November 12th, 2024 — 6:14pm PST

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The Grey Cup Festival is arriving in Vancouver on Wednesday, culminating with the 111th championship to be played at BC Place. There is an extensive lineup of events, many are ticketed, but there are some great opportunities to get in on the fun for free!

Festival | Ziplines | Drone Show | Street Party

What’s Free at the Grey Cup Festival

Inside Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre East) there will be daily activities from Wednesday, November 13 to Saturday, November 17, 2024 including: World Vision Global Pavilion and the WestJet Ultimate CFL Experience. There will also be an Indigenous Marketplace, open each day from 11:00am to 9:00pm (4:00pm to 6:00pm on opening day, Wednesday).

What’s Free at the Grey Cup Festival

Drone Show

Destination Vancouver presents what’s being billed as Canada’s largest drone show to date with over 1,000 units taking to the skies above Coal Harbour on Wednesday, November 13th at 8:30pm until 8:50pm. In the event that the show is unable to move forward on Wednesday, it will be rescheduled for Friday.

UPDATE! The Drone Show will be Friday, November 15th at 9:30pm.
Follow Pixel Sky Animations for updates.

Save-on-Foods Street Festival

This is where you’ll find the free Payworks Entertainment Stage, along Canada Place Way at Burrard, between the convention centres.

Wednesday

4:00pm SEB C; 6:00pm Opening Ceremony; 6:30pm Felix Cartal

Thursday

11:15am Empanadas llegales; 12:25pm Missy D; 1:35pm Ahsia; 2:45pm Sadé Awele; 3:55pm John Welsh & Los Valientes; 5:05pm En Karma; 6:15pm Chani Nattan & Inderpal Moga; 7:30pm Delhi 2 Dublin

Friday

11:15am Pinebarren; 12:25pm Post Modern Collective; 1:35pm Black Pontiac; 2:45pm Ayla Tesler-Mabé; 3:55pm Jordan Klassen; 5:05pm Bitterly Divine; 6:15pm Garret T. Willie; 7:30pm Dear Rouge

Saturday

11:15am High Steppin’ Daddy; 12:25pm Canyon Riders; 1:35pm The Heels; 2:45pm Orchard Sky; 3:55pm Dawson Gray; 5:05pm VAVO; 6:15pm Shawn Austin; 7:30pm Chad Brownlee

The Save-on-Food Street Festival will also host the Prospera Outdoor Mini Field with junior football programming, drills, daily CFL Alumni visits, and more. Families and fans are invited to take part in football fun.

Ziplines

Soar 70 ft. above the crowds at the Save-On-Foods Street Festival when you register for free to ride the Street Zipline, or take on the challenge across the water with the Harbour Zipline. Take your pick! First come, first served, here’s information about registering for these free activities.

Pancake Breakfast

And what’s a Grey Cup Festival without the legendary Calgary Stampede Pancake Breakfast! This event has been around since the very first Grey Cup Festival in 1948 where hundreds of Stampeders fans brought the party to Toronto on horseback. Stop by for a free bite on Friday or Saturday from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

March to the Stadium & Plaza Party

On Sunday before the big game, the United Traffic Control Fan March join the march to BC Place lead by CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie and the official Grey Cup handler. Starting at 1:30pm, wind through the core of downtown Vancouver, delivering the iconic Grey Cup trophy from the Vancouver Convention Centre to BC Place Stadium. Starting at the Vancouver Convention Centre East building, the fan march will walk southbound along Howe St, eastbound on Robson St, concluding at BC Place Stadium in time for fans to enjoy pregame festivities at the Lordco Auto Parts Block Party (ticketed) or PlayNow Sports Backyard Street Party (free).

PlayNow Sports Backyard Street Party

Building on the success of the BC Lions Backyard Street Parties, the PlayNow Sports Backyard Street Party will be expanded to its largest footprint ever! Taking place 3 hours prior to Grey Cup kickoff, in front of BC Place Stadium, this pre-game celebration will be free for fans of all ages to attend. Featuring live performances by Canadian ‘YEE-DM’ DJ duo, VAVO, and headliner, Calgary-born pop music rising star, Devon Cole. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Many other concerts and events require tickets including some team parties, the game-day Lordco Auto Parts Block Party (Sunday, November 17th) featuring Canadian Bif Naked (at 777 Pacific Blvd outside BC Place). View the entire festival lineup online here and get your tickets for the big game.