For a week starting Sunday (Nov. 10), ahead of the big football game Nov. 17, Vancouver's 2024 Grey Cup Festival features a long list of free events for fans including a large drone show, concerts, zipline, a kickoff party, street festival, an E-sports Experience and more.
Close to 1,000 drones will fly during Pixel Sky Animations's free 3D drone show on Wednesday, Nov. 13, starting at 8:30 p.m. on the Coal Harbour waterfront, between Vancouver Convention Centre West and Westin Bayshore Hotel.
The Destination Vancouver-presented drone show, billed as "the largest yet in Canada," will last around 12 minutes depending on weather and technology, according to details on pixelskyanimations.com/grey-cup-drone-show, where viewing locations are posted.
The lit drones will take to the air following Wednesday's Grey Cup Festival Kickoff Party, 6 to 8 p.m. at Canada Place Way, with music by Felix Cartal. The Vancouver-based DJ will be first of 22 artists to take to the Payworks Entertainment Stage for free outdoor live performances during Save-On-Foods Street Festival, held Wednesday to Saturday (Nov. 13-16) between Thurlow and Burrard streets, with beer garden, outdoor mini field, food trucks and 30-plus sponsor activations.
The street festival is also home to free Harbour and Street zipline rides, with registration queuing near the base of the launch tower, next to the VCC East building. Check greycupfestival.ca/street-festival for ride times, weight limits and more.
Thursday to Saturday, the street festival will feature free live music daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with themes of Global Sounds (Thursday, headlined by Delhi 2 Dublin and also Surrey’s Chani Nattan and Inderpal Moga), Best of B.C. (Friday, Dear Rouge and more) and Wild West Country (Saturday, headlined by Chad Brownlee).
The 2024 Grey Cup Festival starts Sunday, Nov. 10 with the arrival of the Grey Cup trophy, 2 p.m. at Coal Harbour Seawall (best viewing on the west side Vancouver Convention Centre West). CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces, "will deliver the Grey Cup trophy to Vancouver in spectacular fashion with arrival via land, sea and air."
From Nov. 13 to 16, Vancouver Convention Centre East will offer free activities at five "zones" for fans of all ages including TELUS Family Zone (climbing wall, inflatables, obstacle course and more), the WestJet Ultimate CFL Experience (football history, displays and more), TGS E-sports Experience, Indigenous Marketplace and World Vision Global Pavilion.
Also at Coal Habour, at Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver Christmas Market is set to open Nov. 13 with a Grey Cup Week unlimited access pass for $25 plus taxes and fees.
Other free events during the 2024 Grey Cup Festival include Fan State of the League address by Ambrosie (10 a.m. Nov. 15, Vancouver Convention Centre West), a Cheer Extravaganza (noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 16, Vancouver Convention Centre East), a Fan March (1:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Vancouver Convention Centre East to BC Place Stadium) and PlayNow Sports Backyard Street Party (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17, BC Plaza/Terry Fox Plaza).
CLICK HERE to read the 36-page Grey Cup Festival Fan Guide for 2024.
