With just weeks to go until the 111th Grey Cup, fans are gearing up for one of the biggest festivals downtown Vancouver has seen.
The Grey Cup Festival will fill the area around the Vancouver Convention Centre with all manner of music, food, thrilling experiences – including two ziplines! – and free family activities Nov. 10 to 17, says Riley Wiwchar, the Festival's Executive Director.
"I want people to mark that week on their calendar because it's going to be a lot of fun," Wiwchar says. "There really is something for everyone, and you don't need to be a football fan to enjoy the festival."
The full slate of events is made possible by robust community support and partnerships. “We want to make this the biggest and best festival ever, and the corporate support we have seen this year has helped us craft an unmatched week here in Vancouver,” Wiwchar says, noting more than 20 artists will perform indoors and outdoors at both free and ticketed events.
“The Grey Cup Festival is known across Canada for bringing fans a strong lineup of both free and ticketed entertainment, but I think this year we wanted to take that one step further, and ensure the free entertainment was just as enticing as the ticketed events,” Wiwchar says.
JUNO Award-winning Vancouver artist Felix Cartal sets the tone at the Save-On-Foods Street Festival Nov. 13, the first of 22 artists sharing free outdoor live performances on Canada Place Way between Thurlow and Burrard streets Nov. 14 to 16.Daily themes include Global Sounds, celebrating diverse genres and cultures, Best of BC, featuring artists born or based in B.C., and country music with Wild West Coast – truly something for everybody, Wiwichar says, hinting there’s still more to come from festival organizers.
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Beyond the many free events is a full lineup of ticketed events, primarily hosted at the Vancouver Convention Centre (West Building):
- The Coors Light Team Party Headquarters (Nov. 14 to 16)
- CFL Awards (Nov. 14)
- Business Summit (Nov. 15)
- CFLAA Legends Luncheon (Nov. 15)
- Gala Dinner (Nov. 15)
- Spirit of Edmonton Breakfast (Nov. 16)
- Athletes in Action Grey Cup Breakfast (Nov. 16)
- Coors Light Saturday Night Concert (Nov. 16)
- and Indoor Tailgate (Nov. 17).
On game day, Nov. 17, the festival will host its only other ticketed event – the Lordco Auto Parts Block Party – outside BC Place.
A marquee event of the 2024 Grey Cup Festival week is the Gala Dinner, bringing together players, fans and dignitaries for an exclusive evening of entertainment, food and fellowship. Tickets to the gala are $375 and sold as a table of 10.
The Sam Roberts Band brings their infectious live energy rock music as headliners of the Coors Light Saturday Night Concert, joined by fellow Canadian rock ‘n’ roll heavyweights and JUNO Award nominees, The Trews. Tickets are $75.
Kicking off gameday festivities is Canadian platinum-selling artist and award-winning producer, Tebey, who'll bring his chart-topping original country music as the headliner of the Indoor Tailgate from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets – $199 and sold as a table of 10 – include food, beverages and shuttle transportation to BC Place.
Right outside BC Place, the Lordco Auto Parts Block Party runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring Canadian rock icon, Bif Naked. Tickets are $75.
And capping off the week of live entertainment, globally celebrated pop-rock band the Jonas Brothers will headline the Twisted Tea Grey Cup Halftime Show at BC Place.
Tickets to the 111th Grey Cup game at BC Place Stadium Nov. 17 and to most ticketed festival events (except the Spirit of Edmonton Breakfast and Athletes In Action Grey Cup Breakfast) can be purchased at Ticketmaster.ca. All can be accessed through the festival’s website at greycupfestival.ca.