Grey Cup festivities take over Hamilton this week. Here's what's on
The week includes giant street festival, a parade and a music festival featuring Shaggy and Carrie Underwood
The Canadian Football League's (CFL) most coveted prize, the Grey Cup, is touching down in Hamilton this week ahead of the championship game between Winnipeg and Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 19.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats won't be playing for the 110th Grey cup after Montreal eliminated them. But the game on Sunday isn't the only thing to watch for.
All week long, the CFL will have events — some of which are free — lined up across town for everyone to enjoy.
Public and Catholic schools in Hamilton also have a PA Day scheduled on Friday.
Here's a preview of the festivities, most of which take place from Thursday to Sunday.
Naval escort bringing Grey Cup to town
Just like in 2021, the Grey Cup will arrive in style on Monday.
The trophy will be on His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf and brought to HMCS Star Naval Reserve Division at Pier 8 on Monday at 12:15 p.m.
HMCS Harry DeWolf is part of the country's "first line of defence in the Arctic," according to a webpage on the federal government's website.
While the ship's arrival is only open to media, the official Grey Cup arrival ceremony takes place aboard the reserve division's drill deck at 1:15 p.m.
Fan Central and a free breakfast
One free event happening most of the week is the CFL's Fan Central.
Similar to Supercrawl, Fan Central will take over James Street N. starting Thursday at 11 a.m.
It'll include a beer garden, food trucks, inflatables, a Christmas market, giveaways, games and more.
On Friday and Saturday between, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Calgary Grey Cup Committee is hosting a free breakfast on James Street.
"Experience a genuine Calgary Stampede breakfast without actually going to Stampede," the Grey Cup Festival website states.
Community race for students
Some 2,000 students will get to channel their inner wide receiver sprinting toward the end zone during the community race at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
The kilometre-long race will see students run from Gage Park to Tim Hortons Field.
Students can sign up to participate here.
SiriusXM Kickoff Party with The Dirty Nil
SiriusXM will host a kickoff to the music festival featuring The Dirty Nil, a Hamilton band that previously won a Juno Award.
The rock band will be joined by NOBRO, a new-age punk band from Montreal.
Other performances will include Steve Strongman, HacheyTheMouthPEACE, The Hot Karls, and Matty Simpson Band.
It takes place on James Street N. on Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and is free to watch.
Grey Cup Music Festival
While people will have to pay to see Shaggy on Thursday night at the OLG stage in Niagara Falls and Carrie Underwood on Friday night at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, the music festival will feature many other artists for free.
Performances on Friday and Saturday begin at 11 a.m. and run until 8 p.m. each night.
Some of those bands include The Redhill Valleys, Nicolette and the Nobodies, The 99s, The Handsome Devils, Regina Pep Band, Matt Paxton & the Pintos, Generator Party, Deseronto, Ben Somer and The Cold Winter, and High Steppin' Daddy.
There will also be a neighbourhood block party on Sunday — game day — featuring Monster Truck, Boy Golden and Born In The Eighties.
Get autographs or a picture with the Grey Cup
Fans can get a chance to get autographs, pictures with the Grey cup and more at the Canadian Football League Players' Association headquarters from Friday to Sunday
The headquarters, located in The Gown & Gavel at 24 Hess St. S., will let fans meet members of the association.
It runs on Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m., to 5 p.m.
Santa Claus and Grey Cup Parade
The annual Hamilton Santa Claus Parade will take place in downtown Hamilton — but with a twist.
CFL cheer teams and the Grey Cup trophy will also be part of the parade.
There will also be festival-themed giveaways throughout.
The parade starts at Bay Street N. and Barton Street W., before going east on Barton to John Street, south on John to Wilson Street, west on Wilson to York Boulevard and Hess Street N. The parade ends at the intersection of Hess Street N and Cannon Street W.
Hamilton Flag Football Classic
In the John Weir Foote Armoury on James Street N, people can watch the Hamilton Flag Football Classic.
It's a three-day tournament from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Thursday and Saturday.
It features teams from across southern Ontario and will take place in a field in the armoury.
There's a chance to meet CFL alumni too.
There's a fee to register your team and a way to request to play, but no fee or sign-up needed to watch.
CFL Awards
The CFL is hosting its 2023 awards ceremony at the Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls on Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
There's a cocktail reception from 5:30 p.m., and the ceremony starts an hour later.
A complimentary regional transportation service to and from downtown Hamilton to the Fallsview district area will be available for fans who want to attend.
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