The 111th Grey Cup, Canada’s largest annual sporting event is coming to Vancouver, and you can take transit to enjoy all the special events!

From watching the Grey Cup officially arrive to the Festival grounds, to enjoying the official Kickoff Party featuring local DJ Felix Cartel, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Grey Cup Festival.

Free events at the Grey Cup Festival

The Grey Cup Festival runs from Nov. 10-17, with free events happening around downtown Vancouver. Save on parking by taking transit there.

Check out the full schedule for free and paid events. Special activities include two ziplines, an entertainment stage featuring local, BC, and Canadian entertainers, an outdoor mini field, food trucks, and much more.

Here are the free events to check out!

Grey Cup Trophy Arrival

CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, and the Canadian Armed Forces will deliver the Grey Cup trophy to Vancouver in spectacular fashion with arrival via land, sea and air.

• 📅 Date: Sunday, Nov. 10
• 📍  Location: Coal Harbour Seawall / Vancouver Convention Centre West
• 🚆 Transit: Take the bus, SeaBus, or SkyTrain to Waterfront Station and walk from there.
• 🕕 Time: 2-2:30 p.m.

Save-On Street Festival

The street is packed with free activities for fans, and an entertainment stage set up from Nov. 14-16 featuring the best of B.C. musicians. There’s free pancake breakfast from the Calgary Grey Cup Committee on Nov. 15 and 16 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• 📅 Date and time:
  • Nov. 13 from 4 – 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 14-16 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• 📍  Location: Canada Place Way from Howe Street to Thurlow Street
• 🚆 Transit: Take the bus, SeaBus, or SkyTrain to Waterfront Station and walk from there.

Pop-ups at Vancouver Convention Centre East

This includes an Indigenous Marketplace, World Vision Global Pavilion, WestJet Ultimate CFL Experience,and Telus Family Zone.

• 📅 Date and time:
  • Nov. 13 from 4-6 p.m.
  • Nov. 14-16 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• 📍  Location: Vancouver Convention Centre East
• 🚆 Transit: Take the bus, SeaBus, or SkyTrain to Waterfront Station and walk from there.

CFL Fan State of the League

CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie will address fans with a special Canadian Football League update and participate in an intimate Q&A session with the audience.

• 📅 Date and time: Friday, Nov. 15 from 10-11 a.m.
• 📍  Location: Vancouver Convention Centre West – Exhibition Hall A
• 🚆 Transit: Take the bus, SeaBus, or SkyTrain to Waterfront Station and walk from there.

Chevrolet Cheer Extravaganza

Featuring live performances from CFL dance and cheer teams.

• 📅 Date and time: Saturday, Nov. 16 from 12-2 p.m.
• 📍  Location: Vancouver Convention Centre East – Prospera Indoor Minifield
• 🚆 Transit: Take the bus, SeaBus, or SkyTrain to Waterfront Station and walk from there.

PlayNow Sports Backyard Street Party

Taking place three hours before the 111th 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.

• 📅 Date and time: Sunday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• 📍  Location: Terry Fox Plaza, in front of the BC Place Stadium
• 🚆 Transit: Take the bus, SeaBus, or SkyTrain to Waterfront Station and walk from there.

United Traffic Control Fan March

The Grey Cup trophy will be escorted from the Grey Cup Festival site to BC Place Stadium ahead of the 111th Grey Cup championship game. Led by the CFL Commissioner, Grey Cup Steering Committee members, and surprise special guests like Chelsea Green (WWE Superstar).

• 📅 Date and time: Sunday, Nov. 17 from 1:30 – 2 p.m.
• 📍  Location: From Vancouver Convention Centre East to BC Place.
• 🚆 Transit: Take the bus, SeaBus, or SkyTrain to Waterfront Station and walk to the convention centre.

Tips for riding transit to the Grey Cup Festival

Plan your trip to the Grey Cup Festival using our Trip Planner

Tell us where you’re starting from and where you want to go, and our Trip Planner will find the best route to get you there! Sign up for  Transit Alerts and we’ll text/email you about any changes to the services you take.

Use a Compass Card for discounted fares and kids 12 and under ride free!

Unlock discounted transit fares by purchasing a Compass Card from a Compass Vending Machine at SkyTrain stations/SeaBus terminals or select London Drugs locations, at Compass Retailers, or online. You will be charged a $6 refundable deposit for each Compass Card.

Once you have a Compass Card, load it with Stored Value to pay for transit. It can take up to two hours for the Stored Value to be available for use on your Compass Card if it’s purchased online or by phone. Stored Value purchased at Compass Vending Machines are available right away.

Bonus! We’ve teamed up with an incredible line-up of local businesses to offer exclusive discounts for transit riders. Simply show your Compass Card or proof of fare at participating businesses to receive a special offer.

Tap to pay with your contactless credit or debit card

No Compass Card? No worries! You can tap to pay an adult cash fare at Compass readers onboard buses and at faregates with your contactless credit or Interac Debit card. This includes American Express, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

If you don’t have a contactless credit or debit card, you can purchase a Compass Ticket from a Compass Vending Machine at a SkyTrain station or SeaBus terminal. A Compass Ticket is different from a Compass Card; the ticket is single use only, while the card is multi-use.

On buses, you can pay with cash, but remember paper transfers (tickets) issued on buses do not open the faregates at SkyTrain stations and SeaBus terminals; only Compass Cards, Compass Tickets, and contactless credit cards open them.

Travel after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends with a 1-Zone fare

If you are travelling from outside of Vancouver on a weekday before 6:30 p.m., you will need to pay for a two- or three-zone depending on where you trip begins if you are riding SkyTrain or the SeaBus. For example, trips originating from Surrey will be a three-zone fare, while trips from the North Shore will be a two-zone fare. Travel after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, as well as weekends and holidays are a one-zone fare.

Remove backpacks and move to the back

The Grey Cup Festival will draw bigger crowds to the downtown core than usual.  A few simple actions can ensure we have more room on board transit for more people.

Remove your backpack while riding transit — place it on the floor if you are standing. Move away from the doors when the SkyTrain and all the way to the back of the bus.