101 Days Away
The start of the 101st Grey Cup Festival is quickly approaching and today marks 101 days until the party officially kicks off with the Opening Ceremonies on November 20th. Organizers are thrilled with the plans to date, the response of the province, and the interest in the Festival from across the country.
“We’re organized, and we’re very eager to share the spirit of the Rider Nation with all of our guests regardless of the team that you cheer for,” stated 101st Grey Cup Festival Executive Director, Neil Donnelly.
Despite the big game on November 24th selling out in early July, there are still a lot of ways to experience the festivities. Tickets are now on sale for events including the Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards, The Molson Canadian Live Champion’s Concert Series, the Pre-Game Party and the Countdown to Kick-Off. A number of free fan friendly events are also part of the week including the Safeway Grey Cup Parade, Nissan Family Zone & Telus Street Festival in the heart of the Mosaic Festival Village in downtown Regina.
In addition to all of the great activities planned in Regina during the week of the Festival, the spirit isn’t confined to the Queen City. Many of the initiatives that make up the Celebration In Rider Nation extend to the entire province and beyond. “We know everyone can’t be here in person, but there are a lot of fun and simple ways to be involved wherever you are,” added Donnelly.
One of those initiatives is simply sharing your photo on the official 101st Grey Cup Festival Photo website by uploading directly from your PC, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #101festphotos. These photos will make a collage of the Festival logo which encourages fans from across the League to showcase their CFL pride!
The Festival Committee is also encouraging businesses to get involved by dressing up their offices and stores with official business and retail kits that include a variety of items including floor decals, posters, balloons and flags. It’s an easy option to get into the spirit of the Festival and provides a nice head start for organizations who will compete for the title of “Best Dressed Business” in the province.
Additional details on the Festival are expected to be announced in the coming weeks and months.
Donnelly points out the key ingredient to the success of the Festival lies with its volunteers. “It all starts and ends with them. We’re closing in on 3,000 volunteers, with just a few hundred more to be registered to ensure we have the team that we need to make the 101st Grey Cup Festival the best one yet.”
101st Grey Cup Festival update
FAN PHOTO FEST
This is a way to virtually join in the 101st Grey Cup Festival spirit, regardless of where you are! Upload, share and then search to find yourself in the official 101st Fan Photo Fest celebration at 101greycupfestival.ca
RICHARDSON PIONEER RIDER NATION COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
101st Grey Cup Festival received 29 submissions for the Richardson Pioneer Rider Nation Community Celebration contest. The contest encourages Saskatchewan communities to showcase their passion for fostering health and wellness initiatives, as well as 101 Grey Cup Festival Spirit and compete for $100,000 in prize money for their community. The final eight communities will be announced at the August 17th Roughrider game and online voting will commence on 101greycupfestival.ca
VOLUNTEERS
Registration continues to be strong as over 2,600 people have signed-up to volunteer for the 101st Grey Cup Festival. Self-scheduling for registered volunteers begins in September.
101ST GREY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
On July 17th, 2013 the Canadian football League and the 101st Grey Cup Festival Committee announced that tickets to the 101st Grey Cup Championship Game are officially sold-out.
101st GREY CUP FESTIVAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT
The 101st Grey Cup Festival introduced a brand new education supplement to support teachers in engaging the 165,000 students in Saskatchewan schools. Promoted in the resource are meaningful opportunities for students to show their community spirit and Rider Pride while working to achieve curricular outcomes.
SASKATCHEWAN BUSINESSES JOIN THE CELEBRATION IN RIDER NATION
The 101st Grey Cup Festival committee announced that official decorating packages for Celebration in Rider Nation are available for purchase to retails and businesses across the province.
101st GREY CUP FETIVAL EVENT TICKETS
Tickets for a number of Grey Cup Festival Events, including the Molson Canadian Live Champion’s Concert Series featuring Hedley and Big & Rich as well as the Pre-Game party featuring the Sheepdogs went on sale July 4th.
TEAM PARTY PASSES
While a number of Team Party passes were sold-out via a Lottery, single day tickets will be sold at the door during Grey Cup Festival week.
