Festivals, parties, concerts: Grey Cup events revealed for Winnipeg

The Grey Cup championship game is more than five months away but the party planning is well underway.

Winnipeg will host the CFL's biggest game on Nov. 29th, 2015, at Investors Group Field, andsome of the first detailswere revealed Tuesday including the Grey Cup festival logo and slogan, You Belong Here.

The announcement of the Grey CupFestivalfour days of events (Nov.25-29)leading up to the Grey Cuptook place at the University of Winnipeg's Health andRecPlex, which will bethe official site of the festival'sMacDon Fan Experience & Family Zone.

More than 10,000visitors are expected to make their way to thecity for the events and the big game. To entertain them, therewill be street festivals, tailgate parties, aconcert seriesfeaturingDallas Smith, The Sheepdogsand Loverboy, aCFL alumni luncheon,a gala dinner with performances byCBC star Gerry Dee and music icon Randy Bachman, anda post-gameparty.

"We have worked very hard to create an environment that all Manitobans can take part in, and believe we have a great mix of ticketed and free programming for both fans and families alike," Jason Smith, president of the 103rdGrey Cup Festival, stated in a news release.

Mayor Brian Bowman and Premier Greg Selingerwere at the announcement, Selinger said the turnout at theFIFAgameshowsManitobansrally behind big events.

"It's going to bring a lot of excitement and economic activity to Winnipeg and were going to be excellent hosts of it. We've done it many times and we've always been very successful at it," Selinger said.

"I'm really excited, City hall is really excited with the influx of visitors from acrossCanada. It's another opportunity to showcase Winnipeg to the country and the world," Bowman said.

FreeGrey Cup Festival events:

• NOVEMBER 25:Arrival of the Cup, University of Winnipeg campus.
• NOVEMBER 26:Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Fan Fest, Club Regent Event Centre.
• NOVEMBER 26-28:Nissan Titan Street Festival, University of Winnipeg campus.
• NOVEMBER 26-28:MacDon Fan Experience & Family Zone, Health & RecPlex at the University of Winnipeg.
• NOVEMBER 28:Cheer Extravaganza, Duckworth Centre at the University of Winnipeg.
• NOVEMBER 28:Grey Cup Festival Santa Claus Parade, Portage Avenue/University of Winnipeg campus.
• NOVEMBER 29:Countdown to Kick Off, The Plaza at Investors Group Field.

Ticketed Grey CupFestival events:

• NOVEMBER 26:Blue Bomber breakfast, The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre.
• NOVEMBER 26:Shaw CFL Player Awards & CFLPA Official Players' Party, Club Regent Event Centre.
• NOVEMBER 27:Winnipeg Free Press CFL Alumni Legends luncheon, RBC Convention Centre.
• NOVEMBER 27:Touchdown Manitoba presented by TransX, RBC Convention Centre.
• NOVEMBER 27:103rdGrey Cup Festival Party, The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre.
• NOVEMBER 28:103rdGrey Cup Festival gala dinnerfeaturingGerry DeeandRandy Bachman,RBC Convention Centre.
• NOVEMBER 29:Monsanto VIP Indoor Tailgate Party, University of Manitoba Campus.
• NOVEMBER 29:103rdGrey Cup Festival Post-Game Party, University of Manitoba Campus.

Concerts

• November 26:Dallas Smithwith special guestAaron Pritchett, RBC Convention Centre.
• November 27:The Sheepdogswith special guests, RBC Convention Centre.
• November 28: Loverboywith special guests54-40andQueen City Kids, MTS Centre.

The Grey Cup has onlybeen played in Winnipeg three times before,in 1991, 1998 and 2006.

The 2015 game will be an opportunity to showcase Investors Group Field, one of the newest buildings in the CFL, organizers said.