Heading to the Memorial Cup and related events? Here’s what you need to know

Thousands are expected to descend upon Halifax's downtown core as the city hosts the 101st Memorial Cup.

Between the action on the ice and other festivities taking place during the tournament, parking is expected to be at a premium.

Parking will be restricted in the area of Argyle, Prince and Carmichael streets and Argyle Street is closed to vehicles between Prince and Blowers until Monday, May 27.

Event manager Tanya Colburne says they've done their best to encourage staff and around 650 volunteers to leave their cars at home.

“The majority of our VIPs, dignitaries and teams travel by bus and shuttle,” she tells NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show. “Our volunteers have free access to transit services, so we're really hoping those who are driving in and have to source parking are able to do so.”

Organizers recommend giving yourself plenty of time to find a spot, or consider taking transit.

On Saturday, May 18, the Alderney Ferry will be running every 15 minutes from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Outside of these times, the ferry will run on regular weekend service. Woodside Ferry will not be running.

Halifax Transit buses will be operating on a holiday schedule on Victoria Day, with the exception of Route 60, which will service the Woodside Terminal in both directions from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Monday, the Woodside Ferry will be running 30-minute service from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. The first ferry will depart Woodside Ferry Terminal at 2:07 p.m. and the last ferry will depart Halifax Ferry Terminal for Woodside at 8:52 p.m. Alderney Ferry will run on holiday schedule.

Games

The final game on May 26 is sold out, and tickets are going fast for the rest of the games on the schedule.

Tickets are available at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office, online at TicketAtlantic.com or by phone at 902-451-1221.

Those going to Scotiabank Centre should be aware there is no re-entry policy. This mean once you scan your ticket and enter, you will not be able to leave and come back.

Large bags, backpacks and outside food and beverages will not be allowed. All other items, like purses, are subject to a search.

For those who don't have a ticket, a large outdoor screen will be set up on the Argyle St. stage.

“It will be viewable from the Blowers side of Street Fest. Our Street Fest goes from Prince to Blowers,”  Colburne says.

TVs will also be set up in the Kubota Fan Zone at the Halifax Convention Centre.

And if you're not near a TV, you can listen to the action on the radio. NEWS 95.7 will be carrying all of the games.

Game schedule:

Friday May 17, 2019 – 8 p.m. – Prince Albert Raiders vs. Halifax Mooseheads
Saturday May 18, 2019 – 4:30 p.m. – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. Guelph Storm 
Sunday May 19, 2019 – 8 p.m. – Halifax Mooseheads vs. Guelph Storm 
Monday May 20, 2019 – 8 p.m. – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. Prince Albert Raiders 
Tuesday May 21, 2019 – 8 p.m. – Guelph Storm vs. Prince Albert Raiders
Wednesday May 22, 2019 – 8 p.m.  – Halifax Mooseheads vs. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 
Thursday May 23, 2019 – 8 p.m. – Tie-breaker  (if needed)
Friday May 24, 2019 – 8 p.m. – Semifinal 
Sunday May 26, 2019 – 8 p.m. – Championship Final (sold out)

Street Fest

A giant street party will take place during the 10-day Memorial Cup. Street Fest will feature 20 Nova Scotian musical acts, including The Trews, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Matt Mays, Ria Mae, Adam Baldwin and Sloan.

There will also be a special performance by Canadian country music star Gord Bamford on Saturday, May 25th.

The stage will be set up at the corner of Prince and Argyle.

Colburne says all performances will be free, however it is a 19+ event.

“If you want to watch with your family, that option does exist inside at the Kubota Fan Zone on screens,” she says. “And of course, you can take a peak out the windows on top of the street.”

Smoking is not allowed, but there will be a beer garden. Street Fest is debit/credit only.

All those attending will be subject to a search. 

Weapons, chairs, coolers, wagons, blankets, towels, tarps, professional cameras with a zoom longer than 2 inches, recording devices that aren't cell phones, fireworks and sparklers, beach balls, Frisbees, laser pointers, skateboards, inline skates, umbrellas, flags, animals that aren't service animals, and backpacks will not be permitted.

Full line-up:

Friday, May 17  – Matt Mays at 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 18  – Sloan at 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 19 – The Stanfields at 6 p.m.
Monday, May 20 – Makayla Lynn at 6 p.m. and Adam Baldwin at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 21 – The Mellotones (featuring Jessie Brown and Jah'Mila) at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 22 – Ria Mae at 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 23 – Roxy and the Underground Soul Sound at 6 p.m. and The Town Heroes at 7 p.m.
Friday, May 24 – The Trews at 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 25 – Maximum Overdrive at 2:30 p.m., Merimac at 3:45 p.m., Dave Sampson at 5 p.m., The Brood at 6 p.m., Merimac at 7:30 p.m. and Gord Bamford and 9 p.m.
Sunday, May 26 – Joel Plaskett Emergency at 6 p.m.

Kubota Fan Zone

The Kubota Fan Zone will kick off Friday, May 17 at the Halifax Convention Centre.

Doors open daily from 4 to 7 p.m. throughout the tournament, with the exception of Saturday, May 18 and Saturday, May 25, when it will be open to the public from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The free area will feature a variety of family-friendly activities.

“That will house everything from the Hockey Hall of Fame, to the newest and greatest synthetic ice surface, e-sports, the military is offering a really fun obstacle course, Deloitte will be there with their digital offerings,” Colburne says.

There will also be a daily Hot Stove event, where Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame President and CEO Bruce Rainnie will interview special guests to talk about their lives in hockey. 

Daily schedule:

Friday, May 17
5 p.m.: Jean-Sébastien Giguère

Saturday, May 18
1:30 p.m.: Trey Lewis & Stefan Fournier

Sunday, May 19
5 p.m.: Konrad Abeltshauser

Monday, May 20
5 p.m. Alex Tanguay

Tuesday, May 21
5 p.m. Pascal Leclaire & Brandon Reid

Wednesday, May 22
5 p.m. Guy Lafleur

Thursday, May 23
5 p.m. Don Koharski

Friday, May 24
5 p.m. Jody Shelley

Saturday, May 25
2:30p.m. MacKenzie Weegar

Sunday, May 26
5 p.m. Nathan MacKinnon