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When annual advertisements start plugging the Canadian National Exhibition, Glen Snyder gets mixed feelings.

Encouragements to "Let's go to the Ex" mean summer is coming to a close, the married Toronto father of two sons sighed.

But before the kids go back to school and cooler temperatures set in, Snyder says the CNE offers 18 days of rides, games and attractions.

This year's edition of the Ex begins today and wraps up on Labour Day Sept. 1.

Snyder, 44, has been going to the CNE since he was a small boy and loves recapturing the adventure by going with his wife Aida and their sons Aiden, 11, and Neil, 10.

"I went every year. It was part of the end of summer tradition growing up. Now, that continues into my adulthood. It has become a tradition, a ritual, with my sons," he said.

"Although there is (Canada's) Wonderland and a great many more (tourist destination) choices, there is just something about going to the Ex and going to the midway and the carnival games and the buildings."

Among the Snyder family highlights are the rides, trying to win stuffed animals at the games, walking past the Polar Express and listening to the ride operator taunt the screaming riders with "Do you want to go faster?," eating Tiny Tom doughnuts, taking part in free sports demonstrations and watching horse and SuperDogs shows.

"I like to do more buildings myself, now that I'm older," said Snyder, who also recalled watching Canadian bands Trooper and Bare Naked Ladies perform years ago at the CNE beer gardens.

Still, as much as he enjoys going, he admits the Ex has lost a bit of its charm from when he was a kid.

The midway is smaller and the famous Flyer roller coaster and Bulova Tower are long gone. Free samples at the Food Building are now few and far between, not like the smogasbord of the old days.

Snyder remembers going to Toronto Blue Jays games at Exhibition Stadium, demolished in 1999, and then hitting the midway because the tickets earned fans free admission to the Ex.

He never attended a concert at the stadium, but recalled his jealousy one year when he was out of town and his buddies attended a Police Picnic concert.

Although some aspects of the CNE have changed, Snyder can't imagine facing the end of summer without a visit to the Ex.

"I've been going forever, all my life. I think I missed a year or two along the way if we've been out of town but the vast majority of my life, we've been going," he said.

"I went with my parents and then my friends and cousins and we're bringing that circle back together (going with my children). I wonder how my kids will think about it when they're older."