The Calgary Stampede, a 10-day international event attended by over a million people, celebrates the very core of Calgary’s Old West past while bringing the entire community together.
There’s no event like it anywhere else in the world, and as this guide points out it’s so much more than just a rodeo – to the extent that activities even spill out into city streets and the wider community, such as free pancake breakfasts (we counted 158 to be exact) and parties throughout downtown. At the Stampede Park, where the festival is held, there are exhibitions, amusement rides, dining, and nightly fireworks.
The so-called ‘Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’, now heading into its 104th year, is held every July. This year’s event runs from Friday, July 8 to Sunday, July 17.
Stampede Parade
Where: Downtown Calgary
When: 9 am to 2 pm on Friday, July 8
Cost: Free
The festivities for the 104th annual Calgary Stampede kick off on Friday, July 8 with the epic Stampede Parade running through 29 city blocks – approximately 4.5 kilometres long – of downtown Calgary’s streets. It starts at the intersection of 6th Avenue SE and 3rd Street SE, heads west along 6th Avenue SW, turns south on 10th Street SW, before heading back east along 9th Avenue SW and finishing at the intersection of 9th Avenue and 4th Street SE.
Over 150 western-themed entires are featured in the parade, including 30 marching bands, 40 floats, 750 horses, and 4,000 people. An estimated 350,000 people are expected to line the streets to watch the spectacle.
The parade starts at 9 am and ends at approximately 2 pm at the end of the parade route, but there is also a Parade Prelude beginning at 8 am when clowns and mascots roam start to roam around the route to help build-up the excitement.
Rodeo
Where: Grandstand, Stampede Park
When: Daily
Cost: Ticketed
At its very core, the Rodeo is the very essence of the Calgary Stampede. With contestants requiring to qualify in order to compete and with a $2-million purse, it is the world’s richest tournament-style rodeo. There are nine rodeo events, ranging from barrel racing, novice bareback, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, junior steer riding, novice saddle bronc, saddle bronc, bull riding, and bareback.
All events are held at the Grandstand, in front of an electric crowd of 30,000 people sitting and standing.
Events & Shows
Evening Show, Grandstand Show, and Fireworks
Where: Grandstand, Stampede Park
When: Nightly at 7:45 pm
Cost: Ticketed
Every night, the Evening Show starts with the GMC Rangeland Derby, which involves exciting chuckwagon races. When this portion of the event is over, a massive stage is towed in for the TransAlta Grandstand Show, featuring an eclectic mix of song, dance, and acrobatics. The evening’s affair concludes with a massive fireworks display over Stampede Park.
Free Concerts at the Coca-Cola Stage
Where: Coca-Cola Stage, Stampede Park
When: Nightly at 9 pm
Cost: Free
This year’s lineup for the Coca-Cola Stage, the largest music venue at the Calgary Stampede, is chart-topping and award-winning.
The 2016 lineup includes JUNO-winning band Walk Off The Earth, 15-time Canadian Country Music Award Winner, Gord Bamford, and American alt rockers X Ambassadors. Local Calgary musicians Christian Hudson, JJ Shiplett and The Dudes will perform on Sneak-a-Peek night on July 7, followed by Jocelyn Alice on July 13. Here’s the full schedule:
- Thursday, July 7 (Sneak-A-Peek): Christian Hudson at 7 pm; JJ Shiplett at 8 pm; The Dudes at 9:15 pm.
- Friday, July 8: Walk Off The Earth at 9 pm
- Saturday, July 9: Coleman Hell at 9 pm
- Sunday, July 10: Classified at 9 pm
- Monday, July 11: X Ambassadors at 9 pm
- Tuesday, July 12: The Sheepdogs at 9 pm
- Wednesday, July 13: Jocelyn Alice at 8 pm; Shawn Hook at 9 pm
- Thursday, July 14: Mother Mother at 9 pm
- Friday, July 15: Dear Rouge at 8 pm; The Glorious Sons at 9:30 pm
- Saturday, July 16: Gord Bamford at 9 pm
- Sunday, July 17: Simple Plan at 9 pm
Peking Acrobats
Where: Upper Level of Big Four Building, Stampede Park
When: 8 pm on July 7 (Sneak-A-Peek); 1 pm, 3 pm and 6 pm on July 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17; and 12:30 pm, 3 pm, 5:30 pm, and 8 pm on July 9, 10, 13 and 16
Cost: Free
If you’re looking for thrills and things that will make you gasp, the rides at the Midway aren’t the only Stampede attraction that will provide you with that kick. The Peking Acrobats, a touring Beijing-based acrobatic and contortionist group, features performers that juggle tables with their feet and climb to the roof on a stack of chairs that are only balanced by glass bottles on top of a table.
Dog Bowl
Where: Stampede Midway, Stampede Park
When: 6:30 pm and 8 pm on July 7 (Sneak-A-Peek); 12:30 pm, 2 pm, 3:30 pm, 5 pm, 6:30 pm and 8 pm on July 8, 9, 11, 12, and 14 to 17; 10:30 am, 12;30 pm, 2 pm, 3:30 pm, 5 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8 pm on July 10 and 13
Cost: Free
This is a show that features man’s best friend performing perfect agility and high-flying stunts that show-off their sheer athleticism. Replacing the Super Dogs, the Colorado-based The Canine Stars will be this year’s dog show attraction at the Stampede. Their dogs, which were all rescues, will do back flips, high jumps, dive underwater, dock-dive, and much more.
Bell Adrenaline Ranch
Where: BMO Centre, Stampede Corral, Stampede Park
When: 5:45 pm and 7:30 pm on July 7 (Sneak-A-Peek); 12:30 pm, 2:15 pm, 4 pm, 5:45 pm, and 7:30 pm from July 8 to 17; and an extra 10 am show on July 10 and 13
Cost: Free
Another show for the adrenaline junkies: The Bell Adrenaline Ranch returns with gravity-defying tricks and heart-stopping stunts, all performed by some of the world’s best extreme athletes, including X-Games medalists, led by Evolution of Extreme. In previous years, this event has included sensational water sports and extreme motorsports.
Country Music at Nashville North Star
Where: Nashville North Stage, Stampede Park
When: 5 pm on July 9 (Preliminaries); 8 pm on July 11 (Finals)
Cost: Free
Ten aspiring artists will go head-to-head in their pursuit of $10,000+ worth of awards and an opportunity to jump start their country music career. The judges will select their top six during the preliminaries show, and these contestants will then get another opportunity to perform two songs during the finals.
Talent Search & Showbands
Where: Boyce Theatre, Stampede Park
When: Nightly at 6:30 pm (exception: no shows on July 13 and 16) on July 8 to 12 (preliminaries), July 14 and 15 (semi-finals), and July 16 (finals).
Cost: Free
This is where Calgary’s music stars are born. Some of the nation’s best young amateur performers will compete by singing, acting, dancing, and performing for a shot on landing on the $10,000 grand prize.
Rides & Attractions
Indian Village
Where: Enmax Park, Stampede Park
When: Daily
Cost: Free
The Stampede’s Indian Village is one of the annual event’s oldest and most respected traditions as it recreates the life of the aboriginal communities that were once in the area. The entire exhibition of teepees is set-up by the Tribes of Treaty 7. However, for this year, the Indian Village will have a new home at Enmax Park across the Elbow River near the Saddledome – a new site at a new green space that is two and a half times larger than the old location the attraction usually sits on.
International Pavilion
Where: Big Four Building, Stampede Park
When: Daily
Cost: Free
In the midst of all the western cowboy fanfare, the International Pavilion provides the Stampede with a flair of the world through music, performances, cultural displays, food and drinks.
An International Food Market on the lower floor features 15 different cuisines, operated by local vendors, such as Southern BBQ, Chinese, Mexican, and English delicacies. A craft beer festival, known as The Big Four Station, showcases a lineup of 20 import and domestic beers plus 20 globally-inspired flavours of chicken wings.
Additionally, the pavilion also houses an International Street Market and a community stage for various cultures and local groups to perform.
Western Oasis
Where: BMO Centre, Stampede Park
When: Daily
Cost: Free
Throughout the Stampede, the BMO Centre will be transformed into a hub for local music, arts, crafts, and food and wine selections. It earns its name the “Western Oasis” not just for its entertainment and dining offerings but also its impressive themed decor of lush greenery and water features to create a peaceful sanctuary from the hustle and noise outside.
There are over 2,000 soft lights, trickling water and nature-like scents, 1,600 flowers and shrubs, and dozens of trees.
Midway Rides
Where: Midway, Stampede Park
When: Daily
Cost: Rides are ticketed
Embrace your inner child while trying hard to keep the Oreo Funnel Cake in your stomach. The Midway returns to Stampede this year with a new 45-foot-tall rotating claw ride aptly named “Spin Out”.
Other favourites will also return, such as Crazy Mouse, Outlaw, Giant Wheel, Polar Express, Wave Swinger, Mach 3, and Spin Out, along with a number of carnival-style games and activities.
The ‘Wild West Jail’ Locked Room
Where: BMO Centre, Stampede Park
When: Daily from July 7 to 17
Cost: Ticketed
Calgary’s The Locked Room will set-up a mobile escape room called the ‘Wild West Jail’ where teams of up to eight people will have 10 minutes to find their way out of the jail-themed room. The whole experience will take about 15 minutes, including a five-minute debriefing period before and after the locked room experience.
Adventure Park
Where: Located next to the Corona Zone
When: Daily from July 7 to 17
Cost: Ticketed
Paint balling, climbing walls, and axe throwing will be taking over the Calgary Stampede’s Adventure Park this year. Don’t miss out on your chance to show off your competitive side while challenging friends, family and strangers in physical activities.
Food & Drinks
It wouldn’t be the Calgary Stampede without its wide selection of crazy, over-the-top eats (think: deep fried anything on a stick).
For instance, this year’s Midway food offerings include: Mac and Cheese Stuffed Burgers, Deep Fried Butter Tart, Teriyaki Chicken Perogies, Meatball Sub on a Stick, Oreo Rice Pudding, Oreo Churros, Deep Fried Tequilla Shot Bites, Poutine Corn Dog, Deep Fried Oreo Milkshake, and many more.
Ensure that you come to the Stampede hungry, these photos of the food offerings will show you why.
Image: Calgary Stampede
Aside from the Midway, there’s also the Triple B with five new Canadian BBQ vendors and Clubhouse Rustic Chicken as well as the aforementioned International Food Market, Western Oasis Wine Garden, and Corona Zone.
Tips & Advice
- Dress up! Wear a cowboy hat and buckle up, and go even further if you can (think: flannel, boots, and bandana), to truly take in and add to the Stampede atmosphere.
- Don’t wear new cowboy boots, it’s a very bad idea to break into a new pair at the Stampede. Wear a pair of comfortable shoes instead.
- Apply sunscreen! Practice smart sun safety.
- Stay hydrated.
- Calgary’s weather is unpredictable… perhaps even moody. Consider packing extra clothes and bringing a poncho and/or umbrella.
- Come with an empty stomach, there’s so much unique grub that you can indulge yourself on.
- Take public transit throughout the Stampede; Calgary Transit passes are cheaper throughout the duration of the festival.
Daily Hive Calgary is a proud media sponsor of the Calgary Stampede
See also
- 158 free Calgary Stampede pancake breakfasts
- 34 crazy new foods coming to the 2016 Calgary Stampede midway (PHOTOS)
- 7 unique Stampede Breakfasts you need to check out
- Jail-themed escape room coming to the Calgary Stampede
- Spin Out rotating claw coming to Calgary Stampede 2016
- How to deal with increased security, bag checks, and check stops at the Calgary Stampede
- Calgary Stampede Coca-Cola Stage 2016 lineup announced
- Your guide to the Calgary Stampede Parade 2016
- Ways to save money at The Calgary Stampede
- How to get to the Calgary Stampede on transit
- Stampede "Ramps Up" motorsports show for 2016
- King Eddy to host live music again for the Stampede
- 16 free things to do during Calgary Stampede
- New activities coming to the Stampede's Adventure Park for 2016
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