Calgary Stampede 2025: We tried the new food coming to the Midway

If there’s one thing we know for sure with every Calgary Stampede, we’ll get some weird and wonderful eats hitting the Midway.

Each year, hundreds of food trucks assemble at the Stampede grounds ready to shock the millions of Stampede guests with everything from cheeseburger soft serve to watermelon burgers.

Over 50 new menu items are set to debut at the Calgary Stampede in 2025, and we at Dished were lucky enough to go and get a sneak preview of what we can expect.

Skittle Dog – Paolini Concessions

By far, one of the most intriguing dishes being served up at the Stampede this year is the Skittle Dog. The bizarre hot dog has been brought to life by Paolini Concessions, and while the hot dog itself is topped with Skittles, there are actually freeze-dried Skittles in the meat too.

While it sounds, and looks, odd, the Skittle Dog was actually not bad? The sausage was a little on the sweeter side due to the candy, and the Skittles were in odd contrast, but it’s one you’ll have to try for yourself.

Maple Bacon Cheesecake – Bowtie Pizza

There was a surprising amount of cheesecake-based items up for grabs this year, and we were certainly ready to try Bowtie Pizza’s sweet and savoury take.

Made with the pizzeria’s famed no-bake cheesecake, it’s topped with crispy bacon and drizzled with Canadian maple syrup. Is it outrageous? No, but it is extremely delicious. The creamy cheesecake and crispy bacon bits contrast perfectly. We’d definitely go back for seconds.

Sassy Puerquita – Arepas Ranch

While Calgary Stampede is a haven for fried food, don’t skip out on the arepas. For 2025, Arepas Ranch is serving the Sassy Puerquita, loaded with pulled pork, coleslaw mango salad, crispy chicharrón, and drizzled with passion fruit spicy sauce.

Be warned: it’s messy, so have napkins handy. It’s juicy, flavourful, and well worth taking a break from corn dogs.

 

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Spam-pede Bao – Dumpling Hero

The Dumpling Hero is taking us on a trip to Hawaii with its latest bao offering. With savoury spam, garlic shrimp and pineapple, you really can’t go wrong with the Spam-pede Bao.

The bao itself was chewy and soft, the spam and shrimp were grilled to perfection, and it tasted like a trip to a tropical island.

Walking Tteokbokki Cup – Happy Fish

You’ll need some serious strength to tackle Happy Fish’s behemoth Walking Tteokbokki Cup. The hefty treat is basically a two-for-one with a huge bowl of Tteokbokki, loaded with rice cakes, fish cakes, cabbage, and green onions in a sweet and spicy sauce. The cup below has a refreshing roselle drink.

The concept itself is pretty genius. It offers an easy way to carry food and a drink one-handed. The Tteokbokki was flavourful and paired nicely with the drink.

Lava Flow Lemonade – Family Squeezed Lemonade

Family Squeezed Lemonade also got the memo about island-inspired treats with its latest creation, the Lava Flow Lemonade. Based on the classic Hawaiian beverage, the lemonade is packed with chunks of coconut, pineapple, mango, and a hint of cherry for its distinctive appearance.

Lemonade is a Stampede classic for a reason, and if you’re keen to switch up from the classic, the Lava Flow Lemonade will be incredibly refreshing during those blazing days on the Midway.

Which new Midway food are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments.

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