Calgary Stampede attendance tops 500,000 in the first weekend
The Calgary Stampede has taken over the city and despite the scorching heat, people are still hitting the grounds in record numbers.
The attendance for Tim Horton’s Family Day, which included free admission before 11 am and a giant pancake breakfast, saw record-breaking attendance this year.
Overall, the grounds have seen 538,807 people walk through the gates in the first weekend.
It’s not just the Stampede midway that’s breaking new ground this year, as the annual parade also had a record-breaking year with 350,000 people lining downtown streets to watch the colourful floats pass by.
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A trio of celebrity judges, including Chris Potter, Amber Marshall, and Shaun Johnston from the Alberta-shot show Heartland, were selected to award the best performance in the parade.
The judges chose Taipei First Girlās High School Marching Band, while “parade enthusiasts” voted for INDIA! That is BHARAT (Maranthi) as the C977 Fan Favourite.
If you plan on heading to Stampede this week, you can plan the best year yet with our guide to 50+ Stampede pancake breakfasts, a list of all the concerts that have been announced, or, if you’re looking to avoid it all together, some great date ideas to try far away from the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.