Calgary Stampede

Ten days in Cowtown

The Stampede bills itself as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. Its ten days bring one of the world’s largest rodeos, chuckwagon racing, a midway, stage shows, concerts and agricultural competitions, and more than a million visitors a year. The whole city takes part: office buildings and shopfronts are painted with cowboy themes, residents wear western clothes, and hundreds of pancake breakfasts and barbecues are held across town. More than 3,000 volunteers help run it.

The Stampede Parade has been the official kick-off since 1912, with floats, horses and marching bands through downtown on the opening Friday morning. At Elbow River Camp, the Kainai, Piikani, Siksika, Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda First Nations of Treaty 7 welcome visitors to 26 tipis, with Indigenous artisans, traditional dancing and treats such as bannock with saskatoon berry jam.

Rodeo and chuckwagon racing are also the focus of growing criticism from animal welfare groups and some politicians.

From fair to Stampede

The Stampede’s roots go back to 1886, when the Calgary and District Agricultural Society held its first fair. In 1912 the American trick roper Guy Weadick, backed by four local businessmen known as the Big Four, staged his first Stampede, a six-day rodeo watched by more than 100,000 people. He returned in 1919 for a Victory Stampede honouring soldiers back from the First World War, and in 1923 his show merged with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition. That year Weadick encouraged residents to dress in western clothes and decorate their businesses, and chuckwagon racing was introduced and proved immediately popular. The combined event has been held every year since.