The Calgary Stampede began in 1912 and has become one of Canada’s largest festivals. This unique celebration – held in cosmopolitan Calgary – fully embraces western heritage, culture, and community spirit. The ten-day event in July, known as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, attracts around 1.5 million visitors every year.
The Calgary Stampede captures the Canadian Western spirit, far beyond the gates of the Stampede grounds. While the event is on, locals and visitors don cowboy hats, boots, and stylish denim wear. Square dancing on the street, live music, free pancakes, and screams of ‘yahoo’ are a normal part of the citywide extravaganza.
The Calgary Stampede will be held next year from July 3 – 12, 2026. Stay at The Westley, a boutique hotel in downtown.
Ten biggest surprises for a first timer at the Calgary Stampede
Pickles feel like a theme on the Midway
Easily create your own fun food tour by exploring some wild flavors on the Midway – with a giant Ferris wheel, adult and kiddie rides, and midway games. Countless food truck vendors dish up unusual new concoctions, many emphasizing fried pickles.
Sample deep fried Oreos with pickles inside, pickle dusted donuts, pickle soda, pickle pizza, and one of our favs – Mac and Cheese with fried chicken and fried pickles. We loved ALL the wild and inventive culinary offerings – like fruity pebble rolled cheese dogs and mango soft serve with candied jalapenos!
Indigenous culture is honored
During the Grandstand Evening Show, bareback indigenous riders with painted bodies jump onto a new horse before every relay race lap. Over ten nights, 12 teams show off their skills with riders mounting bareback racing the track at top speed, leaping off to swap horses before taking off on another lap. The Warrior Lady races added in 2023 include female riders racing bareback around the track – 3 laps around the track on 3 different horses.
The American cowboy and promoter Guy Weadick staged the first Calgary Stampede in 1912. He invited Treaty 7 First Nations to celebrate their culture and traditions at the Stampede by including them in the parade, the rodeo, and other events. But convincing them to participate was the first battle, as the Indian Act prohibited them from leaving the reservation without a pass.
Today, visitors can explore the Elbow River Camp, the First Nations Village – where 25 uniquely designed tipis represent the 5 nations of Treaty 7 and where local artisans sell jewelry, art, bannock and saskatoon berry jam. The five nations of Treaty 7 have been camping along the Elbow River near the Stampede grounds since the first Calgary Stampede.
Cowgirls are part of the rodeo
The Stampede is not just a show of brave cowboys; bold cowgirls continue to rise in rodeo. The Ladies Breakaway Roping event is one of the fastest growing events with winning times clocking under two seconds. The rider ropes a calf before quickly stopping their horse, causing the rope to breakaway from the saddle horn. This is the second women’s event to be added to the Stampede rodeo since Ladies Barrel Racing was introduced in 1979, bringing more high speed action and remarkable skills of women in Western sport.
You can book a multi-course dinner in the stands
At the Stampede Rodeo and Grandstand Evening Show, you can book an upscale multi-course dinner at Lazy S. Dine in the stands while the traditional chuckwagon races careen by and the crowd goes wild. Since 1923, when the first Chuckwagon Race was staged here and, as a true throwback to the wild west, it’s an event inspired by the tradition of cowboys breaking camp and racing home.
While the rodeo extravaganza turns into part talent show, part music video, and part head-turning thrills, relax in your seat a glass of ruby-colored Canadian Pinot from the Okanagan Valley, smoked whiskey, or Clamato Caesar (the official cocktail of the Calgary Stampede). Choose from a variety of dishes like succulent Alberta beef, Ceasar Salad, and dessert – amplified with song and dance numbers, acrobatics, and a fireworks finale.
Free pancake breakfast happens every day
Loads of pancakes (and even some with bacon inside!) are dished off chuckwagons, to anyone, for free, on the street, during this 10-day festival. Some days, there are more than two dozen pancake breakfasts happening. This 102-year-old Calgary tradition stems from rancher Jack Morton, who served the first pancakes off a camp stove from the back of his chuckwagon. That tradition today looks like thousands of volunteers serving over 200,000 pancakes.
Experience live music everywhere
From Diplo to the hottest country star, there are numerous stages where iconic musicians are rocking out. While most of the entertainment is included with general admission, some of the biggest music acts require a separate ticket. Waltz around Calgary during this time to find live musical performances all over the city.
Cruise over the grounds on WestJet Skyride
Besides death-defying, hair-bending carnival rides, cruise atop the crowds and admire the scene from above (even motocross stunts performing aerial stunts) on a leisurely chair ride, similar to a ski lift.
A bucking bronco is literally back breaking
Watching the young agile cowboys mount a bucking horse a few feet away caused me to scream aloud many times, in shock of their bravado, but more so for the wincing pain I felt just watching them get tossed around like a doll in a hurricane. I remember once stupidly hopping on a mechanical bull in Tijuana when I was twenty-something, leaving my body feeling like it had been in car crash for many days after.
Many cowboys are 4th generation riders. Riding a bucking horse is literally “back breaking”, as we learned behind the scenes from some of the cowboys, many of whom start in their early twenties and ride into their late thirties. One Montana cowboy from a rodeo family said he started out wanting to be a bull rider but then, in high school, got hurt riding bigger bulls.
“Riding bucking horses seemed like less danger and is more taxing on the body, but bull riding is unpredictable. It is a lot easier to die. I love the physical aspect of bareback riding. Developing my technique took a long time but there are many neck and back injuries as a result. I know many who have broken their back.”
Why does he keep doing it? “It is the best job I’ll ever have. I can choose my own rodeos and make my own schedule. I do 100 rodeos a year, as that is how many winnings you can accumulate to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, as that is the path to becoming a professional rodeo champion.”
Calgary is the friendliest city in the world
A welcoming committee – donned in Western garb – greeted us as we spun out of customs in the airport. Little did we know that this Canadian city – deemed the world’s friendliest city – would prove to us that welcoming designation over and over throughout our four days. In crowds, there was no pushing and people politely made their way through packed areas, genuine hospitality was felt wherever we went, and even in a vintage shop, the owner offered me a major discount without asking.
Canadians drink The Shaft, like a classy RedBull
When your energy runs low during Stampede weekend, behave like a true Canadian by ordering The Shaft, also known as “the drive by” at The Living Room restaurant, where the drink was invented in the early 2000s. This Kahlua, cream, and cold brew (or espresso, and sometimes vodka) combo is poured in less than 5 minutes. The caffeinated pick-me-up is expected to be slurped down by straw in under 5 minutes – “like a classy Red Bull,” a friend said.
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