The Calgary Stampede is just around the corner, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to Calgary and millions of dollars to the local economy. It will be a classic version of this long-running spectacle that has become Canada’s biggest summer event.
The Calgary Stampede is an annual music festival, rodeo, and fair at Stampede Park that has been running since 1886. This year, the event will be held from July 7th–16th and will see more than a million visitors attend the festival’s eclectic mix of rodeo shows, music events, and exhibition attractions.
The Calgary Stampede features a packed schedule of various musical acts at four different stages across the Stampede Park grounds. At Nashville North, you can catch an array of country music singers at a wild party tent, including headliners Billy Currington, Elle King, and more. The Coca-Cola Stage features headliners spanning multiple genres; those scheduled to appear this year include Vance Joy, Jimmy Eat World, Cordae, and more. Many artists, including Dwayne Gretzky, Big Boi, and Lord Huron, will perform at the Big Four Roadhouse. The festival’s largest stage hosts the Stampede Saddledome Shows, including performances from Pitbull and Alabama, and a wrestling extravaganza by AEW Collision.
Nightly shows will also take place at the Calgary Stampede, featuring a diverse collection of performers. This year marks 100 years of the iconic Cowboys Rangeland Derby, a legendary wagon race performed every evening. There will also be awe-inspiring feats of speed and finesse at the nightly horseback relay races. The Bell Grandstand Show will cap evenings off with incredible performances featuring stunts, music, and pyrotechnics.
The Calgary Stampede is primarily known for its rodeo, which has been dubbed the World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo. Six major rodeo events will play out across ten days, with C$1.85 million in prize money up for grabs. These events include bull riding, steer wrestling, bareback, barrel racing, saddle bronc, and tie-down roping.
The Calgary Stampede Powwow is another iconic component of this festival. This two-day competition will feature First Nations dancers, singers, and drummers from numerous tribes across Canada and the United States. It is an unforgettable showcase of the First Nation cultures that have been a part of the event and its rodeos from the beginning.
This is only scratching the surface of what the Calgary Stampede will be bringing to visitors. The Midway will have many rides and carnival games, and dozens of vendors will provide an eclectic mix of exhibition-style foods, from tacos and carnival food to corn dogs and falafel perogies. Among many other events and attractions, the event will also have a Kid’s Zone with numerous children’s activities, a large parade, and the Western Oasis, which will showcase Western arts and culture through multiple disciplines.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate for the Calgary Stampede. General Admission tickets provide access to many of the event’s attractions and cost C$23 for adults and C$14 for children ages seven to 12. Children under seven years old can enter for free. Tickets are sold separately for the rodeo, evening shows, and certain concerts.
