Editor Pick Calgary Exhibition and Stampede
Once a year, the city of Calgary comes alive and celebrates its western heritage through a ten day, massive rodeo-meets-fair called the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. This is the place to embrace your inner cowboy or cowgirl. It's a place to get your boots on and mosey on down the Midway with a stick of cotton candy and a freshly fried corn dog. It's a place to lose your stomach (and mind?) being tossed about on a death-defying ride. And if you're crazy enough, it's a place to try bungee jumping for the very first time.
The Stampede is held on the second week of July every year, beginning on the Thursday at 6pm (sneak-peek day) and ending the following Monday. Each day has a special promotion. The Tuesday, for example, is Senior's day, and Wednesday is usually kids day. The first Sunday is the most popular day to visit, with a free hot pancake breakfast served in the morning (but with over 100,000 people being served, it's quite a long wait). The Stampede officially begins with the annual Calgary Stampede Parade, which winds through downtown Calgary. Over 350,000 people come downtown to watch the parade each year.
While many people go see the rodeo (the biggest in the World), most people (like me) just stick with the fair and exhibition, enjoying fair food and rides.
The rides are plenty, and there is something for everyone. There is a kids section, a "moderate" section, and a death-defying thrills section, including many spinning upside-down-type rides. There are three rides available for an additional fee, these being the bungee jump, as well as a crane-type machine where the rider swings madly on a wire over the city. These rides cost around $70 per ride, while the common rides are around $4-$6 per ride. All-day unlimited ride passes are available for around $27 if prepurchased in the month of June, or $55 at the park. Many people prefer to buy tickets ($1 each) with each ride costing from 4 to 6 tickets. Due to the heavy lineups (up to an hour for many rides), most visitors only have the chance to ride on around 7 rides during the day.
Some of the interesting parts of the Stampede are its 'villages.' Charming Weadeckville is a western-themed village with old-fashioned stores featuring cheap hot dogs ($1) and slurpees from Mac's convenience stores. A bakery is also on site.
The nearby Coca-Cola stage features some of Canada's best musical performers. Each night a major band (usually from the top ten that year) performs free of charge. Headliners have included Sarah McLachlan, Our Lady Peace, and Avril Lavigne.
Admission to the Stampede grounds is $8 per person. There are many discount offers through Trident gum and Coke products which offer discounted or cheap admission.
The grounds are located in Calgary's Beltline district, south of downtown. The park is best accessed via the C-Train light rail system at Erlton station.
Visit the Calgary Stampede online at: www.calgarystampede.com
From journal Living in Cowtown