So, you've never been to the Calgary Stampede before? Here are a few things you should know:
- In 2010 the Stampede will run from Friday, July 9 through Sunday, July 18 (and in 2011, July 8-17).
- Tickets for visiting the Stampede Grounds are easy to purchase at the main entrances during Stampede. If you plan to see the rodeo events, chuckwagon races, the evening Grandstand show, or concerts, it's best to purchase tickets online in advance; these tickets also include admission to the Stampede Grounds. A wide variety of ticket packages are also available which include admission to other local attractions, such as Canada Olympic Park or Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
- Bring your jeans. One of the fun things about Stampede is dressing Western, and jeans are a basic building block for the Western look. For more info on how to dress Western, see Inside Calgary: Stampede: How to Dress Western here at TripAdvisor.
- Take in free stuff. During Stampede, there is free entertainment at Rope Square (Olympic Plaza) downtown every day, and lots of free pancake breakfasts at a wide variety of locations, from shopping malls to radio stations to the Stampede grounds.
- Check out other western-themed attractions. Heritage Park has a whole town's worth of historic buildings, trains, and even a paddlewheeler, all celebrating the history of the Canadian West. The Glenbow Museum's Mavericks: An Incorrigible History gallery focuses on Alberta, while the Niitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life gallery focuses on the Blackfoot First Nation in Alberta, both in the past and today. Fort Calgary tells the story of the establishment of Calgary as a NWMP (now RCMP) post in 1875, and how it grew into a town and then a city.
- Feeling especially brave? Try the prairie oysters at Buzzard's Cowboy Cuisine, downtown. Although they are available year-round, several extra varieties are available during Stampede Week, along with a commemorative t-shirt.
- Avoid parking hassles by taking the C-Train (Light Rail Transit) to the Stampede grounds. There are two C-Train stations that connect directly to the Stampede grounds: Victoria Park / Stampede Station at the north end (near the Round-Up Centre), and Erlton / Stampede Station at the south end (near the Indian Village). For complete information on how to use the C-Train, read Inside Calgary: Public Transportation here at TripAdvisor.
- Be aware that Calgary's weather is variable. Even if it looks as if it will be a hot day, it would be wise to take a wind breaker jacket with you when you set out from your hotel in the morning. Calgary's temperature almost always cools off in the evening. It is especially important to take a jacket with you if you will be attending the chuckwagon races. Keep in mind that the grandstand from which you watch the chuckwagon races is open to the elements.
On the Stampede Grounds
- The Stampede Grounds open to the public at 8 am each day; but hardly anything on the grounds is open to the public until 11 am. So be careful not to be over-eager and arrive too early in the day!
- Enjoy the "Exhibition" part of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede by visiting the Round-Up Centre on the Stampede grounds. Make sure to visit the Western art exhibit; it can be easily overlooked.
- Have your meals early on the Stampede grounds to avoid the rush: 11:30 a.m. for lunch, 4:30 for supper. The lower level of the Big 4 Building (called "The Range" during Stampede) has the largest variety of food on the grounds, plus tables to sit at; it's like a mall's food court. The upper level of the Big 4 houses the Stampede casino.
- Don't overlook the agricultural side of the fair, even if you're a city slicker. There are all kinds of free demonstrations and competitions: blacksmiths, stock dogs, working cow horses, cowboy poets, heavy horses, and more all show off their skills in and around the agriculture buildings.
- See the rodeo in the afternoon or the chuckwagon races followed by the grandstand show in the evening. If you have grandstand show tickets, then you'll have the best seat in the city for the fireworks, at about 11:00 each night.
- If you will be spreading your visit to the Stampede over two days, consider attending the chuckwagon races on the evening of your first day and the rodeo events on the afternoon of your second day. The reason is that the chuckwagon races make for a late evening. When you depart Calgary for the next point in your travels, it would be nice to have had a good sleep and not be recovering from a late night.
Getting ready for a family show at the Coca-Cola Stage
- The free entertainment at the Coca-Cola Stage is very good during the day, and outstanding in the evening. The free country entertainment in Nashville North is comparable, but because it is a club atmosphere (drinking) children under 18 are not allowed inside. In 2007, Nashville North became completely non-smoking.
- The Calgary Stampede ceases operations at 11 pm each night, and the grounds are closed at midnight. During Stampede Week, C-Trains run 24 hours a day, and selected bus routes also have extended hours. Check Calgary Transit's website during Stampede (and shortly before Stampede Week starts) for full Stampede transit schedule information.
Stampede Parade
The ten-day festival starts off with a parade through the streets of downtown Calgary. In 2010, the Stampede Parade will take place on the morning of Friday, July 9. Check out this website to find out about the parade route, seating along the route, and other practical information about the parade.
Hotels
See Inside Calgary : Hotel Districts here at TripAdvisor for an explanation of the districts that are most convenient to use as a base for visiting the Calgary Stampede.