Calgary Stampede

Every July, the city of Calgary, Alberta, is swept up in ten days of color, sound, and cowboy spirit for the Calgary Stampede. Known as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” this festival draws over 1.4 million people from across Canada and around the world to experience rodeo thrills, carnival excitement, and the living traditions of the Western frontier. It’s a summer event where everyone can dive into the full sensory adventure of the Canadian West.

The crack of the rodeo starter’s pistol, the sweet aroma of pancakes in the morning air, and the sight of people in cowboy boots and Stetson hats fill the city. Calgary radiates energy and hospitality as locals and visitors dance, eat, cheer, and soak up the open, welcoming atmosphere together.

Extreme Thrills! Rodeo, Grandstand Show, and Parade

Carnival of Dreams and Adventure

The Whole City Dresses Up

A Feast from Morning to Night! Stampede’s Signature Foods

The Calgary Stampede traces its roots to 1886, when the Calgary Agricultural Society launched the city’s first agricultural fair to promote local farming and ranching and attract new settlers. By the early 20th century, Calgary was booming, and the spirit of the Old West was already part of its identity. In 1912, American trick roper Guy Weadick came to Calgary with a dream of staging a grand tribute to ranching culture. Supported by four prominent ranchers known as the “Big Four,” the first Stampede was held-a six-day “Frontier Days and Cowboy Championship” that drew over 80,000 people, twice the city’s population at the time.

The first Stampede featured a competitive rodeo and a parade with 1,800 Treaty 7 Indigenous participants, cowboys, and ranchers from across North America and Mexico. After a break during World War I, a “Victory Stampede” was held in 1919 to celebrate returning Canadian soldiers.

In 1923, the Calgary Exhibition (dating from 1886) and the Stampede merged, becoming the annual “Calgary Exhibition & Stampede.” Weadick encouraged Calgarians to don Western wear and decorate the city, and the first chuckwagon race was introduced-a crowd favorite to this day. The event survived the Great Depression and has grown into one of the world’s largest rodeos and festivals, drawing over a million visitors each year.

The Stampede is more than a festival-it’s a living symbol of Alberta’s frontier spirit, diversity, and resilience. The Elbow River Camp (formerly Indian Village) has been central since 1912, with Treaty 7 Nations sharing their culture through dance, crafts, and storytelling-even during times when Indigenous culture was restricted elsewhere. For locals, the Stampede is a point of pride, a community reunion, and the very heart of Calgary’s identity as “Cowtown” and “Stampede City.”

I brought my kids for the first time. They were hooked on the rides and games at the Midway, and we learned about Indigenous culture at Elbow River Camp. It’s a festival where everyone feels welcome.

• The pancake breakfast tradition began in 1923, with tens of thousands of free pancakes served daily across the city. Over 35,000 pancakes are flipped every morning during the festival.