Calgary Stampede facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calgary Stampede |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
Bareback bronc rider at the Stampede rodeo
|
|
| Genre | Rodeo and fair |
| Dates | 10 days, starting the first Friday of July (second Friday if the first Friday is Canada Day or the day after Canada Day) 2024: July 5–14 |
| Location(s) | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Founded | 1886 (Exhibition) 1912 (Stampede) 1923 (Exhibition and Stampede) |
| Attendance | 1,384,632 (2023) 1,409,371 (record – 2012) |
The Calgary Stampede is a huge yearly event in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It happens every July and lasts for ten days. People call it "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth."
Over a million people visit the Stampede each year. It has one of the world's biggest rodeos, a fun parade, a midway with rides, live shows, concerts, and farming competitions. You can also see exciting chuckwagon racing and learn about First Nations cultures. In 2008, the Calgary Stampede was added to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
The event started in 1886 as a local fair. In 1912, an American showman named Guy Weadick created the first Stampede rodeo and festival. He came back in 1919 for the "Victory Stampede," celebrating soldiers returning from World War I. In 1923, Weadick's Stampede joined with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition. This created the event we know today as the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.
Thousands of volunteers help run the Calgary Stampede. It has become one of the richest rodeos and biggest festivals in Canada. It's also a major attraction for tourists. Rodeo and chuckwagon races are even shown on TV across Canada.
Calgary is often called "Stampede City" or "Cowtown" because of this event. The city's Canadian Football League team is even called the Stampeders. During the Stampede, the whole city gets into a party mood. Buildings are decorated, people wear cowboy clothes, and there are many pancake breakfasts and barbecues.
Contents
History of the Calgary Stampede
The Calgary and District Agricultural Society started in 1884. Its goal was to promote the town and encourage farmers to move west. Their first fair in 1886 attracted many people. By 1889, they had land for the exhibitions. But due to bad crops and a slow economy, the society stopped in 1895. The land later became Victoria Park. A new group, the Western Pacific Exhibition Company, held its first fair there in 1899.
The exhibition grew each year. In 1908, Calgary hosted the big Dominion Exhibition. The city spent a lot of money to build new buildings and a racetrack. They had a grand parade, rodeo, horse racing, and trick roping competitions. This event was a big success, bringing 100,000 people to the fairgrounds.
Guy Weadick, a trick roper, wanted to create a truer "wild west" event. He came to Calgary in 1912. At first, city leaders weren't interested. But with help from a local agent, Weadick convinced four rich businessmen: Pat Burns, George Lane, A. J. McLean, and A. E. Cross. These four, known as the Big Four, put up $100,000 to fund the event.
The city built a rodeo arena. Over 100,000 people came to the six-day event in September 1912. Cowboys from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico competed for $20,000 in prizes. The event made $120,000 and was a huge success.
Weadick tried to plan another Stampede in 1913, but the Big Four weren't interested. He tried in other cities, but those shows didn't do well financially. Weadick returned to Calgary in 1919. He got support for the "Great Victory Stampede" to celebrate soldiers coming home from World War I.
Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Merge
The 1919 Stampede was successful, but it was still a one-time event. E. L. Richardson, manager of the Calgary Industrial Exhibition, believed it could be a yearly success. His board wasn't convinced at first. But falling attendance and money problems made them rethink. In 1922, Richardson suggested merging the two events. Weadick agreed, and they created the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.
The first combined event was in 1923. Weadick encouraged everyone to dress in western clothes and decorate their businesses. The mayor, George Webster, supported the idea. He even allowed downtown roads to close for street parties. The new sport of chuckwagon racing was introduced and became very popular. The event made a profit, and over 138,000 people attended. By 1924, it was clear the Stampede and Exhibition would stay together forever.
Attendance grew through the 1920s. But the Great Depression caused attendance to drop and money to be lost. This led to disagreements between the Stampede board and Guy Weadick. Weadick felt the board was taking over his event. In 1932, he was removed from his duties. Weadick sued the board and won some money, but he was still upset. He didn't return to the Stampede until 1952, when he was invited as an honored guest.
Many movies were filmed at the Stampede. The 1925 silent film The Calgary Stampede showed the rodeo to people across North America. Famous Hollywood stars like Bob Hope and Bing Crosby visited. Even Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip came in 1959 and 1973.
Growing the Stampede
The discovery of oil in Alberta in the 1940s brought a lot of growth to Calgary. The city's population almost doubled. Newcomers embraced the Stampede, and the 1950s became a "golden age" for the event.
.jpg)
Attendance records were broken almost every year in the 1950s. This growth meant the Stampede grounds needed to expand. The Stampede Corral, a large indoor arena, was finished in 1950. It hosted the Calgary Stampeders hockey team and concerts by famous artists like Louis Armstrong.
Improvements were made to the grandstand and racetrack. The Big Four Building, named after the Stampede's founders, opened in 1959. It was a huge exhibition hall in summer and a curling facility in winter. Even with these changes, parking was still a problem, and there weren't enough tickets for everyone who wanted to see the rodeo.
Attendance kept growing in the 1960s and 70s. It topped 500,000 in 1962 and reached over one million visitors in 1976. The event was expanded from six days to ten days. New buildings like the Round-Up Centre (1979) and the Olympic Saddledome (1983) were added. The Saddledome hosted hockey and figure skating events for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
The Stampede always tried to keep its focus on agriculture and western heritage. "Aggie Days," a program to teach kids about farming, started in 1989. In 2007, the organization changed its name to simply the Calgary Stampede. In 2012, for its 100th anniversary, the Stampede set a new attendance record with over 1.4 million visitors.
Flooding and the COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2013, severe floods hit Calgary just two weeks before the Stampede. The grounds were damaged, but officials worked hard to make sure the event still happened. Some concerts in the Saddledome were cancelled, but other events were moved.
In 2020, the Stampede was cancelled for the first time in almost a century because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a big economic hit for the province. However, some smaller, safe events were held, like drive-through pancake breakfasts and fireworks.
In 2021, the Stampede planned an in-person event, but it was "very different" to follow health rules. The parade was smaller and only shown on TV, with no public spectators. The Rangeland Derby (chuckwagon races) was cancelled again. Despite some concerns, the Stampede went ahead, and officials reported a low number of COVID-19 cases linked to the event.
Exciting Stampede Events
The Grand Parade
The parade officially kicks off the Stampede. It starts early on the first Friday. Each year, a different famous person is chosen as the parade marshal. These have included politicians, athletes, and actors. The parade has many marching bands, floats, and hundreds of horses. It mixes western traditions with modern themes. You'll see cowboys, First Nations dancers, and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in their red uniforms.
The first Stampede parade in 1912 had 75,000 people. In 2011, when Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended, a record 425,000 people watched! In 2021, the parade was smaller and closed to the public due to the pandemic.
The Rodeo: "The Richest Rodeo in the World"
The rodeo is the main attraction of the Calgary Stampede. It's one of the biggest and most famous rodeos in the world. It offers huge prizes, with $100,000 for the winner of each main event and $1,000,000 on championship day! Cowboys love performing in front of over 20,000 fans every day.
There are six main events: bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, tie down roping, and saddle bronc and bareback riding. There are also four events for younger or newer riders. Competitors are split into two groups. The best four from each group go to the Sunday final. The person with the best score or time on Sunday wins the big $100,000 prize.
Most of the animals for the rodeo come from the Stampede Ranch. This ranch, started in 1961, helps breed top bucking horses and bulls. It's the first of its kind in North America and supplies animals to rodeos all over.
Rangeland Derby: Chuckwagon Racing
Guy Weadick invented chuckwagon racing in 1923. He wanted a new and exciting event for the combined Exhibition and Stampede. Ranchers entered their wagons and crews to compete for prize money.
Officially called the Rangeland Derby, it's also known as the "half-mile of hell." It quickly became the Stampede's biggest attraction. In 1923, only six teams raced. Today, 36 teams compete for $1.15 million in prizes! For 45 years, Joe Carbury was the famous voice of the Rangeland Derby, known for his "and they're offfffffff!" call.
Chuckwagon drivers sell advertising space on their wagons before the Stampede. This started in 1941. The money from these auctions, which reached a record $4 million in 2012, shows how strong Calgary's economy is. The Rangeland Derby was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Agricultural Exhibition
When the first fair started in 1886, Alberta was mostly a farming area. Even though fewer people farm today, the exhibition is still a key part of the Stampede. Almost 70% of visitors go to the Agriculture Zone. They see displays, demonstrations, and western events. There are competitions like cutting (where horses separate cattle) and the World Championship Blacksmith Competition. You can also see different kinds of farm animals and stock dog trials.
The exhibition also teaches people about Alberta's farming history and how food is produced today. The Stampede works with Alberta 4-H clubs to get young people involved in agriculture.
Midway Fun and Music
The Calgary Stampede midway has been run by North American Midway Entertainment since 1976. It's a big part of the Stampede, even though it's not western-themed. The midway opens early on "sneak-a-peek" night. Besides rides and games, there are four concert areas. Nashville North, a big party tent, started in 1993 for country music. The Coca-Cola Stage offers music from many different styles. The Saddledome hosts big headlining acts like Garth Brooks. In 2018, The Big Four Roadhouse opened as another concert venue.
Stampede Market
The Stampede Market is inside the BMO Centre. It has a huge retail space where you can find all sorts of things. In 2019, it started featuring local artists and craftspeople. The Western Oasis section of the market has cowboy and western-themed art, statues, crafts, and food. Many vendors want to be at the Stampede because so many people visit. Some wait years to get a spot!
Stampede Park: The Home of the Stampede
Stampede Park is located near Downtown Calgary and is easy to reach by Calgary Transit's light rail system. It has many permanent buildings, including the Saddledome, Big Four Building, BMO Centre (for conventions), Cowboys Casino, the Stampede Grandstand, and agriculture buildings.
The park is still in its original spot, even though there were ideas to move it. In the 1960s, plans to move the park were stopped by local residents. Space was always an issue, and plans to expand into the Victoria Park community caused conflicts for decades.
Finally, in 2007, the last old buildings were removed, allowing Stampede Park to expand. The Stampede organization started a $400-million expansion project. This will include new shops, entertainment areas, a park, a new agricultural arena, and possibly a hotel.
Stampede Park is a central gathering place for Calgary residents and tourists. Besides the Stampede, over 2.5 million people attend other sports events, concerts, and trade shows there each year. The park hosts over 1,000 events annually.
People of the Stampede
Each year, a Stampede Queen and two princesses are chosen. They are young women from Alberta, aged 19 to 24. They need to be good at horsemanship and be great representatives for the Stampede and Calgary. The first Stampede Queen, Patsy Rodgers, was chosen in 1946. The royal trio serves for one year, making hundreds of appearances. After their term, they join the Calgary Stampede Queens' Alumni Association, which helps children with special needs.
First Nations Participation
During the Stampede, the five nations of Treaty 7–the Tsuu T'ina, Piikani, Stoney, Kainai and Siksika–set up a camp. It's on the bank of the Elbow River and was renamed Elbow River Camp in 2018. They put up tipis, hold pow wows, sell arts and crafts, and show parts of their traditional way of life. Each year, an Indian Princess is chosen from one of these nations to represent Treaty 7. The camp is one of the Stampede's most popular attractions.
First Nations people have been part of Calgary's fairs since 1886. They took part in parades and sports and entertained with traditional dances. In 1912, there was pressure to stop their participation. But Guy Weadick fought to include them in his Stampede. He got support from important political figures, and the path was cleared.
Hundreds of Indigenous people from six tribes joined the 1912 Stampede. They camped in tipis and wore their beautiful traditional clothes. They were very popular in the parade. Tom Three Persons, a Blood (Kainai) tribe member, became a Stampede hero. He won the saddle bronc competition and was the only Canadian champion of the first Stampede. He was also the first to successfully ride Cyclone, a horse that had never been ridden before.
The government tried to limit Indigenous participation in later years, but the Stampede continued to fight for their involvement. The Indian Village has remained a key part of the Stampede. While there have been some disagreements over the years, the native communities around Calgary strongly support the Stampede and the Indian Village. The Stampede has helped preserve and share First Nations cultures with the public. In 2018, the Indian Village was renamed "Elbow River Camp" to show respect and understanding for Indigenous peoples.
Volunteers and Staff
The Stampede Park needs 300 full-time and 1,400 part-time employees all year. For the Stampede itself, an extra 3,500 seasonal workers are hired. Many young people in Calgary get their first jobs at the Stampede.
But the Stampede mostly runs on volunteers! Over 2,000 volunteers serve on 50 committees. These committees handle everything about the Stampede. The board of directors, made of 25 people, is also mostly volunteers. Many volunteers have served for over 10 years, some even for 60 years!
Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede
In 1964, the Stampede brought in dancers from New York. They also auditioned young local dancers to be the "Calgary Kidettes." This group became very popular. By 1968, they were renamed the Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede. They became a main act in the nightly grandstand show. The group's style showed the pioneer culture of Alberta. They performed all over North America. In 1982, the Stampede Foundation started the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts. It offers professional training to singers and dancers aged 7 to 19, paid for by scholarships.
The Stampede Showband
The Stampede Showband started in 1971 as the Stampede's musical ambassadors. This group has over 150 members aged 16 to 21. They have won the world marching show band championship seven times, most recently in 2023. The Showband has performed all over the world, for royalty and world leaders, and at the opening of the 1988 Winter Olympics. They perform year-round and have over 100 appearances during the Stampede alone. They even performed "O Canada" every night during the chuckwagon races. The Stampede Showriders, a precision equestrian drill team, were created in 1985 to go with the Showband.
Calgary Stampede Talent Search
The Calgary Stampede Talent Search started in 1981. It's a yearly competition for amateur artists aged 13 to 21. Younger performers (aged 6 to 12) also get to show their skills. The competition happens during the Stampede. Its goal is to find and help talented young people from southern Alberta.
Animal Welfare at the Stampede
The Stampede tries to balance rodeo traditions with concerns about animal safety. Officials say the animals are the "stars of the show" and that they care deeply about their proper treatment. The Calgary Humane Society works with the Stampede to make sure animals are not stressed. Veterinarians are also on hand to watch the rodeo.
Chuckwagon racing has faced some concerns. Animal groups argue the sport can cause suffering for the horses. Racers say the sport is dangerous but defend it, saying their animals are well cared for. They also say racing saves many horses from being sent to slaughter too early.
After several accidents in 1986, where nine horses died in chuckwagon races, many people called for changes or even a ban. New rules were made before the 1987 event to improve animal safety. More changes were announced in 2011.
Tie down roping is another event that has faced criticism. The Stampede changed its rules in 2010 to follow Canadian Professional Rodeo Association guidelines. The Stampede was also the first rodeo to give a penalty for dangerous tackles in steer wrestling. These changes were made after six animals died at the 2010 Stampede.
Even with changes, accidents can still happen. In 2005, nine horses died after being pushed off a bridge into the Bow River during a trail ride. Stampede officials said they would not do similar rides unless they could guarantee the horses' safety.
Some animal welfare groups call for people to boycott the rodeo. They have asked travel agencies in the UK to stop offering Stampede tours. In 2010, many UK politicians asked Canada to ban rodeo. Some groups even asked Prince William and Catherine to cancel their visit in 2011. However, the royal couple still attended and watched a private demonstration of rodeo events.
Broadcasting the Stampede
You can watch live coverage of the rodeo and Rangeland Derby on the CBC Sports website and Sportsnet One. CBC Television shows daily highlights. In 2019, CBS Sports Network in the U.S. aired nightly recaps of the rodeo. Since 2021, rodeo coverage in Canada moved to Sportsnet and to The Cowboy Channel in the United States.
Community Spirit
The Stampede spirit spreads throughout Calgary. Parade day is like an unofficial holiday, with many companies giving employees time off. People of all ages dress in casual western clothes, like Wrangler jeans and cowboy hats. Many Calgarians feel more relaxed during the event. The community and company events during the Stampede are great for meeting people and helping newcomers feel at home. The Stampede is also an important stop for political leaders on their summer tours.
Pancake Breakfasts
Pancake breakfasts are a big tradition during the Stampede. Many groups, companies, and churches host them all over the city every day. The tradition started in 1923 when a chuckwagon driver, Jack Morton, invited people to join him for his morning meal.
The biggest breakfast is at the Chinook Centre shopping mall. Four hundred volunteers serve over 60,000 people in one day! Other groups, like the Calgary Stampede Caravan, feed up to 120,000 people over ten days. The popularity of barbecues also grew during the Stampede. Community groups have even taken this tradition across Canada to show Calgary's hospitality.
Stampede Parties
The number of parties during Stampede shows how strong Calgary's economy is. Companies and community groups hold big events for their staff and clients. Bars and pubs set up party tents, with the largest attracting up to 20,000 people daily. Some business owners say they make a big part of their yearly income during the ten days of Stampede.
Calgary's Identity and the Stampede
The Stampede is deeply connected to Calgary's identity. Calgary has long been called "Stampede City" and "Cowtown." The event gives Calgary global attention and helps define the city's image. Calgary's Canadian Football League team has been called the Stampeders since 1945.
Most people in Alberta support the Stampede. A 2006 poll found that 86% of Albertans felt it improved their quality of life and was an important cultural event. Almost three out of four people said they look forward to it every year.
The Stampede's success comes partly from its strong relationship with the city government and community leaders. Calgary mayors and council members have served on the Stampede Board. The Stampede operates on city-owned land and pays no property tax on its lease. It works as a non-profit, meaning all its income goes back into the park.
The media also supports the Stampede. Local newspapers have sometimes refused to run anti-rodeo ads, saying they wouldn't insult a "proud Calgary tradition." However, one newspaper later changed its mind and ran such an ad.
Economic Impact and Tourism
While most Stampede visitors are from the Calgary area, officials work to promote the event worldwide. The Stampede attracts visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and increasingly from Asia and South America.
A 2019 report found that the Calgary Stampede's year-round activities bring in $540.8 million to Alberta's economy. The 10-day event alone accounts for $282.5 million of that. In Calgary, the Stampede's year-round activities generate $449.8 million, with $227.4 million from the 10-day event.
The Stampede is the highest-earning festival in Canada. Officials estimate that for every dollar spent at Stampede Park, tourists spend $2.65 in the rest of the city. A 2011 poll showed that many Calgarians expected to spend $150–$400 during the event.
Promoting Calgary to the World
City leaders have always said the Stampede helps promote Calgary. Former Mayor Andrew Davison said in 1944 that it "had done more to advertise Calgary than any single agency." The Canadian Tourism Commission has even included the Stampede in its Signature Experiences Collection.
According to Ralph Klein, a former mayor and premier of Alberta, the Stampede shows the spirit of the province. He mentioned the friendly attitude of Calgarians during the event. One famous example is the 36th Grey Cup game in 1948. Stampeder football fans traveled to Toronto and had huge celebrations, including riding a horse into a hotel lobby! These events helped turn the Grey Cup into a national festival.
See also
- Calgary White Hat
- Canadian Finals Rodeo, Canada's other big rodeo
- Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
- Chuckwagon
- Festivals in Alberta
- Festival Western de Saint-Tite, eastern Canada's largest rodeo
- Raymond Stampede, Canada's oldest rodeo
- Reg Kesler
