What do you like best about the Calgary Stampede and why? We want to hear your stories! Most compelling comment wins this stunning leather satchel (Calgary Stampede Raiders Bag) – valued at $320 and designed for the Stampede centennial by our friends at Roots. ***Contest ends Sunday, July 15 at midnight.
***CONTEST UPDATE: Congrats to Cinda on her winning comment. Have a read and you’ll understand why she’s the lucky new owner of this gorgeous Roots Centennial Stampede bag. Well-earned if you ask us! Meanwhile, thanks to all participants! Your most awesome comments will remain a permanent part of our growing archive on ‘real’ Canadian travel culture. Toque & Canoe
“We all like to remind the rest of the country that Calgary is a modern, hip, world-class city, but there’s something about the romance of the cowboy, the First Nations and the wide open range that makes this place truly unique. And the Calgary Stampede – with its wild rodeo events, whirling Native dancers and authentic cowboy roots – seems to encompass it all, like a burst of fireworks, all sizzle and flash, exploding in one crazy, festive, rebellious week. We all have childhood memories of dressing up with our snapped shirts and six guns, playing wagon train on the back stoop or riding our hobby horses, and Stampede gives us permission to let loose and play again. When we pull on the cowboy boots and dust off our old hats, some strange spirit comes over us all. We drink, we drawl, we swagger and swing – work is sidelined for some serious summer socializing. No matter our age or appearance, our colour or creed, we’re all part of a western Canadian tribe in a city that’s really very different from any other place in the country. It’s summer and we go Stampeding, like a herd of wild horses.” Cinda
Zach P commented:
The all-encompassing size and presence of the Stampede. I was in Calgary doing an exhibit in the Stampede area about a week before it began, and I spent my spare time watching a constant stream of shipments of cowboy hats and vats of BBQ sauce flow past. When the Stampede began, the city was awash with western regalia, which provided a great contrast to the fantastic and modern public spaces and public art of downtown Calgary.
Shelley commented:
When I’m out west, I’m always seized by the desire, no need, (which I have to keep in check) that I need authenic cowboy boots and a wrangler shirt. That’s fun and all, but beyond the get-up, it’s celebrating a pioneering spirit, the possibility of pushing forward into new frontiers that’s truly worth celebrating. Happy 100th!
Kayla commented:
The amazing Canadian Country Talent!
James Marshall commented:
I would love the horses! Haven’t made it yet, but would love to!
Holly Fortier commented:
I am so proud of Calgary and the display of Western Heritage for 100 years. As a 1st nation woman…I love that we have been portrayed in a positive way, with the dancing, regalia, Indian-village, Indian Princess…I have a business that does Aboriginal Awareness Trainings to industry, businesses, government, agencies….and I promote good relationships between the 1st Canadians and all other Canadians…the Calgary Stampede has been doing this for 100 years! Cowboys and Indians xo
Ian G commented:
I have never been to the Calgary stampede as I live all the way out East. However, I have seen parts of it on TV and watched highlights of it on the internet for the past years. I love watching to see all the horses in the stampede and those in the derby. I like the thrill of the competition and sport between the riders and horses. I think the stampede is a great tourist attraction for Calgary. For all these reasons, I plan to make it to the stampede in the next couple of years!
Marlie Rogers commented:
The Sheer”Canadian” element of the Stampede there are sooooooo many of our Canadian traditions that have melted away with the with the changes in our country, I hope that the Stampede stays truly Canadian. I appreciate that the animals are well looked after and that the they are always upgrading procedures to make sure the highest of standards are always maintained, like the changes they made this year for the safety and well being of the chuck wagon horses, Keep up the good work, and thank you for Keeping US TRULY CANADIAN!!!
Stephane Hebert commented:
The cowboys.. they remind me of when I was a little lad and me and my friends played cowboys in the barn and surrounding fields..
Amanda commented:
My favorite thing about the Calgary Stampede is the tradition attached to it. Personally for me I was born here and went to the stampede frequently with my Dad and siblings. And today I continue the tradition with my children of getting up early for Parade day and then making our way to the grounds, they are still young but we have not missed a year yet. Through out the week we visit various pancake breakfasts. My daughter looks forward to it now yearly, and is accustomed to our continued tradition. Its wonderful to be taking the same steps with my family as I took as a young girl watching the Parade with wide eyes. The Marching bands, and the wonderful floats then being welcomed at the gates by all the wonderful Stampede workers and Volunteers, Its a tradition that will continue for many many years in my family.
Melody commented:
I went once when I was 12, and was blown away – the people, the food, the obvious tradition…wonderful! Certainly a favourite childhood memory. I would love to go back!
Chris Knopff commented:
I’ve never been but the display through imagery and video is quite astonishing. I’ve heard from others I’ve known to have experienced it, and even the static in the air is amazing. I can say one thing, I’m slowly making my way towards and hopefully, one day, will I be able to sit in the stands, wearing a Stetson and enjoy in the awe inspiring festivities.
Maribel commented:
What I like the most about Calgary Stampede is that eveybody has the chance to be a Cowboy (cowgirl) for a day!!
Kate commented:
I used to work for a production company that produced the US television broadcast of the Calgary Stampede! Though I never got to go to the event myself, my favorite thing about the Stampede was how much I learned about the rodeo! I was responsible for all the graphics – names, scores, etc – for the show, so I became a rodeo expert for a little while! I learned all about the competitors and the animals involved and all the rules of the different events! It was a lot of fun, and it definitely made me want to go to the Stampede some day! Though a few years have passed since then, so I’d definitely have to brush up on my rodeo knowledge before I finally make that trip! 🙂
Megan M. commented:
I’ve never been, but I love the history and traditions that surround the Calgary Stampede. And the cowboys 🙂
MME commented:
What’s the best thing(s) about the Stampede? (considers this a moment) It’s the history (seriously is), it’s the many smells, it’s the skill, it’s the parade, it’s the fireworks….oh, and the jeans, definitely the jeans. ;o)
Janice C commented:
As a child,holidays for our family every year was a week at the Calgary Stampede. The excitement started in June, when we started getting our cowgirl/cowboy costumes ready. We always had horses at home, and would practice the barrel racing and pole vaulting endlessly hoping to one day be a part of the “Greatest show on Earth.” By the time we travelled across Canada, to the actual Stampede, our excitement was enough to give our parents breakdowns. To this day, I always get a certain excitement when walking through those gates. Horses will always be my favourite, but the entertainment is world class, and the food the best.
carla commented:
all the wonderful entertainment
Romi Lagadin commented:
I love watching the Calgary Stampede through both of my teenaged daughters’ eyes. Having grown up on the East coast, I never really got into the whole Western thing, but now that our girls are old enough to go on their own and meet with friends and have a good old fashioned good time, I see the allure. It made me realize that for them growing up in Calgary, the Stampede really feels like their own. This year, our oldest daughter landed her first real job working as an usher for the Suprdogs show. You bet I will be there with my cowboy hat on!! Yahoo!
Maureen commented:
If I had to choose just one thing about the Stampede I would have to go with the cowboys. I love seeing so many of them.
Neil Bousquet commented:
Wearing my Kenny Chesney hat & cowboy boots with one hand on my special Stampede belt & silver buckle and the other holding a mason jar of Jack Daniels & lemonade. Ready to party!
timothy hoey commented:
The best part of Stampede? Easy really, yes the Chuck wagon races, bars full of folks, kids with cotton candy and mini-doughnuts, music, rides, super dogs and more are great but it is the fact the Calgary as a whole, drops the business cloak, hustle and bustle, and jumps right into the deep end of fun and community. It sometimes gets lost in January but come Stampede everyone holds the door open for the next person walking through.
Christine commented:
The best thing about Stampede week = pancakes and bacon, pancakes and sausage, pancakes and bacon. Repeat for 10 days in a row. oh. and beer.
Loretta Schwab commented:
The stampede is tradition, community, Employment and Volunteerism, It is the people of Calgary and all of Canada coming together in fellowship. It is our country’s history and culture, both native and Canadian. It is also memories of friends and family. And it is also a reminder of my friend Marlene who recently passed away and who loved competing in the barrel racing. Whenever I think of the stampede I will think of my friend.
Scarlett commented:
I like the traditions and history that surround the Calgary Stampede. It’s wonderful to preserve the history of the sport as well as promoting the animals and their welfare at the same time. Saddle up!!
Sonja commented:
I love all of the memories I have that are associated with the Calgary Stampede! My Mom took us to the parade every year when we were little and I kept up that tradition with my kids when they were little!!! The best memory of all is working as a teenager at the Gates!!! I met my husband working there!!! And my older children have worked there too! I’m a Calgarian through and through and I absolutely love the Stampede! It really is the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!
Tom commented:
I was born, raised, and have lived all my life in Calgary, yet walking onto the grounds of the Calgary Stampede is like coming home. I don’t know these crowds, yet they’re my family; I don’t know these animals, but I’ve known them all my life. The Stampede reminds me that Calgary really is my home.
As I grow older, I appreciate new parts of the event. When I was young, it was the breakfasts, the parade, and the rides. In my teen years it was the concerts, fairway food, and the shows. Then it was the nashville tent and the beer gardens. Now I’m finally experiencing it as a whole and enjoying it even more.
I don’t know if I’ll live here forever, but I’ll always try to visit in July. The Stampede is part of me.
James commented:
The Stampede allows members of the community to come together and celebrate Calgary and what it means to be a Calgarian. Our city as optimistic, forward thinking, friendly and inclusive. The Stampede celebrates our western heritage and particpation is easy. Just add a cowboy hat and a pair of wranglers and you’re ready to have fun. It’s also a festival which is designed to appeal to families and adults. There really is something for everyone. Yahoo!
Brett Walisser commented:
How everyone buys into it. That’s what makes it such a resounding success.
Ernie Wong commented:
Best thing about The Calgary Stampede is the Stampede spirit! Everyone is happier, more giving, smiling. It’s nice to be surrounded by thousands of people that are having fun.
Lucy Talman commented:
Some individuals view the Calgary Stampede as an opportunity to let loose, throw on a pair of cowboy boots, spurs optional, and a Wrangler shirt and have a good time – and that’s perfectly fine. However, the Calgary Stampede is more than just fun, it is a celebration of our heritage, what made Calgary what it is today. It’s the history of the west, the first nations, the cowboys and those in between. It encompasses the entire city, Canada as a whole, and allows for the creation of memories. Stampede means something different to every person. To me – it’s an involved way to continue the legacy of our history and to assure that the knowledge gets passed down from generation to generation.
Liz Tompkins commented:
I love that the City embraces their cowboy culture and throws one of the biggest and best parties in the world despite that the rest of the country thinks we are a bunch of hicks. I think anyone who has been to Calgary during Stampede is pleasantly surprised by how urban and forward thinking we are and what a beautiful cosmopolitan centre we have.
How cool is it that horses and owners camp out along the banks of the Bow River on the eve of the Stampede Parade with the gleam of the office towers as their back drop? The vibe in our city at this time of year is infectious.
Danielle Nerman commented:
I had to sweep away years of mind lint to dig up this little golden nugget from the deep, dark caverns of my brain.
Generally, I avoid going out late and partying during the Stampede. But “Kool and the Gang” was performing and that in itself is oh-so “kool.”
Now, I’ve always despised the scantily dressed Stampede women of Stephen Avenue, but something in me made me reach for my push-up bra that night. With my breasts hiked to the sky, I ventured out to a hot and sticky Stephen Avenue restaurant to catch the show. It was early, so I parked “my girls” directly front of the stage and waited for “the boys” to come out and play. Dozens of handsome men in white suits took over the stage. They sing, they dance, they even play trombone.
Now, I’ve always wanted to be “the girl” who gets pulled on stage at a concert, but I’ve never been close enough to the action to even get noticed. Well, that night, I was both close enough and noticeable. Remember the push-up bra? Well that little La Senza number got me yanked on stage. Kool got down on one knee and serenaded my beating heart.
I have the pictures to prove it and simply recalling this memory has put my ego through the roof. After the show, people kept coming up to me and saying, “Hey weren’t you the girl who got pulled up on stage?” This experience always reminds me that at the Calgary Stampede, you can be anything you desire…or despise.
All hail the Stampede Bar Star!
Lindsey Jeremiah commented:
Having lived in the West, in the East and now centrally, I know that this amazing country has an eclectic collection of cultures and one of the best celebrations of this is the Calgary stampede! Dust clouds, the smell of livestock, RHINESTONES, cowboys and music! An event of international calibre and one which displays some of the best entertainment that Canadian culture has woven together! Somehow both sparkly and dusty, this is a national gem. One NOT to be missed, and one that screams “Canada!” with as much gusto as the Roots brand itself!
Stephanie W. commented:
My favourite thing is the way that the entire atmosphere of the city is transformed – people are so much happier during Stampede, they relax for one magical week and enjoy everything Calgary has to offer. Whether it’s free pancakes or watching the fireworks, everyone is engaged in the local culture. It’s always an inspiration to see the entire city come together!
Gorgeous piece, absolutely stunning! Really hope I win. 🙂 Keep up the good work!
M.E.Voth commented:
I love the Chuckwagon races. But mainly seeing them in person. I love the sound of the hooves pounding in the dirt and watching the beautiful thoroughbreds running. It sends shivers up my spine.
Natalie commented:
For myself, it’s just being home. I grew up with the Stampede – we went as a family each and every year and dressed up, ate tonnes of pancakes, and lived at the Stampede grounds. This year is the the first year I’ve been back in 10 years, and being the 100th anniversary makes it particularly sweet. I’m so happy to be back – it’s home being in this atmosphere and wearing my hat. <3
Rebby commented:
I absolutely love how the Calgary Stampede brings our entire city together as one!
Tracy P commented:
For me- it all comes down to the community spirit and volunteerism represented in being able to pull off such a large-scale celebration. It goes to show the passion behind and preservation of Calgary’s western heritage. I’ve lived in various cities across Canada and all seem to have their distinct events; none though come close to the Calgary Stampede in its reach. Committees of volunteers work together both on-park and well outside it’s gates reaching out to all parts of the city. It really is an all city ten day celebration and what we as Calgarians can feel proud to be known for the world over.
emily davis commented:
Would have to be the horses for sure 🙂
Roxanna Leeson commented:
It’s been a 100 years since the first Calgary Stampede in 1912, and I love THE RODEO, the exhibition and festival, the pancakes, the music, the two stepping, the cowboys, the cowgirls, the YEEEEHAWSSS, the belts, the buckles, the jeans, the kids in the cowboy hats and badges… bang bang!, the rides, the games, the parades, the chuckwagon racing, the indian village, the food on a stick, the art, the horses, the Candian Forces! the shopping, the cattle, the beef, the leather, the ballons, the smiles, the laughs, the deep fried food, the fireworks, the tradition, the LOVE… The Calgary Stampede is the best place on EARTH!
Kari Ness commented:
So I guess the best part of the Stampede is the comradery that it sounds like you guys experience. I am from a small town in South Dakota and wish we had more events like this here. We are too small for most things and don’t have the resources for others…. including the amazing products and shopping! Have a blast at the Stampede!
Tonya Browning commented:
Unfortunately I can not share any compelling comments regarding The Stampede because I have never been privileged enough to attend. I’ve read about it for years and it’s definitely on my “bucket list” but “life” has just kept me from being able to attend. To all of those who are more fortunate, I truly hope that there is at least something about this festival that grabs your soul and creates memories to last a lifetime.
Janelle Law commented:
The best part about the Calgary Stampede is how the roots of Calgary and Alberta come to the surface. At this time of year the lyrics of Paul Brandt’s song “Alberta Bound” come alive – “…this piece of heaven that I’ve found….no matter where I roam this will always be my home…” and you can just feel the pride of the Alberta heritage. I have been to many festivals in various cities, but none compare to the Calgary Stampede. How pround the city is of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is what I love and how this love is displayed through all the cowboy hats, Wranglers, and boots, not to mention hay bales and wood posts in every quadrant.
The best part is how everyone seems to just have a little extra “boot of happiness” in their step and a smile and nod (sometimes even accompanied by a “Howdy!”) are more easily given to passersby. For 10 days we all get to express our inner cowboy/cowgirl and just have a plain ‘ol fun good time!
Yahoo!!!
Cinda commented:
We all like to remind the rest of the country that Calgary is a modern, hip, world-class city, but there’s something about the romance of the cowboy, the First Nations and the wide open range that makes this place truly unique. And the Calgary Stampede – with it’s wild rodeo events, whirling Native dancers and authentic cowboy roots – seems to encompass it all, like a burst of fireworks, all sizzle and flash, exploding in one crazy, festive, rebellious week.
We all have childhood memories of dressing up with our snapped shirts and six guns, playing wagon train on the back stoop or riding our hobby horses, and Stampede gives us permission to let loose and play again. When we pull on the cowboy boots and dust off our old hats, some strange spirit comes over us all. We drink, we drawl, we swagger and swing – work is sidelined for some serious summer socializing. No matter our age or appearance, our colour or creed, we’re all part of a western Canadian tribe in a city that’s really very different from any other place in the country. It’s summer and we go Stampeding, like a herd of wild horses.
kay griffith commented:
without a doubt, my favourite part of the calgary stampede is the reaction I get from my many relatives who live overseas,when they visit. I always encourage them to visit during this spectacle. Many people expect just an overgrown fairground and some country dancing! They are always blown away by the traditions represented .The rodeo and the chucks being hands down favourites! It seems to get better every year, I never miss one!
Catherine Ford commented:
There is a small corner of my heart labeled “Calgary Stampede.” It holds a lifetime’s worth of memories that flood back every year, along with an inexplicable craving for mini-donuts and ice-cold beer, the heady aroma of grilled onions mingling with the too-sweet smell of pink cotton candy, and the soft snuffling of cows and horses.
For as long as I can remember, the Stampede has brought joy to my life, starting at age four and the 1949 Stampede Kids’ Day. When the winning ticket for the bright blue CCM bicycle was drawn, my father gathered me in his arms and we swooped headlong down those long grandstand stairs. I remember how hot the tarpaper stage felt under my red sandals, and how my chubby little hands had to be pried away from the handlebars when it was explained I had won a boy’s bike, and it had to be exchanged for a girl’s. I was not easily mollified. Fifty years later, to the day, the Stampede allowed me to pull the winning ticket. The smile on the little girl’s face was as broad as mine had been.
I remember going on all the scary midway rides with my dad — Mother refused each and every one — and only once throwing up on him. He blamed the hot dogs, cotton candy and the heat. I blamed the Tilt-A-Whirl. Mother laughed because, as she said, my father never once went to the Stampede without some woman throwing up on him.
Years later, I spent the entire Stampede working at the grounds, thrilled at the chance to be a part of it all, being an “insider” because of my badge that allowed me entrance to any and all events. Another year, I rode in the Stampede parade on a chuckwagon, a decidedly different vantage point. One of the outriders “lent” me a horse to get back through the downtown streets to my car. I don’t know which was more of a thrill — to be in the parade or riding a horse through downtown Calgary.
In 1985, I listened transfixed as k.d. lang, in her early Patsy Cline “cow punk” style, wowed a standing-room only crowd in the staid Fairmont Palliser Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom, annually transformed into the Paralyzer Room for Stampede. The drink named for that room — a lethal mixture of vodka, Kahlua and milk (sometimes Coke) — would paralyze anyone.
But one single Stampede memory rivals winning that bicycle: One Stampede parade day, my father arrived home from an afternoon visit to the Legion, followed by an entire Highland pipes and drums band. Dad led them in full skirl down Joliet Avenue and up the driveway to my goggle-eyed amazement, my mother’s open-mouthed surprise, and the full attention of all the neighbours. I fell hopelessly in love with the snare drummer. I was five years old. To this day, a man in a skirt with a drum can cause a thin sheen of sweat to break out on my upper lip.
All of those memories are wrapped up in the Calgary Stampede and, like so many Calgarians, I joyfully return to them each year for the chucks, cowboys, civic pride and the entire city’s enthusiasm for the whole messy, wonderful party.
Jacquie M. commented:
What I like best about the Calgary Stampede is that it gives me a legit reason to indulge my, until now, secret pleasure of making inane small-talk with American tourists. I’m a third generation Calgarian who loves-hates my city; I’m no fan of beef or rodeo or PC politics but when, over pancakes with my kids at the motel-village Dennys, I hear a southern twang beside me, I can’t wait to ask, “You folks here for Stampede?” Pretty unimaginative, I know, but, as they gush and swoon over our friendly city, I become perversely proud of telling them I was born and raised here (they need not know I spent nearly as many years away, in B.C., Saskatchewan and Japan). Yesterday, the aforementioned encounter garnered me a free breakfast, quietly paid for by a North Carolina doctor and his wife who were clearly charmed by my genuine down-home Calgarian-ness. Or, perhaps, after three days of Stampeding, they’ve simply come to believe that us locals would never hear of paying for our own pancakes.
Jacquie M. commented:
By “inane small talk” I meant on my end. I know it’s trendy and cool for people to say they’re terrible at small talk (i.e.: I’m too intellectual). I, on the other hand, love talking about the weather and fireworks with cheerful visitors. I asked our server for the doctor’s name; I got it, but instead of tracking him down and thanking him, I suppose I should let him take his own pleasure in his random act of Stampede kindness.
Donna L commented:
Living in BC, we have our Canucks that disappoint us year after year, getting us so close to the Cup we got within punching distance of Bettman’s face. Calgary has long been our division rivals. We love to pick a fight and rebelrouse with you. But I’ll give you one thing: you know how to throw a party. So much that Canadians coast to coast can agree that a large part of Calgary’s identity and pride is the Stampede. A century of tradition, heritage, and celebration is reverentially yours. Cheers, Calgary. I hope to one day be honoured enough to partake in the festivities. I’m confident you’ll welcome me with open arms and a cold beer. I’ll bring the smoked salmon.
PS. Toronto can have Phaneuf. And Cuthbert too.
Anna Marie commented:
The best thing about the Calgary Stampede? Easy living in Calgary! 10 days of embracing our Western heritage and celebrating our city with the world! Nothing better then watching the tourists in awe over our city!
Terry Lo commented:
My second date ever with my wife when we were dating was at Stampede. As it was a long distance romance (she lived in Ottawa), we could meet only every few months. It was in the glow of the Stampede that I got to really show her what life in Calgary would be like if she moved, from the cheery nature of the locals as we got into Stampede spirit to the simple pleasures of a Stampede brekkie and the warm feeling afterwards at the end of the day.
She moved here a few months later, and we were married 2 years after that.
patti fellows commented:
Born 86 years ago, raised and lived here all her life my mother in law Pat Skippen is what I like best about the Calgary Stampede. To see a senior’s face light up when they hear talk of the play by play of the parade, the majestic horses, the many exhibits, rodeo shows, cowboys/girls and the grandstand show to name a few is worth its weight in gold! Pat and her generation lived in a small town back in the 30’s and to them it really was “The Greatest Outdoor Show” they saw movie stars visiting their city, people from all around the world gathering to see the many talents that were displayed. Calgary was literally put on the map and they were proud Calgarians. They stood by and supported the Stampede through many lean and hard years. They saved their pennies in order to pay the “two bits” to gain entry, walked the long way down to the grounds, brought their lunch and splurged on a chocolate milk to wash it all down. A chance to win a “cane with a Kewpie doll” or a real live pony was always a dream! The rest of the penny savings payed for numerous rides on the “Caterpillar” which sometimes ended up in losing their lunches. It was good clean fun! As years went by she continued to go never missing a chance to partake. Dressed in her Stampede outfit she brought her friends from out of town, her own children and later on her grandchildren. She instilled on us all the excitement that she remembered from years gone by. To this day it is harder for her to get around but she loyally follows the day to day happenings and manages to get down for a shorter visit every year. The Stampede is bigger and much more grander than it was those many years ago but to the seniors that were around at the beginning it is a chance to re live their youth and to be proud of their heritage and city. So for me to see these old folks dressing to the tee as a cowboy or cowgirl and proudly strutting through the fairgrounds is what those magical 10 days is all about!
Jessica commented:
The volunteers and staff that make the Stampede happen each year are inspiring to me. Very few know the incredible number of hours that these dedicated and passionate individuals invest in this celebration of Calgary culture. Even fewer people are aware that the Calgary Stampede is a non-profit and that everything that happens during the Stampede is done for the benefit of the community. Especially inspirational are the teams of volunteers and groups within the organization that embody and project the spirit of the Stampede to the public. Watching the Calgary Stampede Showband and the Band of Outriders brings joy to so many and it is obvious that these groups are among the best exemplars of what makes Calgary and the Stampede unique and special; they demonstrate pride in hard work and exemplify a modern western spirit.
Tobi commented:
I am an event planner who works in the tourism industry in Calgary, so Stampede is always a busy and exciting time to begin with- but I like that I get to play “hostess to the world” during this time to really showcase what Calgary (and Canada for that matter) is all about- hospitality and history.
I think just like the concept of “Dressing Western” for these 10 days brings out a multitude of different looks (from good to bad to just plain wacky) the “favourite thing” about stampede question brings out an equally diverse range of responses, proving that the true best thing about Stampede has to be:
…There’s something for everyone!
Laurie commented:
Ever noticed how you walk a little different in cowboy boots? It’s a little less hurried, lot more head-up looking people in the eye, and you just feel good. I love the magic that makes the whole city feel that way during Stampede.
We should feel goofy “dressing up” like cowboys but instead, we become our own version of cowboys and we embody the best of the western frontier culture and cowboy ethic the Stampede was originally meant celebrate and preserve.
Well done Guy Weadick. 100 years and counting and this festival you created with the backing of the Big 4 is still doing exactly what you wanted it to do – reminding us that in this big city, we really are all are cowboys and pioneers.
Catriona Hill commented:
I love the way that the CS brings the community together – everyone in the city gets into it one way or another… it truly represents Calgary’s new brand -be awestruck, be inspired… “be part of the energy”… My favorite part, though. is being able to share that with international visitors. We live in a great, vibrant city in an amazing country… The CS embraces that pride and showcases Canadian hospitality and spirit at every level.
J Wong commented:
The thing I like the most about Stampede is the idea that one person had a dream, and he persuaded others that it could be a reality. This innovation, perseverance, and dedication to one’s dream has shaped the Stampede over its 100 years. The ability for one 10-day event to unite a city, a country and the world to celebrate not just western heritage but also to celebrate a dream is very inspirational.