The Calgary Stanpede...So much to do and only 9 days to do it!
The Calgary Stampede is upon us. For many long time residents of Calgary, the Stampede is a great excuse to get out of the city. However there are hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Calgary stampede that include tourists and locals alike.
The rodeo and chuck wagon races are a popular destination for those looking for a true taste of what it means to be a westerner. The rodeo has over 20 competitors and is offering over 1.7 million in prizes. The top prize is $100,000 for the title of Stampede Champion ship. It is worth the trip to see how far these contestants will go for the top prize. The chuckwagons also offer a true Stampede experience. The final race also offers a prize of $100,000. If you want a taste of what its like to be a true cowboy, the contestants have their own BLOG!
For those less interested in the “ranch” aspect of the Calgary stampede, there is also the midway rides and entertainment, which is poplar with many kinds and teenagers. With two new rides and hundreds of the returning favorites, the midway is a surefire way to keep your kids occupied all day. $45 buys you an all day unlimited pass for the rides. You just want to make sure they skip the corn dog before they take a ride on the tilt-a-whirl. There are also artists and performers on the coke stage through the entire Stampede.
And if you anything like me, your favorite part of the stampede is the food. There are the classic carnival foods, like corndogs, elephant ears, caramel apples, mini donuts, and fiddlesticks. There are also some unique foods that not everyone knows about, like Dippin Dots ice cream (flash frozen ice cream in the form of beads with a unique flavor and texture – I suggest the banana split) and deep fried coke. You can probably tell that I can go on and on about this subject; however, I’ll spare you. I imagine your stomach is growling already.
Of course there is tons more to check out during stampede week both on and off the grounds including the casino, stampede breakfasts, and much much more. Make sure to check out the Calgary Stampede website for more details.