Called the greatest outdoor event on Earth, The Calgary Stampede is a rodeo, exhibition, and festival held every July in Stampede Park, Calgary, Alberta. The ten-day festival attracts 1.5 million visitors for a reason—it is one of the world's largest and richest rodeos.
Festival Highlights
The Calgary Stampede also features a parade, the midway with dozens of rides, live music concerts and lively entertainment shows, fantastic food, agricultural competition, and chuckwagon racing. For many Canadians visiting Calgary Stampede has become a family tradition.
This year, the Calgary Stampede presents an exceptional lineup across four stages, showcasing country legends, rock royalty, and rising stars. With each stage offering a diverse range of genres, attendees can expect an unforgettable musical experience that caters to all tastes.
The Stampede Rodeo has the world’s best riders and animals. At 1:30 pm cowboys and cowgirls display their skills and grit, with fierce competition building up by Showdown Sunday.
Calgary is often associated with the event and is known in Canada as the "Stampede City". Its Canadian Football League team is called the Stampeders. The city gets really busy and is immersed in a joyful atmosphere during the Stampede. Cowboy themes and barbecues can be seen everywhere. However, some animal rights groups protest against the festival and call on the government to ban rodeos.
The event dates back to 1886 when the District Agricultural Society held the first fair in Calgary. In 1912, Guy Weadick organized his first Stampede during the fair. It became an annual event in 1923 held simultaneously with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition.
Tickets & Admission
Stampede Park offers various ticket options for visitors. The Rodeo kicks off daily at 1:30 pm, and ticket prices vary based on seating, ranging from $43 to $367. Each rodeo ticket includes admission to Stampede Park for the day. For the nightly evening show at 7:45 pm, ticket prices depend on seat choice and range from $53 to $166. Like the rodeo tickets, evening show tickets also include admission to Stampede Park for the day.
For those seeking the ultimate experience, the Two-Day Thrill Ticket Package offers access to both events (one Rodeo and one Evening Show) over two days. It is priced at $342 GST plus a $3.50 handling charge per order. Please note that children aged two years and up require a ticket when seated in GMC Stadium.
Parking
Public parking for the Calgary Stampede is available for day use at $30 per entry. Visitors can find it north of the BMO Centre between of Macleod Trail and 12 Ave, as well as directly north of Stampede Park in the 11 Ave lot. While overnight parking is permitted, vehicles must be removed by 8:00 am the following day.
Accessible parking stalls are provided at $30 per entry in Lots 10 and 20. Alternatively, visitors can utilize public parking in East Village. Stampede Park is conveniently located between two train stations, Erlton and Victoria Park, offering easy access via regular train and bus service throughout the year.
