CALGARY STAMPEDE
July 2009 Bairdstravel was in Calgary for the world famous Stampede
The Calgary Stampede, which bills itself as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, is a large festival, exhibition, and rodeo held in Calgary, Alberta for 10 days every summer from early to mid-July, attracting more than 1.2 million visitors.
In 2006, record-breaking attendance at the 10-day rodeo and exhibition totalled 1,262,518. The Calgary Stampede Rodeo Committee was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008. The Stampede Parade which occurs on opening day, is one of the festival's oldest and largest traditions.
It is led by the Calgary Stampede Showband and follows a 4.5 km route in downtown Calgary. Attendance at the parade is usually about 350,000. During Stampede Week, the city is flooded with tourists who join locals in the spirited atmosphere by dressing in western attire.
A large number of businesses decorate their stores and offices in western style, usually starting in June and remaining to after the Stampede ends.[
The Calgary Stampede takes place at the Stampede Park, located southeast of downtown Calgary in the Beltline District. The park is serviced by Calgary Transit's light rail system, the C-Train, as well as neighboring property owners who rent parking spaces during the 10 days of the festival. Permanent structures at the site include the Pengrowth Saddledome (hockey arena), the Round-Up Centre (a convention and exhibition facility), a new Stampede Casino, the grandstand/racetrack, the agriculture building, and a number of smaller buildings. A major expansion and upgrading of Stampede Park is currently underway. It will likely include a new hotel, a new "main street" retail and market area, a new agriculture building, underground parking, and an extensive re-landscaping of the outdoor areas.