Calgary Stampede History
To celebrate the culture and romance of the vanishing “Old West”, a successful trick roper and performer named Guy Weadick organized a world-class rodeo competition more than a century ago. He named this event “Stampede” and found support from the Big Four - the most successful ranchers of Southern Alberta: Pat Burns, A.J. McLean, George Lane and A.E. Cross.
Launched in September of 1912, the first Calgary Stampede featured bronc and roping events, with participants from all of the North American West. It was a successful event. However, the outbreak of the first World War and the economic depression initially prevented the Calgary Stampede from becoming an annual event. But then, Weadick was called back to Calgary in 1919 to hold a Victory Stampede in celebration of the end of the first World War. Subsequently, the Calgary Stampede became an annual event starting in July of 1923, when it joined the Exhibition to form a single event – the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.
The Calgary Stampede is important to the city of Calgary since it attracts more than a million visitors to Calgary each year, making it known nationally and internationally as “Stampede City.” The ten day Calgary Stampede is branded as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracting the world's greatest rodeo riders and celebrating the roots of the cowboy spirit.
The 2015 Calgary Stampede runs from July 3 to 12 and will be officially opened with the crowd favourite Calgary Stampede Parade at 9:00 a.m on Friday. At the heart of Calgary Stampede is the world's greatest rodeo, featuring the toughest competitors all vying for great prize money in a tournament style rodeo. The six main daily events in the rodeo calendar this year are: tie-down roping, ladies barrel racing, steer wrestling, bareback, bull riding and saddle bronc. Other Calgary Stampede events include stampede concerts, stage shows, the midway, chuckwagon racing, agricultural competitions, the Stampede Market and Stampede lotteries.
The Stampede Market this year has a new look and feel. It has more than 15 new products and services, including the Brigade Range Appliances mobile showroom, Leon Leather and The Hudson’s Bay Co.
This year Calgary Stampede concerts feature Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean and the legendary Stevie Wonder at the Calgary Saddledome. Nightly entertainment starts off with the GMC Rangeland Derby and chuckwagon racing then shifts over to the epic TransAlta Grandstand Show, and finishes off with the grand finale fireworks.
All these events and Calgary shows kick off at Stampede Park, southeast of Calgary's downtown, starting on the first Friday of July. Be sure not to miss all the exciting events and shows at the 2015 Calgary Stampede!
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