The event's roots are traced to 1886 when the Calgary and District Agricultural Society held its first fair. In 1912, American promoter Guy Weadick organized his first rodeo and festival, known as the Stampede. He returned to Calgary in 1919 to organize the Victory Stampede in honour of soldiers returning from World War I. Weadick's festival became an annual event in 1923 when it merged with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition to create the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.

Organized by thousands of volunteers and supported by civic leaders, the Calgary Stampede has grown into one of the world's richest rodeos, one of Canada's largest festivals and a significant tourist attraction for the city. Rodeo and chuckwagon racing events are televised across Canada.”

“Calgary's national and international identity is tied to the event. It is known as the "Stampede City", carries the informal nickname of "Cowtown" and the local Canadian Football League team is called the Stampeders. The city takes on a party atmosphere during Stampede: office buildings and storefronts are painted in cowboy themes, residents don western wear and events held across the city include hundreds of pancake breakfasts and barbecues.”
(Sourced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_Stampede)

There was no better way to start celebrating the 100th Calgary Stampede with a quick stop at the Stampede Caravan Committee area for delicious pancakes. Volunteers armed with stoves and spatulas serve up flapjacks and sausages to event participants from 9am to 11am, there was also a petting zoo, pony rides, western stage bands, and a marching band.  

 

Calgary’s streets were lined with cowboys, different floats, hundreds of horses, thousands of spectators, and much more. The parade marshal for this year was country music legend Ian Tyson, I watched the parade floats from 6th Avenue till 10th Street, then took a nice lunch break in one of the many food booths found along the Stampede themed celebration areas.



It is definitely the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, ten days of festivities, over a million attendees, surely a must for any family looking to experience some fun in the sun with a cowboy twist. This event has been part of my yearly rituals since I can remember, where else can you wear cowboy boots and a cowboy hat without it being some sort of fashion statement, just pure joy, I want to welcome anyone to come experience the Stampede next year, you will not regret it.



Here are the parade winners for 2012, as chosen by the Calgary Stampede Parade committee: