Calgary is a city built on oil, with a calendar built on one event: The Calgary Stampede. This annual gathering is billed as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” and it might be just that. Part rodeo, part concert, part agricultural competition and part carnival, it attracts more than one million punters each year over its ten-day run. The celebrations spread beyond Stampede Park to put the entire city in a good mood; it is a fantastic time to visit Calgary.
A rental car can get you not only to Stampede Park but around Calgary, and then beyond the city limits into the surrounding nature- the Canadian Rockies, the prairies and the beautiful Bow River valley.
Here’s Airport Rentals’ guide to the Calgary Stampede, with everything you need to know about when, where and what.
When is it this year?
In 2015, the dates for the Stampede are the 3rd-12th of July, when the summer sun is blazing in Alberta. There are some new and exciting things in the line-up for this year’s event!
Where is the centre of the action?
The majority of the Stampede events take place in the Stampede Park and BMO Centre, two and a half kilometres from downtown Calgary. The main accesses are via Olympic Way to the north, Agricultural Trail to the east, and Macleod Trail to the west.
There is a train station called Victoria Park/Stampede which serves the Park, and is found on the South Line of the C-Train system. Paid parking onsite is operated by the Stampede, and it is well lit, monitored and staffed 24 hours a day. Services are offered as part of the parking fee which include lock de-icing, emergency vehicle relocations, park maps, personal escorts for patrons who feel unsafe, and complimentary coffee if you have to wait for anything.
How much is admission?
General admission tickets are valid for one day and include entry to the Park and access to hundreds of events, entertainment options and activities. Adult tickets are $18, senior and youth tickets are $9, and children under the age of six enter free. Beyond the general admission, there are extra ticket costs for the rodeo shows, the concerts and the evening stage show. All tickets can be purchased online at Calgary Stampede website, and general admission is also available at the grounds each day.
What to expect for 2015
The 2015 Stampede will include all of the things that past patrons know and love- the Indian Village, the shows and concerts, the carnival rides, the exhibitions and free shows, the food stalls and more. There will also be a few new features to keep you guessing! Here are some highlights of old and new:
- Superdogs- a free daily show featuring man’s best friend with plenty of new tricks.
- Bell Adrenaline Ranch- death-defying stunts of many kinds.
- The Coca-Cola free stage show with a line-up of artists yet to be announced. Previous acts have included Barenaked Ladies, One Republic and Carly Rae Jepsen
- Nashville North country music stage.
- Concerts with headliners including Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean and Stevie Wonder.
- The crowning of the Stampede Royalty.
- 35th Annual Stampede Talent Search.
- Crazy food and drink stalls- cactus burgers, cockroach pizza, jalapeno poutine, donut grilled cheese, and plenty more.
- Midway rides and games.
- The Indian Village where you can experience First Nations culture.
- The cool and calm Western Oasis with art, music, crafts, food and wine.
- A huge range of agricultural events, shows and competitions- miniature donkeys, cattle penning, horses, sheep, tractors... the list goes on.
These are only a small percentage of what’s waiting to be experienced at this year’s Calgary Stampede. Airport Rentals is your best call of action for a Calgary airport car rental. Our tip? Get in early, as rental vehicles sell out fast! If you decide to arrive early or stay a bit longer after the festivities, you can drive to various interesting cities including Banff or Edmonton. If you have more time to spend, drive up to Vancouver in your car hire, and cross the beautiful Canadian Rockies, or select from Montreal car rentals if you are considering other cities to start your adventure.
