Day 35 - Calgary Stampede

After the chuckwagon races they bring in a huge stage and put on a tremendous stage show with over 350 singers & dancers, acrobats, trick motorcycle riders and more fireworks than we have ever seen in our lives. It's all simply unbelievable and wonderful. The whole evening lasted from 8 until 12:30 and was worth every minute of it.

Day 35 - Calgary Stampede

The evening show starts at 8 with the Chuckwagon races. There are 9 races with 4 chuckwagons in each race around a mile and 1/4 track. Each race is extremely exciting and these guys can win some pretty big money over the 10 day event. It's hard to visualize the race from this starting picture but it's the best I can do. The audience is about 35,000.

Day 35 - Calgary Stampede

First of all, the Stampede is far bigger than we had thought. Imagine your normal State Fair and then double it. It's simply huge! There's everything you would expect from a fair, plus many bars with live music and, of course, the rodeo and stage show. The Budweiser clydesdales are here for the entire show and you can get up close and personal with them. Is it a surprise that Bud is the official beer of the Stampede?. We loved it all!

Day 35 - Calgary Stampede Pancake Breakfasts

The Stampede lasts from July 4th to July 13th, with a kickoff on July 3rd and it seems to be a celebration every single day. There is always a FREE pancake breakfast somewhere and most have entertainment to go along with breakfast. It's all a lot of fun but not very good on the waistline. This one was in the parking lot of a grocery store near where we're staying. We've been to a couple and have already eaten more pancakes this week than we have in the last 10 years.