While most of our RV travels occur in the continental US, we aren’t opposed to crossing the border. Recently, we took the opportunity to venture into Canada being we were close to the border by Glacier National Park. The timing of the trip coincided with the Calgary Stampede, and that’s where we headed.

The Calgary Stampede is a famous annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival held every July. It has a carnival atmosphere with midway rides, games, and food. The Stampede includes rodeo events, chuckwagon races, agricultural exhibits, concerts, and various cultural displays celebrating Western Canadian heritage and cowboy culture. Some of the exhibits/events are free, but the bigger ones do require tickets, the afternoon rodeo, the evening show which includes chuck wagon races and a grandstand show, and some of the concerts.  Both the rodeo and evening show are daily events during the stampede.

We attended the stampede 2 days, Saturday and Monday, spending time walking around enjoying the carnival atmosphere and various foods from the different stalls.

One of the buildings we wandered through, had lots of different farm animals. It was amazing to see the draft horses up-close as they are amazingly big.

Saturday afternoon we attended the rodeo. It was lots of fun and very entertaining with its numerous events which included bronco riding, calf roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. The skill and bravery of the various competitors is extraordinary. Plus, with bull riders, you wonder who has more courage, the rider on the bull or the rodeo clowns who interact with the bull to ensure the rider’s safety.

Monday evening found us at the grandstand again, this time starting with chuck wagon races. Watching the drivers navigate tight turns, strategic maneuvering, and racing at breakneck speeds around the track is exhilarating as you listen to the crowds cheering.

Shortly after the races conclude, the grandstand show begins. The show features a dynamic fusion of music, dance, and theatrical displays, from vibrant choreography celebrating cowboy culture to breathtaking aerial acrobatics and pyrotechnics lighting up the night sky. It’s a great way to wrap up the day at the stampede.