Calgary Stampede is one of those things you have to check out at least once in your life. Because you’re gonna be bow-wowed.
Taking place from July 8 – 17, 2016, the ten-day event, which calls itself “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, attracts over one million visitors per year. Speaking from firsthand experience, the rodeo, the chuckwagon racing, the flying motorcycles in the evening show are nothing short of spectacular.
Rodeo
There are six main events that happen daily including: ladies barrel racing, bareback, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc and bull riding. You will see cowboys and cowgirls wipe out with bone-breaking hubris, only to saddle back up and try another round.
Evening show
Bring a hoodie because it gets chilly. Other than that, just sit back, relax and allow your jaw to drop while watching their Cirque du Soleil-ish acts mixed in with dangerous rodeo circus.
Concert
Generally speaking, by the time you get to the concert, you’re already hung over. But that doesn’t stop people from getting frisky on the barn/tent dance floor, and swapping some digits.
Pro tip: buy a cowboy hat. If you’re originally a five, you instantly become an eight with right hat, especially if you’re balding attractively like Prince William.