Every July, the city of Calgary, Alberta transforms into an entertainment central attracting tourists and visitors from across the country and internationally. It is one of the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and exhibition events. Enter the Calgary Stampede. The Stampede is a celebration of western Canada’s heritage, culture and community that has been around since 1912.
Since moving to Calgary in 2020, I’ve fallen in love with the culture and people. I’ve written about the Stampede experience in 2021 (my first ever stampede). Three years later, I found myself venturing back into the fray for a more adventurous experience, trying different foods and rides.
Stampede Foods We Tried
Colossal Onion:
This is a carnival favorite, rather than generic onion rings, these blooming onions are dipped into batter and flour then deep fried and served with spicy mayonnaise dipping sauce. We also tried the fully loaded version with jalapenos and bacon bits. The colossal onion was one of my favorite menu items since it was so easily shareable between family and friends.
BBQ ribs:
We went to Boss Hogs BBQ for the baby back ribs which has won awards from across the country. The pork is tender and fall-off-the-bone delicious. They didn’t skimp on the seasoning either with rich infused seasoning and thick layer of BBQ sauce on top. This made me drool while waiting in line and watching others chow down on theirs.
Fruit from the fruit:
The weather was a steaming 30 degrees Celsius on the day we arrived at the Stampede. Of course, we were looking for something to cool our internal temperatures down. This pineapple drink was perfectly blended with ice that helped us stay cool while wandering around the Stampede grounds.
Some Stampede Rides we Tried
The WestJet Skyride operates 10 days a year during the Calgary Stampede. Sponsored by WestJet, it gives a tour of the entire Stampede grounds. The views are phenomenal, especially during the carnival season when the other rides are fully in operation. The giant Ferris wheel in the background gives the perfect ambience for a date night or family activity. During the day, I found the temperature to be too extreme, and without any shade it was hard to enjoy the full ride. However, in the evening, after the sun had set, this ride gave incredible views of the fireworks, outdoor concerts on the Stampede grounds, and the Calgary downtown buildings.
Some Cool Exhibits we Visited
This was my first time going to indoor exhibits as I had always thought the attractions were mainly outside. However, taking a stroll indoors, I found a lot more activities than expected. The tour of Alberta farming culture was eye opening and amusing. There was an assortment of farm animals such as pigs, sheep, cow and horses brought in from various farms across Alberta to showcase to local city dwellers where our food comes from. I enjoyed this exhibit a lot, as it had quite the educational aspect to it. The local farmers also took the time to explain to us where each part of the animal is used after slaughter. Also, being indoors, this allowed me to escape from the heat.