~PAGE IS UPDATED AS ANNOUNCMENTS ARE MADE~
Note: If you're new to the Stampede, you'll need to know the basics first!
Click here to jump to Stampede FAQs:
Free entry 11:00am-1:30pm
50% off gate admission to the Stampede grounds 5pm-Midnight
Buy a SuperPass and get unlimited entry for all 10 days of Stampede ($49 +GST)
Get $50 in Stampede Bucks for just $39.99 and redeem them on everything from rides to Rodeo and Evening Show tickets
It's $45 for a Ride All Day card (save 25%). Purchase at Safeway, Sobeys, or IGA in Calgary area. Good for one day midway ride wristband or one sheet of 60 midway coupons. (Does not admit to stampede park)
Buy a Stampede lottery ticket and get 50% off Evening and Rodeo tickets promo code. (Only on until July 6, 2024)
Purchase 2 park admissions tickets and 2 500ml Coca-Cola products at any participating Circle K convenience stores for $33. (30% off)
Spend $5 on participating Coca-Cola products at Calgary Co-op and get $10 off park admission tickets
(the nightclub within the casino, not the outdoor tent)
Tickets are required for Cowboys concerts. The Cowboys Music Festival Tent is located just outside of the Stampede Grounds (extremely busy area) . I do not recommend driving to concerts here - use transit or uber/cab.
📍 519 12 Ave SE
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
Depending on the concert you may be able to get in free with RSVP and early arrival. See each concert for details. The Badlands Music Festival is located downtown at
📍725 9th ave SW.
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
Admission to the tent is FREE but the entry line is often long (2-4 hours on weekend evenings).
📍 Stampede Grounds
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
Tickets are required for entry to Wildhorse concerts (usually $25). Wildhorse is located downtown.
📍 500 6th ave SW.
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
Tickets are required for concerts at The Back Alley. The Back Alley is located about 5 minutes south of the downtown area:
📍 4630 Macleod Trail.
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
📍 330 11 Ave SW.
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
Concerts at the Coke Stage are FREE. You only need admission to the grounds. However, go early as it gets packed in the evenings!
📍 Stampede Grounds
All Ages
Concerts at the Big Four Roadhouse are normally FREE unless it says tickets are required.
📍 Stampede Grounds
🔞 ?
Most Ranchman's stampede concerts do not require tickets. Note that Ranchman's located south of downtown (making it easier to get access compared to some tents).
📍 9615 Macleod Trail S.
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
Tickets are on sale via links on their website. Whiskey Rose is located downtown on popular 17th Ave.
📍 1012 17 Ave SW
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter.
Most Palace Theatre concerts are free before 11:30pm with an RSVP (see their website).Palace Theatre is located downtown on popular Stephen Ave Note that the Palace Theatre isn't really a "western" venue and these are more likely acts that just happen to be on during this period rather than "stampede concerts."
📍 219 8 Ave SW
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
Note that the Commonwealth isn't really a "western" venue and these are more likely acts that just happen to be on during this period rather than "Stampede concerts."
📍 731 10 Ave SW
🔞 Must be 18+ to enter
List last updated July 4. (let me know of any updates and I'll fix asap!)
A big part of Stampede are the pancake breakfasts. Here's a list of FREE Stampede Pancake Breakfasts. (Note, you may have to wait in a long line up as these are very popular especially for families.)
Start here if you've never been to the Calgary Stampede!
This year the parade marshal for 2024 is TBA
The Stampede Parade kicks of the official start of Stampede every year. This always occurs on the first Friday morning of Stampede. (While the grounds open on Thursday night, it's considered a sneak-peek event, with the "real" start being Friday.)
The parade starts at 9am and ends around 11am (depends on where you are sitting). It is incredibly crowded, expect it to be difficult to find parking, and to find a spot to see the parade. Transit will also be extremely packed. Expect long waits.
Admission to the grounds on parade day is FREE from 11am to 1:30pm.
Of course the Stampede includes tons of rides. Some crowd favorites are:
Ride tickets are purchased in advance. Note because of their popularity the line ups can be quite long, you are best to go on a weekday morning for a shorter line or a rainy/poor weather day to have no lines at all!
Each year has to top the last in terms of weird and wacky Stampede foods to try at the midway. Some highlights for 2024 include:
Vendors usually accept cash, credit or debit.
The Stampede Rodeo happens each afternoon of the Stampede for all 10 days. It goes from roughly 1:30pm-4:30pm. You must purchase your ticket (seated in the Grandstand) in advance. Your ticket gives you free entry into the park and then into the Grandstand area for the event.
Pro-tip: If you want to see the rodeo for a little cheaper, once you're on the grounds (so you'll have to pay park admission) you can buy what's called "Standing Room Only" ticket on the day you want to go. This means you don't have a dedicated seat, but these tickets are cheaper and you can roam the Grandstand freely with lots of good views. Purchase these from the box office in front of the Grandstand.
Food, beverages, and alcoholic drinks are available for purchase in the Grandstand area.
The Grandstand show happens all 10 nights of the Stampede and requires a ticket for entry to the show.
(Note, if you buy a Grandstand show ticket you do not need to buy entry to the park for the day of the performance as it's included.)
The show starts with the chuckwagon races at 7pm . The Grandstand show starts at 9pm and ends at 11:30pm. The fireworks portion of the show starts at 11pm.
This is the best viewing in the city for the fireworks.
Food, beverages, and alcoholic drinks are available for purchase in the stands area.
The fireworks are on every night of the Stampede starting at 11pm and go for about 30 minutes.
The fireworks are part of the Grandstand show but you can also see them from anywhere on the grounds or higher up locations in the city.
Great info for first timers!
At it's core, the Calgary Stampede is basically a fair held in the middle of the city. So when you hear people say they are going to "the stampede" or "down to the grounds" this means they are going to the fair area. Inside the grounds, you'll see a midway with a lot of games and rides. There's also a lot of food trucks and vendors. Inside the buildings are a lot of different things, you'll see animals, art, a market place. honestly you just kinda wander and see what you run into.
Nashville North and the Coke Stage are the main places to see concerts on the grounds. Nashville North is free to enter but often has long line ups (like hours long). The Coke stage is also free, but is outdoors so people just crowd around. Go early if you are excited to see an artist. The rodeo is also a big part of the Stampede. It starts daily at 1pm and you need a separate rodeo ticket to attend. (You'll have dedicated seating in the stands). Ticket prices start around $40.
After the rodeo each day, is the popular chuckwagon horse races and then the grandstand show. These are considered a separate event from the rodeo and you'll need a ticket. The grandstand show consists of singing, dancing and fireworks.
Note, there is also a parade that kicks off Stampede on the first Friday of Stampede. This is a family friendly event, largely for kids.
You have to pay admission to enter, this year it's $23. Once on the grounds, everything is a separate cost and it is expensive! Food, game and ride prices definitely add up quickly. There are however some free things to do on the grounds.
While the core of the stampede is the fair or midway grounds, the whole city participates in "Stampeding." You'll see people in cowboy/girl outfits all around downtown. There are parties and pancake breakfasts all over the city. The downtown is the centre of the action, but these parties and breakfasts happen through the entire city.
Actually yes. This is mostly referring to the tents. Massive temporary tents are set up to host country music artists. A lot of drinking and dancing happens. Cowboys is the most infamous tent. You don't have to go to Cowboys to get the full experience though as Wildhorse, Nashville North, The Badlands, and Whiskey Rose and National Saloon tent will offer similar experiences.
Anywhere downtown ideally, or for cheaper accommodation stay somewhere close to the Ctrain line. The ctrain takes you right to Stampede (get off on Erlton or Victoria Park stations).
Whatever you do, don't drive. The traffic next to the grounds is insane. Your best bet is to ctrain or take an uber/taxi and be dropped off near the grounds and walk the rest of the way. You'll move much faster on foot within the area close to the grounds.
Expect crowds at the gates as people enter but usually you don't have to wait as they move fast. (Note there are different lines for buying tickets and for scanning tickets for entry.) I believe there are 3 main entry points onto the grounds, it doesn't matter which one you use. All are good.
If you enter the grounds and leave, get a stamp and you can re-enter the same day. When leaving the grounds I usually walk as far away from the grounds as possible and then call a cab or uber from that location (e.g. 17th Ave or Stephen Ave)
The Stampede happens for 10 days every July in Calgary. The exact dates change each year but it always starts on a Thursday (for sneak peek), has the parade on the first Friday and ends on a Sunday 10 days later.
Yes, but only in designated beer garden, tent, or restaurant areas. You can also drink in the grandstand.
Comfortable shoes! (or cowboy boots). Whatever you're doing it'll involve a lot of walking. Also, it's usually quite warm in Canada in July so wear light summer clothing. A cowboy hat is good to block the sun. Sunscreen may be a good idea too. Whatever western wear you have is good if you want to, but you certainly don't have to dress western.
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