People continued to head out to Stampede Park for Kids’ Day on Wednesday, as the 2025 edition of the festival officially passed the halfway point. Read More
Everything you need to know about the 2025 Calgary Stampede
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Everything you need to know about the 2025 Calgary Stampede
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People continued to head out to Stampede Park for Kids’ Day on Wednesday, as the 2025 edition of the festival officially passed the halfway point.
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Wednesday brought 161,419 through the gates, with a total attendance of 974,141 so far this year.
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Safety concerns were raised after a crowded concert and what was believed to be a targeted attack on the midway.
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Elsewhere on the grounds, two Calgary teenagers got to be reporters for a day. There are some interesting finds in the Calgary Stampede Market in the BMO Centre, and of course, rodeo and chuckwagon competitions continue.
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Read on for more of what you need to know about everything to do with the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
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Noon News Roundup
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NEED TO KNOW: STAMPEDE 101
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On stage: Music picks for July 10
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Who to see: The Reklaws
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This brother-and-sister duo began their musical career in southern Ontario on their family farm and pumpkin patch, where as children they would perform musical numbers in between pig races and haunted hay rides when the property was open to the public for Halloween celebrations. (You can’t make this stuff up.) Since then, however, they have become one of the top mainstream country acts in Canada. Jenna and Stuart Walker found success with Long Live the Night, which became the theme for CFL Thursday Night Football. The Reklaws have had eight Juno nods and won nine CCMA Awards, along with a number of hit singles.
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When/When: Thursday, 10:15 p.m. at Nashville North
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Who to see: Maren Morris
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In the world of mainstream country music, Texas native Maren Morris has been a breath of fresh air. That’s partially due to her crossover country-pop songs — check out her newest album, Dreamsicle, which came out earlier this year — but also because she has made headlines for her willingness to publicly call out the racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexism in the Nashville star-making machinery. It showcased rare bravery in the conservative world of country music.
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When/Where: Thursday, doors open at 2 p.m., at The Cowboys Music Festival
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Upcoming Stampede Caravan pancake breakfasts
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Thursday, July 10
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- Deerfoot City, 901 64 Ave. N.E.: 9-11 a.m.
- McKenzie Towne Centre, 40 High St. S.E.: 9-11 a.m.
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Friday, July 11
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- Shane Homes YMCA, 11300 Rocky Ridge Rd. N.W.: 9-11 a.m.
- Genesis Centre, 7555 Falconridge Blvd. N.E.: 9-11 a.m.
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Saturday, July 12
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- Township Shopping Centre, 210 Ave., S.E.: 9-11 a.m.
- Deer Valley Shopping Centre, 1221 Canyon Meadows Dr. S.E.: 9-11 a.m.
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Heading to Stampede on Tuesday was a no-brainer for Ahmed Nasiri — Don Toliver was headlining, and the Calgarian would have willingly travelled long distances to attend the artist’s concert.
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But as soon as he arrived at the Victoria Stampede CTrain station, he was overwhelmed by a sea of people. He waded through the crowd for 20 minutes until he reached the entry gates. He then threaded his way to the Coke Stage, where dehydrated attendees were trying to refuel themselves.
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Nasiri said he had anticipated a large crowd, owing to Toliver’s popularity and the fact that his concert was free — but not like what he was about to witness. In a video posted on Instagram, the Stampede grounds near the stage were bursting at the seams as the sound of bass filled the air.
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— Hiren Mansukhani
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Calgary police believe an assault on the Stampede midway that sent three people to hospital Tuesday night was a targeted attack.
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Shortly after 11 p.m., police responded to reports of an assault near the Euroslide ride on the midway, according to a Calgary Police Service news release. One man was taken to Foothills Hospital in serious condition.
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EMS spokesperson Stuart Brideaux confirmed the victim had injuries consistent with a stabbing.
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Soon after, police responded to two other reports of individuals in distress — a youth in the area of 17th Avenue and Macleod Trail S.E., and a man near Erlton Street and 27th Avenue S.W. Both were sent to Foothills Medical Centre in serious condition.
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— Mackenzie Rhode
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Carlee Otero is dressed for success at the Calgary Stampede.
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Or so she hopes come Showdown Sunday.
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At the very least, the tiny but mighty Texan feels she’s got a winning wardrobe in pursuit of the $50,000 champion’s cheque.
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That’s her lucky blue horseshoe socks and a money green rodeo shirt — the garb she wore Wednesday in winning the rodeo’s go-round and securing her spot in the championship day.
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“That’s right,” said Otero, when asked about the cash-coloured top bringing her good, substantial fortune. “And these are the best rodeo performance socks.
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“I’m not even going to wash this outfit — I’m going to wear it Sunday. I just wear my whole get-up and leave it exactly how it is.”
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— Todd Saelhof
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It has been a long day for Helen Ovat and Sidak Virk.
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The teenagers, aged 13 and 12 respectively, have been at the Calgary Stampede since 7 a.m. Wednesday acting as the Bank of Montreal’s eyes and ears on the ground, collecting interviews to be aired on Global News as part of their 6 p.m. broadcast.
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“Tired and excited” was how the teenagers, selected to be BMO’s junior reporters for this year’s Stampede, described their day.
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— Devika Desai
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The midway might be best known for fun and funky food items, but the Calgary Stampede Market located in the BMO Centre certainly has some twists and turns up and down its alleyways.
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Stampede-goers looking to shop the wide wares on offer might have been taken by surprise at some of what you can get at the Market.
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— Kobe Tulloch
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The debate over horse safety in chuckwagon racing isn’t new — and the Calgary Stampede has been tightening its safety rules for years.
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Not only do chuckwagon drivers do everything in their power to make sure the horses have plenty of horsepower, but the Stampede has also introduced various measures over the years to improve safety standards for the animals.
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— Shawn Knox
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Residents of a downtown Calgary apartment building say the biggest nuisance from the Cowboys Music Festival isn’t the music — it’s the urine-soaked pavement left outside their door every day.
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The building, located directly across the street from the Cowboys Park tent site, has become a hotspot for disorderly behaviour as thousands of festival-goers pour out of the venue each night, residents say.
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While residents acknowledge the music is loud, many say the bigger issue they’re facing is a lack of enforcement to prevent public urination and other “inappropriate” conduct around the property.
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— Noah Brennan
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Blue and pink were the colours of the day for Stampede pancakes on Wednesday.
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The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service’s 20th annual Stampede breakfast celebrated community and culture, while Southcentre Mall hosted its Pink Pancake breakfast in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
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— Devon Dekuyper
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From how to get to Stampede Park, when you can save money, highlights from the rodeo infield, where to dance up a storm and how to fill your belly, we have you covered with our ultimate Calgary Stampede visitor’s guide.
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— Mackenzie Rhode
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The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth begins Friday at GMC Stadium, and with it comes the world’s largest outdoor rodeo.
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The Calgary Stampede Rodeo features 210 of the globe’s top cowboys and cowgirls competing for a prize purse of $2.17 million in 2025.
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Get the lowdown in the ins and out of the rodeo.
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— Todd Saelhof
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Chuckwagon historian and commentator Billy Melville said although the sport has been around for more than a century, the objective has always remained the same.
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“Even though it’s gone through a number of changes, there are three underlying principles that have guided the chuckwagon races since Day 1,” said Melville, who loves talking about the sport his grandfather, Orville Strandquist, excelled in at as both a driver and an outrider for seven decades up until the 1990s.
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“A chuckwagon race does three things. Number one is that it tests the skill of the driver; number two is that it tests the skill of the outriders; and number three, it demonstrates the speed of the team. It’s really no more complicated than that.”
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— Laurence Heinen
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While the Calgary Stampede is not likely to lose its boastful moniker “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” organizers of the 10-day spectacle have been taking great effort in recent years to add to its branding to emphasize there is more than a rodeo happening at Stampede Park.
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It is also being sold as “The Greatest Music Festival in the West,” a testament to the eclectic music programming that takes over four venues on the Stampede grounds.
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More than 100 acts, including many that can be seen with the price of admission, will be playing over 10 days.
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— Eric Volmers
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Best places to watch the Calgary Stampede fireworks
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Where else can you watch fireworks 10 days in a row? Calgary has the special privilege of a spectacular nighttime show starting at around 11 p.m. from July 4 to 13 while the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth takes over the city.
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Want to know where you can best see the fireworks? Here are the four best spots to take in the Stampede fireworks from around the city.
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Stampede Park
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While not free, this option gets you the best possible view. The fireworks shoot off right after the Grandstand show ends and you can get the best close-up view while on the Midway or right outside the rodeo grounds.
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Scotsman’s Hill
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This spot has the best free vantage point. It is right across the river from the Stampede grounds in the community of Ramsey.
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Scotsman’s Hill a very popular spot for fireworks viewing so show up early to find a spot to park and sit. Getting dropped off by a generous family member or a ride-share or taxi is a great option.
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Tom Campbell’s Hill Natural Park
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A little farther north from Scotsman’s Hill is Tom Campbell’s Hill Natural Park. Near the Calgary Zoo, this spot still is close enough to give a great view of the fireworks.
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There is a parking lot on the north side of the park and is an 11-minute walk from the Calgary Zoo CTrain parking lot.
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Max Bell Centre
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The Max Bell Centre, on the edge of Albert Park and Radisson Heights, offers good views of the Stampede fireworks and a large parking lot.
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Learn more about the Calgary Stampede fireworks.
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Can’t go in person? Watch it here
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— Darlene Casten, with video from Brent Calver
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