The Calgary Stampede is a HUGE 10-day long event in Calgary, Alberta. During 'Stampede Week' (so-called, because originally it was only 1 week long, and the name 'stuck'), millions of people march to and from the Calgary Stampede and Exhibition grounds. Tens and Hundreds of thousands of people commute around the grounds on a daily basis. The Stampede grounds are barely outside of downtown Calgary, so this means that barely a soul in the city will escape the excitement of 'Stampede Fever.'

Culturally, the Stampede celebrates Western Heritage and Roots. Also featured are Agricultural and Stock (animal) shows, which remind Albertans and inform tourists that Alberta, Canada was built largely upon the efforts of Farmers, Ranchers, and of course - The Cowboy!

(YeeeHaawe!)

And, when there are cowboys about, there are also...

You got it!

INDIANS!

Cowboys and Indians just naturally go together, don't they? Well, during Calgary Stampede week, a global audience gets to tune in to information that can help to dispel the myths about Cowboy and Indian competition and rivalry.

One HUGE and popular attraction at The Calgary Stamped is the Native Indian Village, where people can openly enter the village and go to learn about ancient Native-American/Canadian ways, rituals, dances, food, traditions, teepees and the like. Cowboys and Indians weren't really always at odds, and a walk through Indian Village during Calgary Stampede time will show you why.

One area that is going to show nothing BUT competitions is the Rodeo area, where Rodeo events run non-stop from morning until evening. Even events like 'Wild Cow Milking' gain cheers and hollers from the crowd, but most people are interested in the Bull Riding, Bronc-Riding, and Calf-Roping competitions. Not to underestimate the competetive spirit of female contestants, the women's Barrel Racing always draws consistently large crowds from day 1 to 10 in the Rodeo grounds infield.

There are many other events, too, and let's not forget that The Calgary Stampede remembers that in the past, while the adults were busy breaking horses, rounding up cattle, roping and branding cattle, the youngsters were busy, too. One of the favorite (sometimes controversial) events in the infield is the children's Mutton Busting, and there are some tough, skilled little riders shooting across the infield on sheep every year at The Calgary Stampede!

Something that I've learned from living in Alberta most of my life, being near to the Calgary Stampede festival each year since my birth is that there are only about 3 kind of 'folk' around Stampede time.

1. Die-hard everything Stampede event fans

2. Chuckwagon fans

3. Those who don't 'get' the Rodeo at all but who pool onto the Midway!

I'm a #2 person, myself, which brings me to explain Calgary's "Half a Mile Of Hell" event around the track every Calgary Stampede Week evening. Now, here you'll find extreme, EXTREME excitement as 8 horses per team (4 'hitched' to the wagon, 4 loose), compete, 4 'outfits' per heat/race. For every chuckwagon race, that's 32 horses tryin' to bust loose to the lead, and it's an exciting evening to sit through! If you can remain seated. Here you'll find both the rodeo infield in use, as well as the racing track - this is ONE BIG EVENT!

Okay, so 'Half a Mile of Hell' isn't what the event is really called. It's really called 'The Rangeland Derby,' but with THAT MANY horses (32), riders (16), wagons (4), and drivers (4) involved in each of 9 heats, man, if something goes wrong, then it's not called, quite so cleverly, 'Rangeland Derby,' if you know what I mean.

Despite all the Cowboy, Indian, and 'Heritage' based events, The Calgary Stampede is just good all-round entertainment for 10 days in July every year. For those who tire of Rodeo-life after the first day, the next 24 hours will still be full of great entertainment and fun on the Calgary Stampede MIDWAY!

This is where the city kids usually want to go and hang out. Can you blame them? Who would want to hang out in the dust over at the Rodeo area when there are free concerts going on along the Midway all day long, depending on being in the right place at the right time? Free concerts, music, action, and best of all for some, amusement park RIDES for blocks and blocks and blocks worth of space. Oh - and DONUTS! The famous not-really-good-for-you-but-oh-so-good donuts from the little booths along the Midway. Who can pass those up? Who can pass up donuts while listening to that 'Express' ride announcer yell "DO YA WANNA GO FASTER? DO YA?"

Dog shows.

Out of place amongst the horses, food, (noise) and Midway equipment, you might think, but the Canine shows are 'family favorites.' I can't even explain these shows to you because the canines are simply AMAZING, agile, funny and ACTIVE. If you just don't enjoy watching cowboys, horses, and other livestock and, farm equipment and wheat shows don't interest you -- If you simply wear out from the excitement along the Midway, then head in to see the Canine agility performances. Grab a seat, grab a cool drink and a snack and ENJOY!

I'm not sure that any age or other demographic group has been left out on the parts of Calgary Stampede organizers. I think they've thought of how to provide entertainment for every conceivable kind of person and family during Stampede week.

Trust me - My Favorite Local Festival has got to be the yearly Calgary Stampede. I don't think anything compares.

Unfortunately, Stampede time has come and gone for this year (2007) already, and I'll have to wait another year to view my favorite event, The Rangeland Derby, once more.

If you'd like to check up on the Upcoming Attractions and see what will be added to the Summer 2008 events, here's the path to follow to get to the "Stampede - Cool Attractions" website:

http://www.stampede.coolattractions.com/