Well its only taken me about three weeks to finally get to this post but took me that long to recover from all the Stampeding Festivities. The Calgary Stampede 2018 is a wrap and was one of the most successful with attendance way up. The gods brought us some of the best weather we’ve ever had for a week of Stampeding. The first Friday in July is always the big kickoff starting with the Stampede Parade that signifies the opening of The Greatest Show on Earth. It’s the beginning of 10 days of festivities that transform the city into the wild west and a stomping ground of fun and gluttony.
Today is Friday, July 8th the official kick-off for the Greatest Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede 2016. Sneak-A-Peek opens the evening before but the parade is the official kickoff for 10 days of festivities that consume the city and highlight our western heritage. I’m embarrassed to say but I have never been before, as a child no one had ever taken us and as an adult I choose to avoid the crowds and instead watch it on TV from the comforts of home. I had a pre-conceived idea of more hassle than fun, off overwhelming crowds, people deep, fighting for space or a spot to peek thru the masses. I heard people would camp out the night before or head down in the wee dawn hours just to get a premium spot, if you arrived later you’d be out of luck unless one of the lucky few who have company sponsored bleacher seats.