Everything you need to know about the 2024 Calgary Stampede
201,260 people visited the Stampede on Sunday, which had free entry until 11 a.m., bringing the total number of 2024 Calgary Stampede attendees to 538,807.
Early attendance trends put the Stampede on track to beat 2023’s total attendance of 1,384,632.
Calgary Stampede music picks for July 8
Badlands Music Festival
Who: Diplo presents Thomas Wesley. Doors open at 6 p.m.
An electronic festival that runs downtown during Stampede, the Badlands Music Festival offers a significant departure from the twang. Over 10 days, an all-star lineup of DJs and EDM stars. That includes Thomas Wesley, the country moniker for American DJ Diplo.
Big Four Roadhouse
Who: The Revivalists. On stage at 10 p.m.
The Big Four Roadhouse, free with Stampede admission, presents eight-piece rock and roll collective The Revivalists. The group is known for its soulful alternative rock anthems and philanthropy, with its Rev Causes initiative.
Cowboys Music Festival
Who: Macklemore, Flo Rida and Shaboozey. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Country music newcomer Shaboozey, whose single A Bar Song (Tipsy) put him in the spotlight, performs Monday night ahead of music industry legends Macklemore and Flo Rida. Cowboys Music Festival claims Monday’s lineup to be one of the best of the festival.
Stampede helps people beat the heat as ‘extremely hot temperatures’ grip much of Alberta
Extreme heat has taken hold of Calgary and much of Alberta with temperatures expected to reach 35 C during the final week of Stampede.
When it comes to beating the heat, the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is no stranger to high temperatures and thunderstorms after 112 years.
Kerrie Blizard, director of public safety and environment at the Stampede, said the safety and comfort of guests is always a priority for the organization.
“Stampede 2024 has really been thoughtfully planned with plenty of space to beat the heat and rest your feet,” said Blizard.
Water fountains and filling stations are available across the park in a number of locations, with “additional safety measures” being implemented when temperatures exceed 28 C, according to Blizard.
Politics aplenty as pancake breakfast circuit enters full tilt
The attendance of Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre drew a crowd of thousands at a breakfast in front of Marlborough Mall, which Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also attended.
Premier Danielle Smith praises the Calgary Stampede
Premier Danielle Smith and hundreds of delegates and officials attended the annual Premier’s Stampede breakfast on Monday.
“What I love so much about Stampede and rodeo is it’s such an expression of who we are as Albertans,” Smith said following the event. “When you look at what some of those Rodeo Cowboys take on, the risk taking, that real sense of freedom, that True Grit — that to me is why I think we embrace stampede so much.”
“Even though we all dress like this for fun, it also is a way to pay homage to our food producers, our farmers and ranchers who not only feed us every day, but also who built this province,” said Smith.
“I think that’s part of the reason why everybody gets into the spirit, because it really is a nod to our heritage.”
Smith also highlighted that Stampede is a great time to do business, with countless events taking place.
“I remember there was a time a few years ago when things weren’t so good in the economy, that everybody was scaling back their parties, and I just don’t feel that this year,” she said.
“People are really embracing the fact that you can do business and also have a good time.”
Thinking back on difficulties in the province from 2014 to 2022, Smith said it feels “like we got our groove back,” particularly this summer.
“We’ve had 200,000 people who moved to our province last year from not only across the country, but from around the world,” Smith said. “It’s a place to be and people see it; so I really feel that sense of optimism.”
Rodeo stars flying private to help pick up paycheques, including the Stampede’s
“We got on this (private) plane back on Tuesday,” said bareback talent Leighton Berry, who’s landed here — and is doing well — at the Calgary Stampede. “Boy, I can’t even count the places that we’ve been. Mandan and Killdeer, North Dakota … one day all the way to Livingston and Red Lodge, Montana, to St. Paul, Oregon, to Oakley and West Jordan, Utah … You’ve got to have a plane to hit all those rodeos.”
“It costs a little more to do that, but you got a better chance to win a little more. And when you’re racing for a gold buckle, you’ll do whatever it takes.”
Whatever it takes to get points to qualify for the heralded National Finals Rodeo that is.
Indeed, Berry — who earned a berth from the event’s first pool of bareback riders into Showdown Sunday here at the Stampede — jumped on a private plane flown by former Canadian bull-riding star Scott Pimm and has made the rounds, making pretty good money along the way.
Local bull rider on a roll with $23,250 rodeo win that ‘means the world’ Saturday
Nick Tetz might well become a household name among Calgarians when the week ahead is all wrapped up.
Tetz followed up three straight nights of winning Cody Snyder’s Charity Bullbustin’ at Grey Eagle Resort and Casino — Wednesday, Thursday and Friday — with a whopping $23,250 first-place prize in the Stampede’s bull-riding performance Saturday.
The rookie Stampede participant was the only cowboy to stay on after 11 efforts on Day 2, including one re-ride by Red Deer’s Ashton Sahli, as the bulls ruled the ring.
What our photographers saw during this first weekend
With files from Eric Volmers, Scott Strasser, Steven Wilhelm and Todd Saelhof