stampede parade kicks off 10 days of festivities and fun ways to save
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a forklift pauses by the ‘yahoo’ sign during set up at the stampede grounds in calgary on wednesday, july 3, 2024.
brent calver/postmedia
with inflation and the high cost of living still squeezing many, this year’s calgary stampede promises plenty of savings with new experiences and new ways to save a buck or two.
starting with thursday’s sneak-a-peak, all park admissions will be half price, allowing the keenest of patrons to check out stampede a day early before friday’s parade and official opening.
as always, the parade is no-cost entertainment, with 100 entries including 21 floats, 11 bands and nearly 40 equine entries, from heavy horse hitches to mounted colour parties and up to 700 horses.
“every seat is free, and if you get downtown by around 7 or 7:30 a.m., you’re sure to get a really good one,” said bob young, who sits on the stampede’s parade committee.
“we’ve got a lot of special things to watch for this year, including a number of unique floats. and, of course, our usual parade prelude, something very special and unique to stampede.”
parade prelude kicks off a load of entertainment before the official parade starts with up to 32 acts along the route starting at 7:45 a.m. keeping spectators, especially wiggly young cowpokes, occupied.
“there will be musical acts, dancing troupes, cultural groups — it’s the gem of the parade, really, and people have come to just love it,” young said.
for the main event, floats to watch for will include “coding for veterans,” tipping cowboy hats to a unique training program for military veterans looking to find work in technology. the float won best international entry in the rose bowl parade earlier this year, young said.
as well, floats celebrating special anniversaries are expected to be spectacular, including the royal canadian air force, celebrating 100 years, as well as heritage park, marking its 60th birthday this year.
‘from alberta to hollywood’: owen crow shoe to be parade marshal
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the stampede’s 2024 parade marshal will be well-known hollywood actor owen crow shoe from the piikani nation and blood tribe of the blackfoot confederacy.
crow shoe has deep roots with the stampede, from spending time in elbow river camp singing and drumming, to participating in the warrior ride during the stampede rodeo grand entry.
after appearing in blockbuster films including the revenant, crow shoe is currently shooting his new film dream, and will also co-star in the upcoming movie horizon: an american saga, alongside 2022 parade marshal kevin costner.
“owen has an important connection to the indigenous people of this province, and to the stampede,” young said.
“his grandparents are teepee holders at elbow river camp — he basically grew up at the stampede. and now he’s making hollywood movies with kevin costner.
“from alberta to hollywood, he’s come full circle.”
owen crow shoe has been named the 2024 calgary stampede parade marshal.
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the parade will take its usual route starting at 3rd street s.e., heading west along 9th avenue, turning northbound at 10th street s.w. and taking it home eastbound along 6th avenue toward fort calgary.
most roads in and out of downtown will close at 7:30 a.m. and do not reopen until the parade concludes and police determine it’s safe. roads in and around the east village will also be closed to on-street parking at noon thursday, and will be closed to traffic at 6:30 a.m. friday.
once the parade wraps, the stampede offers free admission through “parade-to-park” presented by suncor, allowing entry at no cost between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
from park entrance to rides to chuckwagons, several discounts available
at the park, stampede-goers will find plenty of new attractions, as well as new bargains for those looking to have more fun for less money.
a ride all day midway pass — available at most grocery retailers until thursday — offers savings of more than 15 per cent on all rides for $44.99 plus gst.
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as well, gmc denali is offering bargain rates for daily chuckwagon races and the grandstand show. for $99 plus gst, one adult and one youth will get free admission to the park, and a full evening show and free popcorn.
stampede will also offer three “value days,” starting with tim hortons family day on sunday. admission is free until 11 a.m., plus a free pancake breakfast in the gmc stadium courtyard from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and a free variety show from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in gmc stadium.
july 9 will be tc energy community day, offering free admission for everyone from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., plus free coffee and doughnuts for seniors aged 65 years and older from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the bmo centre great lawn.
bmo kids’ day is set for july 10, with free entry for everyone before 10 a.m., a free breakfast in the gmc stadium courtyard from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., a free variety show from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and free entry all day for kids 12 and under.
other admission savings include a “buy 2 and get 2 for $32” deal, offering two admissions to stampede park for $32 when you purchase any two coca-cola products at participating 7-eleven locations, totalling 36 per cent off park admission for two.
and “stampede bucks” are available at participating costco locations, offering $50 in the special dollars for $39.99 to redeem for everything from rides to rodeo and evening show tickets.
the bmo centre’s 70-foot-tall ‘spirit of water’ statue is backdropped by rides and midway stalls at the stampede grounds in calgary on wednesday, july 3, 2024..
brent calver/postmedia
wide range of free shows at stampede
other free entertainment on the grounds includes “starslingers” at the bmo centre’s stage of wonders, a whimsical world of trapezing cowboys and acrobatic aliens with multiple daily showtimes.
the annual favourite dog bowl will present “canine stars” on the south end of stampede park, with multiple daily shows, including new tricks and bigger jumps from the furry, four-legged stars.
the freestyle motocross show is on again at the monster energy compound with electrifying stunts on the north side of stampede park, just inside the stampede trail entrance.
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as always, free concerts and live music are on the grounds daily, including the coca-cola stage, the big four roadhouse and nashville north, with performances by ocean alley and megan moroney.
this year’s stampede powwow will feature some of the best dancers and drummers from across the continent for free, highlighting the diversity of first nations talent july 7 and 8 at the saddledome.
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