Nestled in Foothills County, 35 minutes southwest of Calgary, you’ll find what’s like a mini-Stampede grounds — minus the midway (but there are mini doughnuts, at the weekly farmers’ market). The Millarville Racetrack has been the site of horse races since 1905; today, there’s also an annual country fair (August 20 to 21), and a chuckwagon racing and rodeo event (September 9 to 11).
Why you should go even if you’re not into horses: The Saturday farmers’ market is where you’ll find everything from local produce and homemade jams, to goat-milk soap and handcrafted birdhouses from the stalls of the nearly 200 vendors. And, on June 18, the Millarville Half Marathon returns after a two-year hiatus, meaning you can run from Black Diamond, though the verdant foothills, to arrive at the Millarville Farmers’ Market on its opening day.
306097 192 St. W, Millarville, 403-931-3411, millarvilleracetrack.com