The rodeo will feature a newly expanded format
When: July 7 to 16
Where: GMC Stadium
One of the biggest draws of the Calgary Stampede is the rodeo. This year, all rodeo events, like bull riding, barrel racing and bareback riding, will feature more competitors than ever before. With 30 athletes in every event, competitors will compete in three pools, with the top four in each heat moving on and culminating in an action-packed final heat. Rodeo events start at 1:30 p.m. daily and tickets must be purchased separately (but include Stampede admission).
Jeremy Hansen is this year’s parade marshal
When: July 7
Where: Downtown Calgary, along the parade route
The Stampede parade marshal is always a big deal, but this year, they’re out of this world. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen plans to be the first Canadian on the moon as part of the Artemis II mission and will be part of the first team to leave Earth’s orbit since 1972. He’ll bring a wild west, into-the-unknown spirit to this year’s parade kickoff.
There are tons of new foods on the Stampede midway
When: July 7 to 16
Where: Stampede Midway
Ranging from sweet, deep-fried treats to savoury creations, the new midway foods at the Stampede always draw crowds in, and this year is no different. This year, there are 57 new items hitting the midway, like the “spider bao” (filled with a deep-fried soft shell crab) from The Dumpling Hero, Flamin’ Hot Dill Cookies, a Kool-Aid chicken burger and more.
There’s a new event at the Calgary Stampede Rocky Mountain Cup
When: July 12
Where: Nutrien Western Event Centre
Following the first Rocky Mountain Cup, a collection of calf roping events at Stampede 2022, a new category has been added for the 2023 competition. Catch the ladies breakaway roping event, where 30 competitors race to catch and rope a calf as quickly as possible for $150,000 in prize money, on July 12 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. This event is separate from the rodeo and is free with admission to Stampede.
Visit All Elite Wrestling’s new show, Collision
When: July 15
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome
All Elite Wrestling is a league offering a fresh alternative to the mainstream professional wrestling leagues, and it will be joining the lineup of events at Stampede this year. On July 15, AEW: Collision promises to be a show of epic proportions, following in the footsteps of Calgary’s massive existing wrestling pedigree.