Corky Bloom Studio

Ever since my wife and I moved to Calgary, I was told if I was going to do one thing in this city, I have to go to the Calgary Stampede. It seems that everyone that we spoke to kept on telling us that. The crazy thing was that we were told this when we move here back in December. I was getting the idea that this was something that the city took pride in and I was going to have to check it out for sure. The months went by, as the city was slowly getting ready for this event. Businesses would have graphics or signs on their windows to reflect the upcoming Stampede. There was an excitement that was growing for this event. So this week, my wife and I finally embarked on a journey to the Calgary Stampede.

What you need to know about the Calgary Stampede is it a ten day annual event. This event showcases rodeo exhibition, concerts, agricultural competitions and other fun stuff. The idea that you get from this event is it deals with agriculture, but it has become more modern over the years.

The first thing we had to do was pick up some cowboy hats. I wanted to fit in with the theme of the Stampede, so not having cowboy hats would be plain nuts. Also with the heat being a factor that day, the hats helped out a lot. Now that we had our hats to represent, we hit the Stampede grounds. That afternoon that we went,  there were a lot of people. It was as if people took the day off from work just to go to the Stampede. The lineup was insane, it made thankful that we prepaid for our tickets.

Once inside, the first thing that caught my eyes were the food trucks. Being a guy who loves to eat, I had to explore this vast world of food. There were so many crazy types of food you can choose from like bacon jalapeno cheese on a stick, footling pizza dog and many more wacky stuff. It was a foodie paradise or a fat man’s dream. What I happen to eat was a jumbo dog with fried onions, bacon, Japanese mayo and a fried egg. Let just say that the first bite was like going to heaven, even if I was shorting my life by five years. It was all worth it.

After eating our meals, we went to the midway to go on some rides. It only makes sense to go on rides on a full stomach. I will say that my wife and I didn’t get sick on any rides, which was fortunate.  Yet, this didn’t help me with my fear of carnival rides. My fear comes from the fact that these rides never look sturdy. I will still go on the rides, but I will look for the most secure thing to hold on to. The people running the rides looked professional and not your regular carny. That did put me at ease a bit. I will admit that I did have fun on the rides, even if it felt like they were only two minutes long. I guess it was the only way to accommodate the big crowds. The one ride that I regret not going on is the haunted mansion.  I know it’s a lame ride that has the most cheesy monster effects. It also didn’t help to see the lack of enjoyment on the riders’ faces once the ride was done. I understand that this a lame ride, but I have such fond memories going on it.

We didn’t spend our time just going on rides. We did see some animals and check out the free live shows. I will say that the Canon lady show was really impressive. Taking in all the free shows and walking around, my throat was beginning to become parched.  It was time to enjoy some alcohol beverages and recoup from the day. We did find a nice little place to drink called the Tiki hut. People were unwinding and having a good time. Of course, there were a few people that were tipsy, but never once did we feel uncomfortable. People were there to have a good time.

For our first Stampede, my wife and I had a great time. Next time for sure we will go to the rodeo events to really get the true experience. The pictures that we sent our friends on Facebook did get some of them intrigue about coming to the Calgary Stampede. I guess our place will become the Holiday Inn next year. Overall, I’m really glad that I got to go to the Stampede and I’m already looking forward to next year.