Stampede: Rodeo, Cowboy Boots, and Barbecue

Every year, Calgary, Canada, hosts North America’s largest outdoor rodeo. In July, for ten days, people swap their sneakers for cowboy boots and head to the “Stampede.” In addition to rodeo competitions, there’s also an amusement park, various shows, and an area dedicated exclusively to Indigenous peoples. Of course, there are also music shows in the evenings, where many a star has performed.

You float comfortably in your gondola above the heads of the visitors. From a height of about five meters, you can get a good overview of the area right after entering. Beneath your dangling feet, some people are waiting in line for rides, while others are climbing into a tank. Yes, even the Canadian military is represented here.

Standing among the military vehicles, members of a special combat unit—dressed in white—explain the procedures for a mission. Anyone who’s interested can try their hand at the aptitude test to see if they’d qualify for a military career. It’s a bit mean, though, that right next door there are stands selling fried Mars bars and “Butterbeer”-flavored ice cream.

Pickled Cucumber Pizza and Chicken Feet

At Stempede, there really is something for everyone. While some food stalls offer “regular” dishes like hot dogs or fried onions, there are definitely more exotic options as well. Pickles—that is, gherkins—are all the rage. In addition to ice cream in this flavor, you can also order a pizza topped exclusively with this specialty. It definitely makes you consider giving the fried chicken legs at the next booth a try.

What would an American event be without a barbecue? Unthinkable. That’s why there are more than five different booths offering marinated ribs and other delicacies—all right next to each other , mind you! Each vendor displays awards and trophies to attract potential customers. Longtime visitors , however , head in a different direction by late morning.

Free breakfast!

It’s an open secret that free breakfast is offered throughout the festival. However, it’s not always served right at the festival grounds. Various local organizations provide pancakes, maple syrup, and grilled sausages. There’s even an app that lists where you can grab a free meal. Just search for the “Stampede Free Breakfast Locator.”

With a full stomach, you can then check out a wide variety of events that are already included in the admission price. Maybe a performance by the country’s best marching bands? Or tractor pulling? Here, tractors pull a weight across a hall. Here’s the kicker: the farther the load is pulled, the heavier it gets. Which vehicle will make it the farthest? If you want to be there to find out, you’d better not have any respiratory issues. The diesel fumes in the enclosed hall tend to cause coughing fits and irritated eyes.

Rodeo—A Controversy

A little fresh air during the rodeo is just what the doctor ordered. These tickets cost extra, but very few visitors want to miss this spectacle. Before the show begins, the entire stadium stands up and places a hand over their hearts. Then the Canadian national anthem is sung with fervor (no hats!). After a brief fireworks display (the point of which is questionable at 2:00 p.m.), the show begins.

Rodeo involves more than just riding a bull. In one event, a calf must be caught with a lasso as quickly as possible; in another, riders race around barrels set up in a circle at high speed. There’s also a competition to see who can stay on an untamed horse the longest. This is sometimes done with a saddle and sometimes without. And finally, there’s the crowning event.

The participant mounts the bull while still inside the enclosed wooden box. The door opens, and the bull begins to buck violently. Whoever can stay on the bull’s back the longest wins. If a cowboy is thrown off and the bull gets too close to him, the rodeo clowns spring into action. They distract the bull so that the rider—who is sometimes injured—can be brought to safety.

Opinions are divided when it comes to rodeo. Supporters say the animals are trained specifically for this purpose and that it is their natural instinct to want to shake off the “thing” on their backs. Animal rights activists claim that the bull is made to buck wildly by a painful stimulus, such as prodding or pinching its genitals. The fact is that bull riding is banned in some countries (the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and parts of Brazil) for animal welfare reasons. In Germany, it is not practiced due to massive protests by various organizations.

A special section for the “First Nations”

The Stampede has even more to offer. A large area features many tents set up by Native Americans. There, they explain their culture to visitors, helping to clear up misunderstandings. Two rituals take place here every day. At noon, the “flag-raising ceremony” is performed to the accompaniment of drums and singing. During the ceremony, the tribal elders move around the flagpole to the rhythm of the drumbeats while two Mounties in attendance raise the flag. In the evening, the flag is lowered again.

There are also various competitions in which the indigenous people compete against one another. The “meat-slicing contest” is very popular. Who can slice a piece of meat the thinnest possible without making any holes in it? The women from the different tribes take this task very seriously and are very proud when they win for their people.

Finally, here are a few facts about the Stampede

The first real Stampede took place in 1912.
The oldest show (Heavy Horse Show) at the venue has been held since 1886. Back then, it was still an agricultural fair.
The Cowboys will split a total prize pool of $2.17 million at the rodeo
Two million mini donuts are eaten here every year
The birth rate in Calgary peaks nine months after the Stampede
Some of the best-known artists who have performed at Stampede (for free to the audience) include: Taylor Swift, Rod Stewart, Coldplay, Katy Perry, and No Doubt.

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