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To claim the Calgary Stampede is merely a rodeo is like saying the Super Bowl is just a football game. Both are more than that, lots more. The Stampede is the embodiment of western Canada – its ethos, aspirations and very essence.

Come see for yourself what we mean. July 6 – 15 are the dates, and Calgary is the place.

While rodeo might not be all there is to the Stampede, it’s the best place to start. The Calgary Stampede Rodeo showcases the sport’s best athletes in its most breathtaking events: bareback riding, bull riding, ladies barrel racing, saddle bronc and steer wrestling. You think football players are tough? Wait till you see what these guys and gals have to deal with.

The competitions serve up more than $2 million in prize money, with Wild Card Saturday and Showdown Sunday billed as “Rodeo’s Richest Afternoon.”

Where there’s rodeo, there’s music – in this instance top tier music. Wednesday, July 11 the Stampede plays host to The Beach Boys’ 50th Anniversary Tour. Garth Brooks (sorry, it’s sold out already) holds court Thursday, July 12, while Country Music Association reigning Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley and the Band Perry make the tour’s only Alberta stop.

Aside from the shows, what’s new at the 2012 Stampede? Plenty. Start with Bell Centennial Plaza, sited at the epicenter of Stampede Park. It’s got a state-of-the-art sound and lighting set-up, one which showcases a collection of fresh Alberta talent.

Got to get up and move? Zip lines are the mode of high-energy movement these days. Climb the 100 feet to the top of the new launch tower and see the park from a different perspective. If that’s too tame, head on over to the Outlaw Roller Coaster. Named after the legendary rodeo bull Outlaw, riders blast out of chutes, dipping and twisting like the ride’s bullish namesake.

Access to Calgary is easier than ever. The airport is well-served by a slew of WestJet and Air Canada flights.

(Image: gabri_micha)

About the author

Jerry ChandlerJerry Chandler loves window seats – a perch with a 35,000-foot view of it all. His favorite places: San Francisco and London just about any time of year, autumn in Manhattan and the seaside in winter. An award-winning aviation and travel writer for 30 years, his goal is to introduce each of his grandkids to their first flight.

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