The Calgary Stampede

Every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Calgary Stampede is a rodeo, exhibition, and festival. The ten-day event, dubbed "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," draws over a million visitors each year and includes one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing, and First Nations exhibitions. The Calgary Stampede was inducted into the Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2008. With a huge draw, this is one of the most famous festivals in Canada.

The Calgary and District Agricultural Society staged its first fair in 1886, which was the start of the event. Guy Weadick, an American promoter, hosted the inaugural Stampede rodeo and festival in 1912. In 1919, he went to Calgary to arrange the Victory Stampede in honor of World War I veterans. When Weadick's festival united with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition in 1923 to form the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, it became an annual event.

The Calgary Stampede, which is organized by thousands of volunteers and backed by local authorities, has developed into one of the richest rodeos in the world, one of Canada's largest events, and a major tourist draw for the city. Rodeo and chuckwagon racing events are broadcast on Canadian television. However, animal welfare organizations and politicians worried about specific events, as well as animal rights organizations trying to outlaw rodeo in general, have increased their international condemnation of both.

Dates: July 8- July 17