It’s time for the कैलगरी भगदड़!

Billing itself as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” this year’s Stampede is taking over Calgary until July 12th.

If you’re a newcomer settling into Calgary, don’t plan on getting much done over the next 10 दिन. Nearly all of Calgary will be out at the city’s biggest party!

So what’s the Stampede all about?

Even as Calgary has become increasingly urban, the biggest event of the year still has its roots in cowboy culture. The Stampede is a रोडियो, काउंटी साफ, और पागल पार्टी एक में लुढ़का.

What few people know, तथापि, है the Stampede has a U.S. connection. Here’s an excerpt from my book, कनाडा में विदेशों में रहने वाले, बताते हैं कि:

भगदड़, में शुरू हुआ जो 1912, एक अमेरिकी प्रवासी की दृष्टि था. रोचेस्टर में जन्मे, न्यू यार्क, Guy Weadick became a vaudeville and rodeo performer who appeared across North America.

कैलगरी में, वह एच मुलाकात. सी. McMullen, a livestock agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway, and they hatched a plan for a “wild west” show. They secured funding from several local businessmen, और भगदड़ शुरू किया गया था.

The Stampede opens with a huge parade through downtown. Other attractions include chuck wagon races, calf roping, bull riding, घोड़े शो, a carnival midway, and concerts by big-name entertainers. This year’s headliners शामिल रेबा McEntire, टेलर स्विफ्ट, केनी Chesney, और जॉर्ज जलसन्धि.

The Stampede typically draws more than 100,000 people per day, so pull on your boots and come on down!

Photo by sundeepg (फ़्लिकर)