It’s time for the Calgary pagpapanakbuhan!

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 araw. 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 rodeo, county makatarungang, at mabaliw partido pinagsama sa isa.

What few people know, gayunman, ay the Stampede has a U.S. connection. Here’s an excerpt from my book, Buhay sa ibang bansa sa Canada, na nagpapaliwanag:

Ang pagpapanakbuhan, na kung saan ay nagsimula sa 1912, ay ang paningin ng isang American expat. Ipinanganak sa Rochester, New York, Guy Weadick became a vaudeville and rodeo performer who appeared across North America.

Sa Calgary, hey H. C. 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, at pagpapanakbuhan ay inilunsad.

The Stampede opens with a huge parade through downtown. Other attractions include chuck wagon races, calf roping, bull riding, Ipinapakita ng kabayo, a carnival midway, and concerts by big-name entertainers. This year’s headliners isama Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, at George Strait.

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

Photo by sundeepg (Flickr)