Every year, the Calgary Stampede Parade has been the formal kick off to the greatest outdoor show on earth. The parade, which shuts down portions of downtown Calgary is seen as the second largest parade in North America after the Rose Bowl Parade held in Pasadena, California.
The fun gets started at 7:45am with the ‘Parade-Prelude’. The prelude will feature 34 incredible and entertaining acts consisting of over 1,500 performers to warm up the crowd for the main show. Residents can expect performers at:
- 6th Avenue & 5th St SW
- 9th Ave & 5th St SW
- 6th Ave & 10th St SW
- Centre St & 9th Ave
Following the Prelude, the parade kicks off at 9am on 9th Ave at 3rd Street SE. The 5 kilometer route takes nearly 2 hours to pass any point on the route. This year’s parade will feature over 700 horses, 21 floats, 11 bands, 30+ horse entries, and 8 mounted colour parties.
The Calgary Stampede announced earlier this year, actor Owen Crow Shoe will be the Parade Marshall. Crow Shoe is from the Piikani Nation and Blood Tribe of the Blackfoot Confederacy. His acting career started on the set of the Oscar winning film, The Revenant, where he worked as a stunt rider. Former Parade Marshals include the likes of Ian Tyson, Darryl Sutter and Ralph Klein.
Crow-Shoe spoke to the public with an announcement video and expressed his excitement for the event and continuing one of the longest standing traditions.
Crow-Shoe says the Stampede has served as a way to maintain connection with family and friends while he travels and works abroad for acting.
The Calgary Stampede Parade is free to watch and more than 80% of the Parade route along 9th and 6th Avenues is available for free-of-charge seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The Calgary Stampede runs from July 5th until the 14th.
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