The Best of Stampede Season: Family Style

The Stampede isn’t just for big cowboys and cougars. Wrassle up your little outlaws and enjoy the greatest outdoor show on earth with our help on how to find the Best of Stampede Season: Family Style.

Best Ride at Stampede
Hold your horses before trotting off to the kids’ midway. Now coined the Great FUN-tier, kiddie rides and games have moved just north of the racetrack. Burn off energy indoors at Buckaroos, where giant inflatables and a multi-tiered play structure have taken up roost.

Best Alternative to Stampede
Want that rootin’ tootin’ wild west experience, just dialed down a notch? Your one stop shop for marching bands, mini-parades and even an old fashioned gun fight is at Fluor Rope Square. Serving up a festival atmosphere (in addition to 30,000 pancakes), this less crowded attraction conveniently packages the best aspects of western culture into four hours.

Best Fashion at Stampede Park
Kit out the little cowpokes with the CS Mercantile range curated by Calgary fashion designer Paul Hardy. We heart the denim diaper covers, western onesies and kiddie Wranglers. Too bad there ain’t no bartering.

Best Kid Grub
Finding healthy food choices on the midway is a fine art, but chicken and veg kebabs, corn on the cob and Big Bubba’s Skillet meals satisfy hungry heifers. Notable snacks debuting this year include red velvet mini donuts, cotton candy spun into flower shapes and scorpion pizza (hey, it’s protein!). On a budget? Milk and cookies go for only $2 in the Ag area.

Play tourist in your own town. We’ve got 9 Fun Family Festivals in Calgary to get you out there.