CALGARY—On a main street in Alberta’s largest city, flags bearing the symbols of the Calgary Stampede go up each year in mid-May. They feature the renowned festival’s initials alongside silhouettes of cowboys, chuckwagon riders, and other classic Stampede figures, in white and set against a bold red background.
Soon, those quiet markers will be joined by decorations across downtown and beyond, as Calgary prepares for the return of the Stampede—billed as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”—on the first Friday of July.
For more than a century, the Calgary Stampede has drawn crowds from across Canada and abroad, offering a showcase of the ranching and agricultural roots that helped shape Alberta. While its appeal includes free community breakfasts, live music, one of the world’s largest rodeos, and adrenaline-fuelled events like chuckwagon races, there is more to the 10-day festival than meets the eye….