Something I posted elsewhere in response to the question of why some people hate Stampede:
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There are a lot of reasons why some people absolutely hate the Stampede:
- Manifestation of "hick culture" and the view that it negatively impacts Calgary's reputation.
- Cost
- Animal activists
- An unfortunate number of people reveal their inner ######bag and skank
- Stampede fatigue
Personally, I think it is a tradition we should be proud of, and something that really differentiates us from cities like Toronto and Vancouver. While the CNE, PNE, Red River Ex, Klondike Days, etc. hit all of Canada's major cities, those festivals don't go beyond their exhibition grounds. In Calgary, the entire city takes a break from itself and just relaxes. Probably why we aren't nearly as stuffy and uptight as your average Torontonian.
I only go to the Stampede itself once every few years, but off the grounds, it is fun to go around town and see the western themed artwork on business doors, and the prevalence of free breakfasts and barbeques serve as a way for communities to intermingle and bring people closer together.
People come to Calgary to experience the cowboy culture. The Stampede is a primary driver of it. If we were to lose that, we would actually move closer to being just another city, hardly worthy of mention. The Stampede is one of the things that makes Calgary what it is, makes this city special, and draws people from elsewhere to us. We are recognized at an international level because of it.
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