Stampede Time Again

[4X4]

I'm sure alot of you guys and gals are going and alot of you guys and gals are deliberately staying away. I'm going by default next Wednesday before and after the Bon Jovi concert.

As a kid I loved the Stampede, probably because my parents had to pay for everything. Then as a young adult I hated it, probably because I lived downtown and the traffic was ing ######ed.
Now as a guy pushing 30, I'm wearing the cowboy hat I scored by buying a 24 of Canadian and totally loving the way the City of Calgary gets all into it and just parties for 10 days and decks out in a common theme. Even if it happens to be a western theme. (though I'm sure there's a few of you that already thought I was a banjo playing, cowboy hat wearing, redneck)

But it turns out that I dig the Stampede. Reason to party? Check. Excuse to wear (basically) a costume? Check. Pubs full of women lacking inhibitions? Hell yeah.

So what's your take? Stampede... Love it or hate it?


*EDIT* And what of DJ Rice? How was his Stampede experience a couple years back?

[FireFly]

I could take it or leave it. Apparently all my friends suck and aren't into going out so I have no one to drink with and lose my inhibitions... (do I have any? Apparently if I'm unwilling to go out alone...) I'm not a huge fan of crowds too. I want to punch slow moving people in the back of the head... that's an issue this time of year.

That said, I love wearing a cute denim skirt, tank top and cowboy hat. Show my redneck roots, hell yeah.

[NSFL]

I'm mostly meh about it. Don't love it, don't hate it. The one thing that kills me is the amount of money I always end up spending every year. Either way, it's just something to do with my friends.

[NSFL]

Originally Posted by FireFly

I'm not a huge fan of crowds too. I want to punch slow moving people in the back of the head... that's an issue this time of year.

Definitely hate crowds. And screaming kids in the heat. Ugh.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by NSFL

Definitely hate crowds. And screaming kids in heat. Ugh.

Fixed.

Drives me nuts too.

[FurnaceFace]

The rodeo and chucks are fun.

Best things though come in threes: boots, legs, short skirts.

[Zarathustra]

I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new people. This will be my first stampede as a legal adult, should be fun. Might hit up the casino and lose some money.

[4X4]

Ooh, I just remembered that the grandstand show is pretty cool. LAst time I saw it (~3 years ago), they had some Cirque de Soliel acts, and some pretty cool native dancing things... I hope JBJ's act is done in time for the Grandstand Show. Either that, or the encore better include 'Blaze of Glory'.

[Human Torch]

Yea I go to the grandstand show every year and although they reuse some acts it's still a good time. Highly recommended if you haven't seen it yet.

Rundown of this years show(dont highlight if you want to keep the new addition a surprise):

the young canadians dancing and singing as usual
native dances
a ventriloquist (Ronn Lucas here's part of his act: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyTGwflaNx0
some guy with a yoyo type thing
a guy that does acrobatic stuff(i guess?) in the air hanging onto a long sheet of fabric
and new to the show, some motorcycle stunts which were easily the highlight of the show along with the fire works.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Least favorite week of the year. The best day of every year is the day after Stampede, because it's the day furthest away from next Stampede.

[keratosis]

yahoo
Not

[Ozy_Flame]

I work in a 24/7 office downtown, right on the corner of 7th street and 8th ave. During the Stampede, there are a HELL of alot of hot cowgirls (even if they are bandwagon jumpers) combing the streets in the evening and well into the morning. Infact, I'm looking down right now and I see a bevy of hotties crossing the tracks - the homeless guys and drug dealers are loving it!! lol

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by fotze

I can understand the sentiment, but I hope that isn't totally true.

100% true. I haven't been to the Stampede in years, and have stopped even rudimentary participation in Stampede events altogether. It's like a chemical thing - I can't contain my hatred for all things Stampede.

[Engine09]

Hillbilly buffoonery, could do without it.

[tete]

I like the parade - this year was a blast - went with a bunch of friends. Like the stampede grounds for a day or part of a day and then I'm good. Tour the displays, get a ride on the tilt-a-whirl , have mini donuts and I'm good.

But the grandstand show? People like that?? I went two years ago (for the first time, I admit), but I found it pretty poor. Overdone and about an hour and a half too long. We have free tickets to the chucks this year so I guess we'll stay for it, but I'm not looking forward to it really.

[Reaper]

I'm an adult and have no need to play dressup and pretend I'm a cowboy.

Also, if I hear one more C Train rookie stae loudly that they never take the train and only do it during the Stampede I'm gonna freak out and start beheading people. People who take the train because they have to couldn't really care less that you are confused.

[Flames09]

Stampede is the best time of the year in Calgary, the entire city comes together to have a good time, it's the one time of the year where you can dress up in Western wear, get tanked and no one will judge you, plus Stampede is the best place to find the HOTTEST Cowboys. I just dropped by for Finger Eleven and there was a lot of SEXINESS going on, I HATE BITTER PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO HAVE A GOOD TIME SOME PEOPLE OVERTHINK EVERYTHING, just enjoy it.

[Engine09]

^ Is this a joke account?

[soulchoice]

Here is my take on Stampede. I used to love it as a kid and thought it was the greatest, however, i had not ever travelled or lived anywhere else, so i had homer glasses on, thus hadnt experienced anything but Calgary.

Now, I tolerate it because it truly does bring people in this city together. In addition it really is the only time this city has even a semblance of a nightlife, vibrant atmosphere, with people walking around on the street, etc. So for that reason i dont mind it. If not for Stampede, this city would continue to be a dead town with no nightlife.

However, It is sad that the only time this city has a vibrant feeling or nightlife is for 10 days of the year. I would gladly trade those 10 days for year round fun and nightlife. I hate anything to do with cowboys, country music or old west, so the theme really doesnt do much for me.

I hate to sound negative, but I find the Stampede to be overrated, and definitely far from the greatest outdoor show on earth. But i understand the marketing realm behind the "greatest show" falacy, so i know that slogan will always be used. Midway is the same as any other cities events(Edm exhibition, Buffalo Days, Red River ex), and generally nothing that excites me, same old acts and rides.

So in essence, i like Stampede merely for the sole reason, it does bring people together and it brings some vibrant fun to the city. Other than that, i dislike it, the theme and feel it is definitely overrated.

[Daradon]

I love the fesitival but am getting away from the grounds.

The city is magical this time. Lots of people friendly and having fun, a full week to party, the downtown is bustling, if only for a week, like major party cities around the world.

Downside, hell ya. Increased traffic, or rather impossible traffic. Running into that jackass or two who wants to fight or vomit all over your shoes. Annoying tourists (not to say most of them are, but definitely some of them are) and the inablitity to get into your favorite places.

But it does a lot for the city. And you get to meet some many great people. I talk to and make friends wth new people every year this time. I revel in the carnival attitude of Stephen Ave and 17th street. I pass by happy kids with tired but smiling parents.

I will agree there is some bad times and annoyances that come with it.

But to be so lucky as to be a city that welcomes so many new people every year, (400,000 or so from out of province and 1,100,000 total) is a huge blessing unto itself.

My advice is, shake a warm hand, hollar a loud YAHOO!!! if you can, and grin and bear it.

They are in the process of reworking the grounds for the next 10 years which will make it larger, WAY more green, and more fun. We get to enjoy that all year, and won't have to pay for it (or at least too much).

The visitors bring an influx of cash which helps our favorite places stay open year round and give people a means of life.

You get to meet interesting and new people if you are so open to the idea.

Grin and bear it, or lap it up. For better or for worse, this is as Calgary as it gets.