Ultimate Guide to the Calgary Stampede 2025: Stampede Parade, World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo & More

If you're planning to hit the Calgary Stampede this summer, you're in for a treat. This isn't just any festival—it's the world's largest outdoor rodeo, one of the most fun things to do in Calgary, and it's happening July 4–13, 2025.

Over one million people show up every year for good reason. The city turns into one massive party with championship rodeo, live music, amazing food, and more activities than you can shake a cowboy hat at.

Here's what you need to know to make the most of your Stampede experience without breaking the bank or missing the good stuff.

Quick Stampede Checklist

• Get there early: Parade starts at 9 a.m., best food booths sell out fast
• Download the Stampede app: Real-time show times and your personal schedule
• Wear comfortable shoes: You'll walk miles on these grounds
• Bring sunscreen: Calgary summers are sunny and hot
• SuperPass saves money: $50 gets you all 10 days vs. $20+ per day
• Take the CTrain: Parking is $30, plus it's a nightmare to get out

When Is the 2025 Calgary Stampede?

The 2025 Calgary Stampede runs from July 4-13. That's 10 days of non-stop action!

The whole thing kicks off with the Stampede Parade in Downtown Calgary on Friday morning, July 4. Global superstar, celebrated songwriter, and style icon Shania Twain headlines the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday, July 5, 2025! Plus, Calgary's very own Devon Cole is coming to Stampede, opening for Shania Twain on Saturday, July 5!

What Makes the Calgary Stampede Special?

This isn't just a rodeo. It's a 113-year-old tradition that turns Calgary into the world's party capital for 10 days every July.

Back for 2025 with over $2.3 million in prizes! The best cowboys and cowgirls from across North America compete for serious money. But here's what makes it different from other rodeos:

The whole city gets involved. Downtown office workers wear cowboy hats to work. Restaurants serve pancake breakfasts on the street. Even the transit system runs 24 hours a day during Stampede.

You're not just watching a show. You're part of Calgary's biggest celebration.

Getting to Stampede Park (The Smart Way)

Don't drive if you can help it. Seriously.

With 24-hour CTrain service, extended hours on many bus routes and two Express Stampede bus routes, Calgary's public transit provides a great way to get to Stampede Park.

Two CTrain stations serve Stampede Park:

• Erlton Station: Closest to the rodeo arena, Nashville North, and main stage (requires a short walk from the Erlton neighbourhood across the Elbow River)
• Victoria Park Station: Best for the midway, food vendors, and BMO Centre

The train runs every few minutes during busy times. The train runs 24 hours a day during Stampede.

If You Need to Drive

Pre-purchased reserved day parking is available for $65 per day. Order deadline is June 30, 2025, or until capacity is reached.

Regular parking costs $30 per day, but you'll spend more time sitting in traffic than enjoying the Stampede.

Calgary Stampede Tickets and Passes

Here's where it gets tricky. Different events need different tickets.

SuperPass: Your Best Deal

For a limited time only, you can save money with the Stampede SuperPass. Only available until July 3, 2025, this pass offers unlimited entry for all 10 days of the Stampede for only $50 + fees and GST.

This is the deal of the century if you're looking to maximize your time and money at Calgary's biggest festival. Regular daily admission runs $20+, so the SuperPass pays for itself after three visits.

What the SuperPass includes:

• Unlimited park entry for all 10 days
• Access to free concerts and entertainment
• All the exhibits, displays, and shows
• Midway access (rides cost extra)

What it doesn't include:

• Rodeo tickets
• Evening show tickets
• Concert tickets for big acts
• Midway rides

Rodeo and Evening Show Tickets

These are separate events that need separate tickets.

Rodeo: Daily at 1:30 p.m. Depending on your seats, prices range from $47 to over $300.

Evening Show: Daily at 7:30 p.m. Features chuckwagon races, live entertainment, and fireworks. Prices from $61 and up.

Both tickets include park admission for that day.

Free Days - How to Save Money

Parade-To-Park: Watch the parade and then enjoy the rest of the day at the Stampede without leaving City Centre Calgary. FREE admission is only available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Other free admission days include:

• Tim Horton's Family Day: FREE pancake breakfast from 8–10 a.m. while supplies last and FREE admission until 11 a.m..
• TC Energy Community Day: Admission is FREE for everyone from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seniors (65+) enjoy an extra perk with free admission all day long AND free coffee and doughnuts until 11 a.m.
• BMO Kids Day: Kids enjoy free admission all day long, and adults enjoy free admission until 10 a.m. AND free breakfast for everyone in the GMC Stadium Courtyard from 8–9:30 a.m. while supplies last.

The Calgary Stampede Parade

The Calgary Stampede proudly announced that country music superstar Shania Twain will lead the 2025 Stampede Parade as Parade Marshal!

The parade starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 4. It runs through downtown Calgary and takes about two hours to pass any given spot.

Parade Route: Starts at 9 Avenue between City Hall and the Calgary Tower—two of Calgary's most famous buildings—heads west to 10 Street, then loops back east on 6 Avenue toward Stampede Park.

Best viewing spots: Any downtown CTrain station puts you within a block of the parade route. Get there early for the best spots.

After the parade: Route 501 will begin service right after the parade and continue until approximately 3 p.m. Special shuttle buses take you straight from downtown to Stampede Park.

Stampede Rodeo: The Main Event

This is what brings people from around the world.

The World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo, featuring the world's toughest competitors. Six main events happen every day:

• Bareback riding: Hold on for 8 seconds on a bucking horse
• Saddle bronc riding: Like bareback, but with a saddle
• Bull riding: The most dangerous 8 seconds in sports
• Tie-down roping: Rope and tie a calf as fast as possible
• Steer wrestling: Jump off a horse and wrestle a steer to the ground
• Barrel racing: Race around barrels on horseback

The competition gets intense. Cowboys and cowgirls travel from across North America to compete for over $2.3 million in prize money.

Finals weekend (July 12-13) features the best of the best. These tickets sell out fast.

Evening Show and Chuckwagon Races

Nightly at 7:30 p.m., brace yourself for the evening double header.

The evening show features the famous chuckwagon races—also called the "Rangeland Derby." The race has taken place at the Calgary Stampede since 1923. The iconic 'Rangeland Derby' features 27 chuckwagons and their skilled drivers as they race around the track.

Picture this: Four horse-drawn wagons racing around a track at 40+ mph. Drivers weave between barrels, race to the finish line, and sometimes crash spectacularly. It's been called one of the most exciting races in the world.

After the races, you get live entertainment and a massive fireworks show that lights up the entire city. These one-of-a-kind events help explain why The Stampede is one of the things Calgary is most famous for.

Music and Entertainment at The Stampede

The Stampede isn't just about horses and bulls. Get ready for bigger and bolder acts than ever before, nightly during the 2025 Calgary Stampede.

Free Music Venues

• Coca-Cola Stage: Outdoor concerts spanning every genre
• Nashville North: Country music party tent (the original Stampede party spot)
• The Big Four Roadhouse: Immerse yourself in Americana, folk, alt-country, bluegrass, and rock at The Big Four Roadhouse on Sunday, July 6!

Ticketed Concerts

Global superstar, celebrated songwriter, and style icon Shania Twain headlines the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday, July 5, 2025! This is the biggest concert booking in recent Stampede history. 

Shania Twain is in good company, too, with other major acts, including:

• Khalid (July 9), School of Rock Calgary (July 10), and Simple Plan (July 13) all perform at the Coca-Cola Stage
• Natasha Bedingfield (July 4), TLC (July 7), De La Soul (July 8), Lil Jon (July 9), and Tom Morello (July 12) will be playing at the Big Four Roadhouse

Calgary Stampede Food and Midway

The Stampede midway is where food rules get thrown out the window, with top Calgary restaurants, food trucks, and more supplementing the festival's fare.

Deep-fried everything, massive turkey legs, funnel cakes, and stuff you never knew existed. Experience the sweet, the salty and the downright daring cuisine that the new Stampede Midway food has to offer for Stampede 2025, July 4-13.

Money-saving tip: Did you know you can pre-purchase Costco Stampede Bucks to spend like cash on the grounds? For $39.99, you can purchase 10 Stampede Bucks, worth $50.

The midway also features carnival rides, games, and attractions. Save over $10 with a Ride All Day Midway Pass! Purchase a Ride All Day Pass in store only for $44.99 + GST at participating Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, and CHALO FreshCo.

Family-Friendly Activities

Calgary's kid-friendly activities are plentiful year-round, but the Stampede is an annual highlight. The Agriculture Zone is a perfect place for kids. There are plenty of cuddly animals and interactive exhibits for the whole family.

Free activities for kids include:

• BMO Kids' Zone: Playground, bounce houses, and face painting
• Dog Bowl: Canine athletes performing tricks and stunts
• First Nations cultural exhibits: Tipi village, dancing, and traditional crafts
• Agricultural exhibits: See farm animals and learn about ranching

Special events: Celebrate culture, community, and competition at the Calgary Stampede Powwow, returning July 12 & 13 to the Saddledome with world-class dancers and drummers, all free with Stampede Park admission.

Adults-Only Entertainment

• Cowboys Casino: Table games, slots, and sports betting for anyone 21+.
• Nashville North VIP: Get priority no-line access to Nashville North with the Buck-the-Line Pass nightly. Buck-the-Line admits guests (18+ only) to Stampede Park and provides no-line access to Nashville North!

What to Wear and Bring

Regular Stampede attendees love hitting Calgary's top shopping destinations yearly to prepare their festival-ready outfits and gear.

Dress code: There isn't one, but you might feel out of place without Western wear. Jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat are basically the uniform.

Weather: Calgary in July is usually warm and sunny, but mountain weather changes fast. Bring layers and a light jacket for evening events.

What to bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes (you'll walk miles)
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Portable phone charger
• Cash for vendors who don't take cards
• Empty water bottle (fill at fountains to save money)

Enjoying the Stampede on a Budget

If you go on a free admission day, take public transportation with the group weekend pass, bring your own water and snacks and buy Stampede bucks at Costco, budget a minimum of $40 per person (unless you plan to enter for free and simply walk around without spending).

Thanks to The Stampede's location amid some of Calgary's most walkable neighbourhoods, getting around the area is easy, even if you need to take public transit to get close to the festivities.

Budget breakdown for a typical day:

• SuperPass: $5 per day (if you go all 10 days)
• CTrain: $3.50 each way
• Food: $30-60 per person
• Rides: $45 for an all-day pass
• Drinks: $20-40 per person
• Souvenirs: $15-50

Calgary Stampede Insider Tips

• Arrive early. The best food booths sell out, and popular shows fill up.
• Download the app. With up-to-the-minute show times and information, you can find familiar favourites and discover brand-new experiences, all on your phone. Then, you can create your personalized Stampede schedule.
• Pick your entrance wisely. Use Erlton Station for the fastest route to GMC Stadium, Nashville North, the Coca-Cola Stage and the Dog Bowl. Victoria Park Stampede Station will drop you right near the BMO Centre.
• Stay hydrated. Calgary's dry climate and summer sun can sneak up on you.
• Leave before the crowds. If you're not staying for fireworks, leave 30 minutes before the evening show ends to beat the rush.

Calgary Stampede 2025: Your Next Adventure

The Calgary Stampede is more than a rodeo—it's one of the biggest perks of living in Calgary. It is a city-wide celebration that brings together the best of Western culture, world-class entertainment, and pure fun.

Whether you're here for the championship rodeo, the music, the food, or to experience one of the world's largest outdoor parties, you're in for an unforgettable 10 days.

Get your SuperPass, plan your schedule, and get ready to become part of Calgary's favourite tradition. The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is waiting for you.