How To: Be a Tourist in Your Own City & Enjoy Stampede 2012

As a born and raised Calgarian, I can definitely sympathize with those who go through a flux of love/hate with the Calgary Stampede. I know, I have been there. Throughout my entire life I have been both hot and cold with our ten day western festival and I was always left feeling unsure about the next year’s festivities. This year, however, is different. On March 29th, the day that marked 100 days until the Stampede, was an amazing day sharing civic pride, Western spirit and overall community love. #Stampede100 kicked off in Olympic Plaza during the lunch hour with a jam-packed talent line-up of this years’ Stampede. It was so wonderful to see so many embracing the day, munching on the free pancakes and ringin’ them cowbells. I have also never seen so many white cowboy hats in one place.

Exhilarating and fun, I felt a bit like a tourist in my own city - snapping photos with Mounties and Calgary Police “bobbies”. Sipping on my free juice box and meeting mascots and friends: this is how the approaching summer should feel like all the way through.

Here are my hometown tourist tips for you and your family to have a grand time during Stampede 2012:

• Carry your camera (phone) everywhere. Capture those memories!
• Don’t leave any pancake breakfast unturned.
• Stay up for the fireworks. Especially this year. One word: pyrotechnics.
• Buy local. There are so many fantastic vendors setting up outside on Stephen Ave. Find some treasures.
• Cotton candy.
• If you live far from the grounds, book a night at a downtown hotel for a real staycation!

Be sure to check out our Facebook page for larger versions of the photos and to stay up to date on everything Downtown Calgary.

Tagged as: 100 days until stampede, Calgary, hometown tourist, stampede, stampede centennial