From thrilling chuckwagon races to unforgettable concerts, our first full evening at the Calgary Stampede delivered everything that makes “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” a must-visit summer tradition.
Every July, Calgary transforms into one giant celebration of Western heritage, rodeo traditions, live music, and carnival fun during the Calgary Stampede. For 10 days, more than a million visitors from around the world descend upon Stampede Park to experience one of Canada’s most iconic festivals. Whether you’re there for the rodeo, chuckwagon races, midway attractions, nightly concerts, or simply the incredible food, there’s something happening around every corner.
Our first day at the Stampede—Thursday, July 9 (Day 7)—perfectly captured everything that makes this legendary event so special. From photographing colorful carnival scenes and tasting outrageous fair food creations to witnessing the adrenaline-filled chuckwagon races before capping off the night with country music in Nashville North, it was a packed day from start to finish.
Exploring the Midway
We arrived at Stampede Park during the afternoon, giving ourselves plenty of time to wander through the bustling Midway before the evening’s entertainment began. The Midway is a photographer’s dream. Brightly colored rides tower above the crowds while flashing lights, game booths, and smiling carnival workers create an energetic atmosphere at every turn. Everywhere you look there’s another opportunity to capture the excitement of the Stampede.
Of course, no trip through the Midway would be complete without checking out the legendary food offerings. Every year vendors seem determined to outdo themselves with increasingly outrageous culinary creations. Alongside longtime fair favorites like poutine, mini donuts, and smoked meats, visitors can find an almost unbelievable selection of deep-fried treats.
This year’s lineup included everything from deep-fried pizza to deep-fried frozen watermelon, proving once again that if it can be battered and fried, someone at the Calgary Stampede is probably serving it. Even if you’re too full to sample everything, strolling through the food midway is an attraction in itself.
A Patriotic Opening at GMC Stadium
As evening approached, we made our way into GMC Stadium for one of the Stampede’s signature nightly traditions. The festivities began with a performance from the Stampede Showband, one of Canada’s premier marching bands, whose precision musicianship immediately energized the crowd. Rodeo princesses were also introduced to the massive crowd. Sarah O’Brien serves as the Calgary Stampede Rodeo Princess and Raegan First Rider represents Calgary Stampede First Nations as Princess.
The evening became even more memorable during the singing of “O Canada.” As thousands of spectators stood to sing, a military helicopter soared above the stadium carrying a massive Canadian flag suspended beneath it. The dramatic flyover drew cheers throughout the grandstands and provided a fitting tribute before the night’s competition began.
The Excitement of Chuckwagon Racing
Following the opening ceremonies came one of the most anticipated events of every Calgary Stampede evening—the Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races. While many international visitors associate the Stampede primarily with rodeo, chuckwagon racing is equally beloved and deeply rooted in the festival’s history.
Each race begins with three chuckwagons maneuvering around a series of barrels before charging onto the track. Every wagon is pulled by a powerful team of four horses, while outriders complete the team’s timed run by mounting their horses and joining the race after the wagon exits the infield. What follows is a thrilling combination of speed, strategy, and horsemanship as teams thunder around the oval track in pursuit of the fastest time.
Throughout Stampede week, drivers battle for a coveted place in Championship Sunday, where the overall winner takes home $50,000 along with a brand-new GMC truck. Watching the horses explode out of the infield while thousands of fans cheered from the grandstands made it easy to understand why chuckwagon racing remains one of Canada’s most exciting spectator sports.
Geordie Kieffer Brings the Party to the Coca-Cola Stage
After the races concluded, we headed across Stampede Park to the Coca-Cola Stage, where one of the festival’s free nightly concerts was already drawing an enormous crowd.
Agro-pop artist Geordie Kieffer delivered one of the night’s most entertaining performances. Never one to shy away from bold fashion choices, Kieffer took the stage wearing silver chaps, a matching silver vest, and leopard-print underwear, immediately capturing the audience’s attention before the music even started.
His unique blend of pop, disco, hip-hop, and rock created an energetic dance party that kept fans singing and moving throughout the set. The packed crowd proved that the Coca-Cola Stage continues to be one of the best places at Stampede Park to discover emerging artists alongside established acts.
Our First Visit to Nashville North
Next, we made our way to one of the Stampede’s most iconic venues—Nashville North. For country music fans, Nashville North has become legendary over the years, hosting some of the genre’s biggest stars in an intimate tent setting where fans are only feet away from the performers. It was our first country music experience of the week, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
Restless Road Gets the Crowd Singing
Country trio Restless Road kicked off the evening inside the packed tent with their signature harmonies and high-energy performance. The group treated fans to favorites including “Take Me Home,” while also showing off their influences during a fun country music medley celebrating some of the biggest songs of the 1990s and early 2000s.
The crowd enthusiastically sang along to classics including “Dixieland Delight,” “I Like It, I Love It,” and even joined in for a surprise snippet of Taylor Swift. The mix of originals and nostalgic favorites made for the perfect warm-up before the night’s headliner.
Chris Young Closes Out the Night
The evening wrapped up with country star Chris Young, who received a warm Calgary welcome as he took the stage wearing the official white Calgary Stampede cowboy hat. Young delivered exactly what fans had hoped for—a hit-filled performance packed with the songs that have made him one of country music’s most consistent hitmakers.
Highlights included chart-toppers “Gettin’ You Home” and “I Didn’t Come Here to Leave,” with fans singing every word throughout the set. His rich vocals filled Nashville North, creating the perfect ending to an incredible first day exploring everything the Calgary Stampede has to offer.
Looking Ahead
From outrageous midway food and spectacular photography opportunities to centuries-old Western traditions and outstanding live music, Day 7 showcased why the Calgary Stampede continues to attract visitors from around the globe year after year.
Whether you’re cheering during the chuckwagon races, discovering your next favorite artist at the Coca-Cola Stage, or singing along inside Nashville North, every corner of Stampede Park offers a different experience waiting to be discovered.
After an unforgettable first day, we left Stampede Park already looking forward to returning for Day 8. With more rodeo action, concerts, midway adventures, and Western traditions still ahead, our Calgary Stampede adventure was only just beginning.