Everything you need to know for Stampede parade day

The 10-day Calgary Stampede officially kicks off on Friday, July 7th following the annual Stampede parade. Whether you’re an annual parade goer or are new to the festivities, here’s everything you need to know for parade day.

TIME

The parade festivities start at 7:30 am on Friday, July 7th in downtown Calgary. The main parade starts promptly at 8:55 am.

ROUTE

The Stampede is taking a different route this year than previous years, following a 4.5 kilometre route through downtown Calgary.

1. Begins at 9th Avenue and 1st Street S.E. and travels west.
2. Turns north at 9th Avenue and 10th Street S.W.
3. Turns east at 6th Avenue and 10th Street S.W.
4. Finishes at 6th Avenue and 3rd Street S.E.

WHERE TO SIT

Grab a spot anywhere along the parade route, there is seating setup in most places and you can bring your own camping chairs. There will be huge crowds, so be sure to get there early to scout out a good spot. There will be road closures on Friday for the Stampede and parking will be a factor, so see these tips on travelling downtown for the parade.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

There are 116 entries in the Calgary Stampede parade this year, led by the Calgary Stampede Showband and two hours of entertainment. This year’s Parade Marshals are the seven chiefs of the Treaty 7 Nations. The Treaty 7 Nations are comprised of three Blackfoot Confederacy Nations, three Stoney Nakoda Nations and the Tsuut’ina Nation, whose territories are in southern Alberta. 

There will be free admission to the Calgary Stampede grounds from 11 am to 1:30 pm, following the parade, to start the 10-day festival. If you’ve got Friday off, take advantage of the opportunity to explore the grounds at no charge to get in! More information on the Stampede parade can be found on the Calgary Stampede website here.