It's like magic. People's socks are mysteriously turning into cowboy boots. What used to be your usual baseball hat has stretched into wide brimmed hats of a more western flavour. It must be Stampede!!!

Today is the first of ten days of cowboy partying here in Calgary. The Stampede kicks off with the annual downtown parade. I would be there right now but to get a seat on the bleachers would cost $25 and they were sold out a week ago. To attempt to find any other standing room would be like getting comfy with some sardines. So I'm watching on tv.

It's kind of funny because my office at work would overlook the parade with a sweet 3rd fl. view, but we have the day off and I told my boss it would kind of defeat the purpose of getting the day off if I went to work to watch the parade. :) Ah well. I'm going to the big event tonight. Yup, I'm getting me a cowboy hat and donning my jeans and Carter will be my western hero and take me through the opening night at the Stampede grounds. I'm kind of pumped.

Defined for its Rodeo, Chuckwagon races, Bull riding and other traditional western events, the Calgary Stampede also offers musical shows including big names like Our Lady Peace, Nelly Fertdao....you get the idea. Food everywhere, games, barn exhibitions, and even better : a huge selection of big fair rides to get that adrenaline pumpin! Sweeet. Aaaaand fireworks everynight. Can it get better?

I hear about a million Americans come up for the Stampede, and even more visitors from the UK come over. Apparently the Stampede is a HUGE attraction for our English friends across the ocean. It's a pretty good show; the Rodeo is giving out $100 000 to winners and only the best riders are invited/allowed to compete.