Calgary Stampede: The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth Returns
The Calgary Stampede stands as one of North America’s most celebrated cultural events, transforming Canada’s energy capital into a vibrant showcase of Western heritage each July. This storied tradition began in 1912 when Guy Weadick, a New York-born cowboy turned showman, convinced four prominent Alberta ranchers—George Lane, Patrick Burns, A.E. Cross, and A.J. MacLean, collectively known as the “Big Four”—to finance his ambitious vision for a world-class rodeo and Western celebration. The event’s permanent establishment came in 1923 when Weadick’s festival merged with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition to create the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, forming what would become known worldwide as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”