Calgary’s museums, historic sites, events and heritage buildings tell the story of a frontier town turned prairie metropolis. There are many ways for visitors – and the press and media – to experience these western roots.
The Calgary Stampede
The grand poobah of Calgary festivals, the Stampede is an iconic event that takes place over 10 days at the front end of July. To really pass along the experience to your readers/viewers, you shouldn’t miss the following:
- The parade that runs through downtown Calgary and kicks off the whole she-bang
- The afternoon rodeo that includes everything from barrel racing to bull riding
- Grandstand evening show nightly, featuring chuckwagon races and musical performances by the Young Canadians as well as international acts (and no, it’s not all country music)
- Free pancake breakfasts….every day, all over town
- The parties…every night, all over town
Heritage Park
Canada’s largest living historical village recreates 1850 prairie life and has over 180 exhibits and 45,000 artifacts spread over 127 hectares, complete with costumed interpreters. It’s a great way to get a look at the Calgary of old.
The Ranching Experience
Nothing gets you back to western roots like getting back to the land itself. Spend some time outside the city on a guest ranch and learn what it takes to be a cowboy.
Fort Calgary
Forget "Due South" – in the late 1800s it was "Due West" as the Mounties pushed the Canadian frontier ever further across the plains. Today, a partially reconstructed Fort Calgary with an interpretive centre offers visitors the chance to experience prairie life as it was in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
