The 113th annual Calgary Stampede kicked off Friday as huge crowds gathered to watch the Stampede parade, led by Canadian country-pop icon Shania Twain.

Parade floats, including this one for Calgary-based WestJet, are lined up in an East Village parking lot on July 3, 2025, ahead of the Calgary Stampede the following morning.

Parade floats, including this one for Calgary-based WestJet, are lined up in an East Village parking lot on July 3, 2025, ahead of the Calgary Stampede the following morning.

The Calgary Stampede is an annual festival and rodeo held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, featuring exhibitions, concerts, a parade, and more. Stuart O’Connor, Stampede president and board chair ...

Country music superstar Shania Twain, in a white hat and white fringed jacket, sat on top of a white horse that clip clopped to cheers through the downtown Friday as she kicked off ...

The Calgary Stampede, an event that started more than 100 years ago, has grown into one of the world’s most popular rodeos and a reflection of Western Canada’s culture.

The main issue that stands out is the rulebook. Calgary sets their own rules and while the general concept of each event is the same, the Stampede does not follow the PRCA rulebook in its entirety.

More than 1.3 million people are expected to attend the 10-day rodeo and exhibition, which begins with a parade on Friday.

Back in her home riding on Thursday after high-profile trade meetings in Ontario this week, Premier Danielle Smith served as ...