Calgary Stampede kicks off with downtown parade
Posted Jul 7, 2023 8:28 am.
Last Updated Jul 7, 2023 7:18 pm.
Grab those boots! The 2023 rendition of the Calgary Stampede kicks off Friday morning with the beloved parade taking over the city’s downtown at 9 a.m.
Road closures at 6 Avenue, 9 Avenue, 4 Street and 5 Street began as early as 7 a.m. as staging for the spectacular show began.
Pedestrian volume downtown is also significant as hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected gather to take in the procession, led by astronaut Jeremy Hanson.
Calgarians of all ages are excited, and for some, this is their first time attending the parade.
For others, this is far from their first rodeo
The parade has marked the start of The Greatest Show on Earth since 1912, showcasing colourful floats, majestic horses and high-energy marching bands, the Stampede says.
Attendees can head from the parade straight to the grounds, with free admission to Stampede Park is free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The first day of rodeo competition starts at 1:30 p.m.
Listen to CityNews 660 for live coverage of the Stampede parade, news, and traffic updates every 10 minutes on the ones.
