IN PHOTOS: Thousands participate in 2023 Calgary Stampede Parade
![Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen waves at the crowd as he rides a horse as the Calgary Stampede Parade Marshall in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-20042-AM-1024x641.jpg)
Posted Jul 7, 2023 4:27 pm.
Last Updated Jul 7, 2023 4:33 pm.
Many people from around the country showed up to watch the Calgary Stampede Parade, while nearly 4,000 more participated in the festivities that took on a new route in downtown Calgary.
Hundreds of thousands lined the streets to watch the parade, which also had 200 horses march the streets in the second-largest parade in North America.
Leading the charge starting from 9 Avenue and 3 Street SE was Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who took a break from his space suit and donned a cowboy hat, jeans, and cowboy boots to serve as the grand marshal.
He is set to become the first Canadian to travel to the moon as part of the 10-day Artemis II mission, which could launch as early as November 2024.
Through the parade route, Hansen rode a horse named Cisco and looked like he eased into his role, which many famous people held over the years.
Many floats were operated by various organizations and businesses from Calgary and Alberta, and some politicians took part as well.
In addition, there were dances and performances from many different groups in the city.
Here are photos and highlights of the 2023 Calgary Stampede Parade.
![2023-07-07Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10072 AM A Calgary Stampede parade participant encourages those on the wings at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10072-AM-1024x647.jpg)
A Calgary Stampede parade participant encourages those on the wings at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10127 AM A woman on a horse smiles as she passes by the crows at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10127-AM-1024x644.jpg)
A woman on a horse smiles as she passes by the crows at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07 Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10562 AM A harness racer with a pony strapped on at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10562-AM-1024x683.jpg)
A harness racer with a pony strapped on at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10292 AM Participants in the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10292-AM-1024x700.jpg)
Participants in the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10397 AM A Calgary Shriner pumps up the crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10397-AM-1024x683.jpg)
A Calgary Shriner pumps up the crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07 Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10445 AM A Calgary Shriner flashes a hand signal at the camera while riding his vehicle at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10445-AM-1024x655.jpg)
A Calgary Shriner flashes a hand signal at the camera while riding his vehicle at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![Two Canadian soldiers talk while on top of a military tank at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10229-AM-1024x664.jpg)
![A member of the Calgary Police Service Pipe Band looks outward while at the Calgary Stampede Parade](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-20211-AM-1024x668.jpg)
![Participants in the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10235-AM-1024x667.jpg)
![2023-07-07Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10884 AM A dancer with the Nigerian Community Association of Calgary performs as she marches in the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10884-AM-1024x638.jpg)
A dancer with the Nigerian Community Association of Calgary performs as she marches in the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07 Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 20189 AM A pony marches on at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-20189-AM-1024x683.jpg)
A pony marches on at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07 Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10579 AM A knight on horseback marches in the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10579-AM-1024x623.jpg)
A knight on horseback marches in the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![Canadian Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre waves his hat while atop a horse at the Calgary Stampede Parade](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10332-AM-1024x683.jpg)
![Alberta United Conservative Party Calgary MLAs wave at the crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10678-AM-1024x568.jpg)
![Alberta NDP Calgary MLAs wave at the crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10670-AM-1024x683.jpg)
![2023-07-07 Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10547 AM Members of the Alberta Ghostbusters dance the iconic dance from the original movie at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10547-AM-1024x669.jpg)
Members of the Alberta Ghostbusters dance the iconic dance from the original movie at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 10405 AM The crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade hoot and holler as the parade goes by in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10405-AM-1024x662.jpg)
The crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade hoot and holler as the parade goes by in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
![2023-07-07 Calgary Stampede Parade 2023 20179 AM Members of crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade watch and take photos as the parade goes by in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-20179-AM-1024x614.jpg)
Members of crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade watch and take photos as the parade goes by in Calgary on Friday, July 7, 2023. (Alejandro Melgar, CityNews image).
Gallery
![A parade participant with Parks Canada pumps his arms into the air and amps up the crowd at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-10867-AM-1024x598.jpg)
![A flag bearer at the Calgary Stampede Parade smiles as she marches in downtown Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-20233-AM-1024x565.jpg)
![A Calgary Stampede parade participant laughs while on a float at the Calgary Stampede Parade in Calgary](https://calgary.citynews.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/8/2023/07/07/2023-07-07Calgary-Stampede-Parade-2023-20249-AM-1024x575.jpg)
-With files from The Canadian Press