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We arrive in
Calgary
to attend the
55TH
Annual Stampede and check into the
Marriott
Hotel. The entire town is decked out in pink: pink shirts, pink cowboy hats,
and pink neck scarves.
Wrangler, the
proud sponsor of
Stampede 2007 is tickled pink their visionary theme: “Tough
Enough To Wear Pink “ raises $576,155 in just 30 hours for
Canadian Breast Cancer, thanks to the support
of the entire town.
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The opening parade went on all day
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Calgary
is swarming and swinging with tourists, locals, cowboys and rodeo riders.
The
Calgary Stampede, the largest outdoor show in the world, kicks off with an early
morning parade of high stepping horses, marching bands from all over the world,
dancers, vintage cars and spectacular creative floats. We secure a front row seat
in the bleachers outside the Marriott Hotel, lucky to have such an unobstructed
view of the parade. Kids squeal with delight as tiny ponies prance by and
clowns twist balloons into animal shapes. The parade lasts for several hours,
and we are thrilled to be part of the cheering crowd that lines the streets.
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There was lots to see, to eat and to experience
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For those who live in
Calgary
,
the Stampede is the biggest family and social event of the summer; every night
corporate and private parties that are held in tents, clubs and palatial homes
around town.
Judy Love Rondeau, a public relations representative for
Alberta
, takes us to one
of her favorite hangouts for a chuck wagon BBQ lunch, then to the fair grounds
for an insider tour. At the farm animal petting pens; a large pink mommy pig
lies quietly on her side as her new born litter of six suckle; a teenager tries
his hand at milking a cow; the sea of pink cowboy hats is a reminder of the
fight against breast cancer.
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There were animals a plenty
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The Calgary Stampede belongs to everyone, the young and the
young at heart; it is the symbol of Western values and shared beliefs . . .
from
midway rides,
games of chance
and
children’s petting and learning barns to the
superstars who compete in bareback
bull riding
, steer wrestling, barrel racing and horse drawn wagon competitions.
WAIT FOR THE VIDEOS TO LOAD.....
The Beauty Queens -
It is opening night; the chuck wagon races
have just ended.
Chuck Wagon Race Start -
Chuck Wagon Race End -
The bleachers are filled
with
stampede fans; a six million dollar stage is
wheeled out; the show’s MC gets the crowd cheering as
“The Most Spectacular
Outdoor Theatrical Extravaganza and Fireworks Display in the World”
debuts to this year’s theme:: “
The Spirit of
1912”.
The stage ignites in fire and
sparklers; then explodes with unleashed talent, colorful costumes, special
lighting effects, high kicking dancers; fiddlers,
and
acrobats; high wire performers fly across the stage in yellow and orange
costumes; free style motorcyclists race
up ramps, then flip upside down into somersaults, an amazing
astonishing feat that leaves the crowd
breathless.
First Nation dancers,
perform an intricate, graceful and traditional dream catcher dance that tells a
folklore story.
See Some of the Show -
This fast paced extravaganza has been choreographed with the
professionalism and talent of a hit Broadway show, with the added impact of a
much larger stage .I sit in awe; energy and love fill the night. As the two
hour show builds into its final frenzy, a barrage of fireworks explodes into
the “cowboy sky “.
Spectacular Fireworks -
It has been said, since 1912, that when The
Calgary Stampede comes to
town, it brings the “cowboy sky” and the stars of hope, dreams, and love.
MAY WE ALL FIND PEACE OF MIND UNDER A
COWBOY SKY!
Photographs by
Lawrence
Davis
To
read more from this trip, click on these links:
Vancouver
- A Fabulous Place to Visit, a Great Place to Live
VANCOUVER
- An Emerging Culinary Destination Wows My Palate
Alberta,
Canada, Where The Canadian Rockies Speak Nature in Harmony with Mother Earth
Banff
and Jasper National Parks . . . A Diversity of Thrills and Potential Spills
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this article in the Readers' Forum
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on Babbie De Derian, Travel & Food Editor; Photos by Lawrence Davis, Publisher
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