It's here.

Well, it’s official: Stampede 2010 has started!

Over the last couple of months, Stampede Spotlight has highlighted the diverse array of things to do on Park, some of which you may have heard about, and some of which you may have not.

Today, I’ll quickly highlight some of the other things that I may have missed, as well as show you where you can go to find more hints, suggestions, and information to help you make your Stampede experience this year a memorable one.

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Who doesn’t like a good marching band?

You may already know of the world-famous Calgary Stampede Showband, but the more the merrier, right? With the equally world-famous Calgary Stampede Parade happening this week, I figured I’d take the time to talk about the bands from in and around the city as well as from around the world that you’ll probably see in various Stampede events this year.

Many different bands will be participating in the festivities this year, with some from around Calgary and the surrounding area, and some from as far away as Australia and France.

These bands will make appearances not only at the Stampede Parade, but also around Stampede Park, as well as at other Stampede events happening around town like the official Stampede Caravan breakfasts.

On Tuesday, July 13, many of these bands will be competing at Showbands Live! (another event free with Park admission) at the Saddledome for a share of $18,000 in prize money.

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Did you know that Blacksmiths make more than just horseshoes?

Certainly, the people competing at this year’s World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition at the Stampede will be making plenty of horseshoes as part of that competition, but those who have dedicated their lives to taking up the craft of metalwork have the abilities to create so much more.

The Metal Art Showcase gives these competitors an outlet to exercise their artistic freedom and to use their skills to create wonderful pieces of art out of metal. If artwork involving metal interests you, or if you’re looking for something unique to see at this Stampede, the Metal Art Showcase is happening at the Big Top and Palomino Room in the BMO Centre on Saturday, July 10.

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It’s time to Cowboy Up.

A big hit on RFD-TV in the United States, the Extreme Cowboy Race will be making its debut in Canada at the 2010 Calgary Stampede.

Originally created by Craig Cameron, the Extreme Cowboy Race is a timed and judged race through an obstacle course that is designed not only to push horse and riders out of their traditional comfort zones, but also test the communication between horse and rider and the horsemanship skills and athletic abilities of each competitor.

A multi-faceted equestrian sporting event, just some of the obstacles that have been featured in previous races have included barrel jumps, log pulls, water crossings, archery shoots, and balloon shooting with pistols or rifles.

A customized version of the Extreme Cowboy Race sanctioned by the Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) will be held at this year’s Stampede.

Known as the Calgary Stampede Cowboy Up Challenge, it will be designed to take advantage of the audio, video, and other various capabilities of the Saddledome to create a customized race course never seen before, and you can catch it there at 3 p.m. daily between July 10-12.

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Many of you loyal Stampede Blog readers should know by now that many of the agricultural based competitions that occur on Stampede Park during Stampede time have evolved from actual farm-related tasks. We’ve already covered Sheep Shearing, Sheep Herding, the Heavy Horse Pull, and the World Champion Blacksmiths’ Competition here on Stampede Spotlight alone.

Another such event is Team Cattle Penning. The sport of Team Cattle Penning (sometimes abbreviated to Team Penning for short) is, in my opinion, one of the Stampede’s best kept secrets when it comes to fast paced and exciting events appropriate for all ages, and the Calgary Stampede Team Penning Competition is happening in the Saddledome July 7 -12.

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Stock dogs aren’t the only dogs that get showcased at the Stampede.

Making their return this year is the ever popular President’s Choice SUPERDOGS, this time in a new venue.

Located this year on the upper level of the Big Four Building, the SUPERDOGS run, jump and soar to unbelievable heights. Be amazed as they perform tricks, run through obstacle courses, and showboat for the audience at every opportunity.

This year’s theme is “BFF-LOL-WOW!” because these SUPERDOGS will be your best friends forever (BFF), will make you laugh out loud (LOL), and will display antics and athleticism that will make you say “WOW!”

What’s equally just as surprising is that many of the dogs that appear in the show were adopted from humane societies and shelters throughout North America.

To give you a taste of what to expect from the show, here’s a clip from last year (although ignore the venue and schedule information in the video):
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An important task for anyone involved in raising livestock is herding. Most times, the herding of livestock is performed with the assistance of other animals. In the case of sheep, it’s usually performed by border collies, although it’s not unusual for other breeds of dogs to be used. Border collies are typically chosen for their energetic temperaments and their intelligence.

Last time on Stampede Spotlight, I told you about how something as simple as sheep shearing could turn into a popular competition worldwide. Sheep herding has turned into a popular competition as well, and the Calgary Stampede runs its own competition every year, known for being one of the richest competitions around with over $16,000 in cash and prizes available to be won this year.

It’s “woof, woof” meets “baa, baa” as stock dog meets sheep stock in a battle of wills during the World Stock Dog Championship happening on July 11 and 12 at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

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Many of the agricultural based competitions on Stampede Park that happen during Stampede time have evolved from actual farm-related tasks. For example, the Heavy Horse Pull, World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition, and many of the events at the Stampede Rodeo are based on everyday chores that working farm hands have had to perform.

Generally, they just start off as friendly competitions. One guy says to another guy “Hey, I can do that faster and better than you can!” while the other guy says “Oh yeah? Prove it!” and all of a sudden the two start going at it.

Every once in a while, those “friendly competitions” start to get a little more popular to watch by others (“Hey, come down and see me kick this guy’s butt!”), a little bit more organized (“Hey, come down on this date at this place and see this guy kick that other guy’s butt!”), and sooner or later, these friendly competitions start to become regular public events.

One such farm-related task is Sheep Shearing, which has turned into a popular competition worldwide. The Calgary Stampede puts on its own competition every year, and you can catch the North American Sheep Shearing Challenge between July 9 and 11 in the Victoria Pavilion.

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The gleam of the paint as the light hits the chassis, the roar of the engines as the driver brings his machine to life, the sheer horsepower barely contained and about to be unleashed, the anticipation as the driver awaits the signal to go, all of the action and excitement that one can only find in the world of…tractors?

Formula 1 racing may have wrapped up in Montreal last weekend, but anyone who can relate to or appreciate cars, mechanical horsepower, machinery, or a really loud engine may be surprised to find out how much they can relate to a Tractor Pull.

Like its heavy horse equivalent, a Tractor Pull involves hauling a heavy load a certain distance. The winner of the competition is the one who can haul it the furthest.

But that’s not the amazing part of the Tractor Pull at the Stampede. No, the amazing part is that all of the machines taking part in the competition had to have been built before 1960. That’s right, many of the machines taking part in this competition are antiques that have been lovingly restored by their owners for the sole purpose of competing in a game of one-upmanship.

And you can see it all live at the Vintage Tractor Pull and Tractor Show & Shine taking place in the Big Top on July 10 and 11!

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If you’ve been following Stampede Spotlight over the last week, you’ll notice that there’s been a lot of concentration on heavy horses (also known as draft horses), which you can learn all about by visiting Draft Horse Town, a new exhibit for this year’s Stampede.

Their lightweight counterparts are aptly known as light horses, and they typically weigh between 900 to 1,500 lbs. They are primarily used for riding or for light work such as pulling buggies. There are dozens of breeds, and many of the horses that you see being used at Stampede time (for example, thoroughbreds are the main horses used for horse racing) are typically classified as light horses.

This year, 16 breeds of light horse will be on display at Horse Haven in the Agriculture Building. Open all 10 days of Stampede from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Horse Haven includes educational displays where you can learn about each light horse breed and interact with the horses representing those breeds, as well as speak with their owners to learn more about them or what it takes to own and maintain one.

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If you’ve been keeping up with our Stampede Spotlight feature here on the Stampede Blog, you’ll know that heavy horses (also known as draft horses) were traditionally used to carry heavy loads.

You’ll be able to learn all about them by visiting Draft Horse Town, new to this year’s Stampede, where you’ll see examples and exhibits on how they were used to help settle Western Canada. You’ll also be able to witness first-hand just how much load these beasts of burden can haul by catching the Heavy Horse Pull competition in the Big Top, July 16-18.

That said, heavy horse owners are very proud of their horses and sometimes enjoy showing them off. They’ll dress them (and themselves) up, outfit them in beautiful costumes, hitch them to some fancifully decorated wagons, and give them every opportunity to strut their stuff in front of a crowd.

This year, you’ll be able to see these magnificent beasts in all their majesty and splendour at the Heavy Horse Show, taking place in the Saddledome between July 9-12, and featuring musical performances from members of the CPO on July 10 and 11 in the evenings.

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Heavy horses (also known as draft horses) have traditionally been used to carry heavy loads. In fact, if you visit Draft Horse Town at this year’s Stampede, you’ll learn all about the various roles that heavy horses have played in helping settle the west and beyond.

Many farm-related tasks have, over time, inspired and created competitions as a way for the working farm hands to demonstrate their skills to others and as a way to practise and sharpen those skills. For example, tie-down roping derived from actual duties which required catching and restraining calves for branding or medical treatment. Competitions such as the World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition were created to provide blacksmiths a venue to demonstrate their abilities as well as to improve upon them.

The sport of horsepulling is no different, and the best opportunity for you to see the horses strut their stuff is at the Heavy Horse Pull in the Big Top, July 16-18.

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Before the advent of the internal combustion engine, it’s no secret that humankind relied on beasts of burden to get various jobs done, and draft horses were the beasts of choice when it came to settling Western Canada.

Draft horses have traditionally been bred for heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour. Over time, they were bred to also possess the traits of strength, patience and a docile temperament. These traits allowed them to help us build roads, pull wagons, haul dirt and rock from building sites, assist firefighters in transporting their equipment, and plough fields for planting crops. Over half a million of them were used during World War I to support military efforts, and their use today is still favoured in situations where individuals wish to farm with a renewable source of power.

In honour of the role that draft horses have played in helping to shape our western heritage, new this year to the Stampede is Draft Horse Town, located on Saddledome Lane between the Pengrowth Saddledome to the north and the Agriculture Building to the south. Featuring heritage exhibits which show the roles these horses played in helping to settle the West, build Calgary’s first buildings, their roles in the various World Wars, and everything in between.

With multiple interactive displays and exhibits, including a stage area with live demonstrations, music, and other entertainment, Draft Horse Town will give visitors an idea of the role that these magnificent beasts have played in Western Canada’s history and a taste of what life was like when their use was prominent.

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Blacksmith Creating a Horseshoe

Blacksmiths and farriers are just as relevant to the world today as they were in the western days of old.

After all, someone out there has to make the shoes that horses have to wear, and there is always metalwork that needs to be made or repaired quickly where it may be unreasonable to have to outsource manufacturing or creation elsewhere.

These days, bellows and forges fuelled by coal have been replaced with acetylene torches, plasma cutters, electric welders, and other modern equipment, and the hammering and shaping of metals is considered more of a fine art than it is a trade.

That said, there are those who still hold to the old ways and constantly seek opportunities to improve and hone their craft, and an excellent place to do so and to show off their talents at the same time is at the World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition, being held between July 7-11 at the Big Top at Stampede Park.

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One on-line dictionary defines the term Circus as “a large public entertainment, typically presented in one or more very large tents or in an outdoor or indoor arena, featuring exhibitions of pageantry, feats of skill and daring, performing animals, etc.”

Making a return this year, the Bell Midway Circus seeks to re-define the term for a modern world, emphasizing human acts of skill, daring, bravery, and in some peoples’ opinion, pure insanity all in order to dazzle and entertain.

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With about a month and a week left until Stampede 2010 (38 days to be precise), it’s never too early to start thinking about Stampede! Did you know that there are things you can do right now that can help you save some money later on?

There are many deals, promotions, and programs happening right now, leading up to Stampede time that you can take advantage of. I’ll highlight some of them here.

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The USA Breakdancers performing at the Saddledome Plaza Stage during Stampede 2009

The Saddledome Plaza Stage, located right beside the Pengrowth Saddledome, features acts and performances that appeal to all ages. With performances scheduled throughout the day, if it’s family entertainment you seek, it’s happening here.

At the Saddledome Plaza Stage, there’s always something different going on from Park opening to close, and one could easily spend an entire day here taking in all of the performances on stage. This is a great place to visit in-between destinations in your Stampede program, or it makes a for a great Stampede destination all on its own.

Best of all? Access to all of the entertainment performing on stage is free with your gate admission.

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Aaron Lines

While the Coca-Cola Stage offers some of the best mainstream music acts in its concert series lineup, if you’re looking for something a little more country to suit your Stampede experience, then look no further than Nashville North.

Sponsored by Budweiser, Nashville North is a venue unlike any other on Stampede Park. Located in its own separate tent north of the Grandstand Building, this is the place where you can enjoy country music acts playing all day long on stage while enjoying your favourite beverage.

The best part about Nashville North? Entrance is free with paid gate admission to Stampede Park.

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The Coca-Cola Stage

What is the Coca-Cola Stage? It’s an outdoor stage at the Calgary Stampede that brings you today’s hottest music and family entertainment, and access to it is free with admission.

Green space surrounds the venue, making it a great place to sit and relax, to enjoy a picnic lunch that you’ve brought from home while enjoying the stage entertainment, or to enjoy that bag of sausage rolls that you picked up from Weadickville moments before.

Now, you’ve probably heard by now about some of the big-name music acts coming to perform on the Coca-Cola Stage in the evenings at this year’s Stampede, and I won’t get into too much detail about it here as it’s covered in many other places as well.

However, in the event that you haven’t yet heard, I’ll let the following video speak on it for you:

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This week, Stampede Spotlight showcased Western Oasis and Buckaroos as two potential spaces where you could take your family. Access to these spaces are free with your gate admission.

One other space that may be of interest to those with families (and even to those who have none) is the Ag-tivity in the City exhibit.

Sponsored by Agrium, Ag-tivity in the City is a massive area comprising of the Agrium Discovery Centre inside the main Ag-tivity in the city tent, as well as the various agriculture-related exhibits and stations surrounding it.

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