Stampede
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede started yesterday. I don't see what the fuss is about; a lot of people dust of their urban hick attire and strut around the city like the just took one in the ass.
A parade, no?
The festivities always kick off with a parade, and this year was no different: a few hundred people ride slowly through downtown on horses or garish floats and wave at people standing on the side of the road. Sometimes they throw candy. Of course, the best-looking floats (if such a adjective can be applied to "float") are usually done by large companies, who prominently display their logo to show how much spirit they have.
There's nothing to be seen that can't be seen at a small-town parade, save the cheese factor is always better in the small-town. Those in the know will have made it out early Saturday morning for Bow Cycle's Bowness parade, which involves a plenitude of Pilnser imbibed by salesmen and mechanics from the fine store. Naturally, both parades have a parade marshal. In the case of the much-hyped Stampede Parade, an apparently-famous American actor and his wife do the honours, since there are clearly no suitable Canadians to lead such a parade. The Bowness parade, on the other hand, picks the least-intoxicated member as marshal, on the off-chance traffic must be dodged. (One's a smart choice; I'll let the reader decide).
...and horses!
Of course, the Stampede is, apparently, all about cowboys. Some ride horses, some bulls; I don't really care, as the only reason I bother attending is to get ripped off by Carnies and ride the dubiously-constructed and over-priced rides at the Midway. There is also a Casino, but the best part of Stampede is watching the tourists: they paid good money to fly all the way out here specifically for this "event" ("The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", if the posters are to be believed). I'm sure they wished Disney world had been attended instead.
Tourists.
I'll probably get some hate mail about having no civic pride, but some people just don't belong in Wranglers and Stampede brings 'em out in droves. If your family vacation is going the be in sunny beautiful Calgary, leave the Cowboy hat at home and go to the museum or something instead. Movies are always an option.