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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Last time, I recommended the Western Oasis as a good spot to take a break, even if you’ve got little kids to take care of for the day and just want a break for yourself. It’s one of the many spaces on Stampede Park that access to is free with admission.

But what if you’re a little kid? Where do you go?

Buckaroos, located in the main level of the Big Four Building, is just the place for you (and for parents as well, as long as the kids are playing, I guess) and is another space on Park that access to is free with admission.

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Western Oasis

Making a return this year is the Western Oasis, one of the best places on Stampede Park to get away from the elements and the hustle and bustle of the midway.

Long-time Stampeders may remember the Western Showcase in previous years; the Western Oasis combines everything that the old Western Showcase had and adds lush vegetation, water features, a wine garden, and low-key lighting to create a very calm and relaxing atmosphere. Add in plenty of free space, places to sit, and live performances throughout the venue, and the Western Oasis truly becomes worthy of its namesake.

Located in Halls D and E of the BMO Centre, the Western Oasis features Canada’s finest display of western art and culture.

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One of the most popular attractions during the Calgary Stampede, the Indian Village combines an insight into the colourful heritage of the Plains Indians and a chance to relax in a beautiful park setting.

The Indian Village has been a major part of the Stampede since its inception in 1912.

The First Nations People at Indian Village represent the five tribes, the Siksika, Tsuu T’ina, Nakoda (Stoney), Piikani (Peigan), and Kainai (Blood) of Treaty 7.

Native Interpreters are available to guide visitors through the Indian Village to explain the traditional demonstrations including native dance, games, meat cutting skills and much more.

Located at the south end of Stampede Park, tipis are open for inspection daily, affording guests the opportunity to observe the Indian lifestyles of many years ago, and various events and activities are scheduled throughout the 10 days of the festival ensuring that there’s always something to see and do.

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Guy Weadick

Guy Weadick is the founder of the Calgary Stampede.

In 1912, he gained the financial backing of A.E. Cross, Patrick Burns, George Lane, and Archibald K. McLean (also known as the “Big Four”), and staged the very first Calgary Stampede.

In honour of what he accomplished, there’s an entire area on Stampede Park dedicated to him: Weadickville.

Located west of the Coca-Cola Stage and north of the Big Four Building, Weadickville is a re-created typical Calgary street circa 1912. It’s a cool and comfortable spot to relax and find some of the best values on Park. There’s picnic areas where you can sit and enjoy your lunch (whether brought from home or purchased elsewhere), it’s close enough to the Coca-Cola Stage to hear whatever performance happens to be on, and there’s usually some form of live entertainment in the area at any given time.

What’s my favourite part about Weadickville? The cheap food.

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One of the highlights for me each year is seeing what new and interesting food choices are available on the Midway.

Last year, I did a brief food feature for the Blog entitled Reggie’ll Try It! where I attempted to put my life on the line so you wouldn’t have to. I hope to do more of the same at this year’s Stampede and who knows, maybe it’ll make a return here on the Blog.

I’ll be honest though, I don’t have an iron stomach so there are some things that I might not touch with a 10-foot pole, but for you loyal Stampede Blog readers, I may make an exception.

This year’s Stampede will feature many new Midway treats, in addition to the return of some old favourites. Long-time Stampeders may notice some yearly repeats in the following list, but if you’re new to Calgary or to the Calgary Stampede, then it’s probably all new to you.

So without further ado, here’s the list (in no particular order) of some of the new and/or unique foods appearing at Stampede 2010:

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It's coming...

It’s never too early to start thinking about Stampede!

Last year, all of you loyal Stampede Blog readers may remember that I started a series intended to highlight a few events and activities that would be happening on the grounds or around town during the ten days of Stampede that you may or may not have known about.

With less than two months to go until Stampede 2010, and considering that there’s just so much to see and do during the 10 days of the festival, I figured that it’d be great to get an earlier start this year.

So starting tomorrow, and every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday (or thereabouts) each week until Stampede 2010, tune into the Stampede Blog and learn about a cool aspect of the Stampede that you may or may not have been aware of. Hopefully, you’ll get some ideas here that will help you with planning your next trip to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!

It should be fun, I hope, and if you have any comments or suggestions on content that you’d like to see covered here (either on the Spotlight series or elsewhere), feel free to leave me a comment here on the Blog, or hit me up on Twitter at @regtiangha (I don’t bite, promise)! And of course, don’t forget to follow our main Twitter account at @calgarystampede as well.

See you all tomorrow!

By:  Reginald Tiangha

The Canadian Team Cattle Penning Association will be holding their National Finals at the Stampede Corral starting today throughout the long weekend, and if you’re able, you should come down to Stampede Park and watch as this will be your last chance to see a competition of this caliber in Calgary until Stampede 2010.  Plus, this weekend you’ll get to see people of all ages compete for over $380,000 in cash and prizes, so it should be exciting.

Now, as you loyal Stampede Blog readers might recall, I had written a Spotlight piece on Team Cattle Penning for Stampede 2009. If you’re unfamiliar with the sport of Team Cattle Penning, I present to you a revised version of what I wrote back in June, complete with a new video to show what one run in a competition looks like.  If you like what you see, why not bring the family and visit this weekend for a little while and check it out? Admission is free.

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By Heather Ilsley

I headed down to the Artist Window as I’ve never really understood how artists are able to just start sketching something and have it turn into art.  Do they see the whole image in their mind before they start or do they just kind of go with the flow and see what transpires?  What happens when they make a mistake?  Is there an eraser for paint?

Artist Window is a cool feature inside the Western Showcase (BMO Center Hall D & E) where you can meet an artist, watch them work, and talk with them about technique and other art-y things.

I met up with artist Dianne Middleton and watched her work on a western landscape using pastels.  Below she shows me that she’s going to have to fix the cow…apparently he doesn’t look cow-like.  Turns out there IS an ‘eraser’ that can use to help smooth out areas that you don’t like. (more…)