Calgary 
The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth begins this Friday.
Credit: Calgary Stampede
The 111th Calgary Stampede Parade is the official kick-off to Alberta’s iconic summer festival and is the second-largest Parade in North America after the Rose Bowl Parade held in Pasadena, California
Calgary Stampede Parade, which kicks off at 8:55 a.m. on 9th Avenue at 3rd Street SE, is approximately 5 kilometres in length and takes almost two hours to pass any one point on the route. In other words, the route is the same length as just over 25 Calgary Towers laid end-to-end.
- Bucket List Summer Fun: 50+ Bucket List Ideas For Your Summer Trip to Alberta
Leading the parade this year is Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian astronaut set to become the first Canadian to embark on a lunar mission as part of the historic Artemis II mission. Hansen will lead the chuckwagon entry and more than 100 others, comprised of over 400 four-legged and close to 5,000 two-legged participants.
Joining Hansen as the honorary Parade Marshal is Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, who shares a dedication to public service through his work with the Canadian Armed Forces.
Credit: Calgary Stampede
Historically, First Nations have played a prominent role in the Calgary Stampede since 1912 when 1,800 members of Treaty 7 led the Parade at the request of Stampede visionary Guy Weadick.
Calgary Fire Chief Cappy (James) Smart has the most appearances – 35 consecutive Parades – as Parade marshal, followed by Mickey Mouse with three appearances. Minnie Mouse has made two appearances as Parade marshal.
RCMP Musical Ride
RCMP Musical Ride will also join the parade this year.
Though the parade kicks off at 8:55 a.m., the Parade Prelude begins at 7:30 a.m. with incredible and entertaining acts to warm up the crowd for the main show.
Following the Parade on Friday, July 7, guests can Parade to Park for free admission between 11 a.m.—1:30 p.m. The main gates are just a short 10-15 minute walk away from the end of the parade route, located at 9 Avenue and 4 Street SE.
- Free Everyday Summer: FREE Family Activities For Every Day This Summer in Calgary 2023
The Parade is organized by a team of passionate volunteers who make up the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee, some of who have served on the Committee for more than 40 years.
If you are interested in watching the Calgary Stampede Parade, here is what you should know:
Credit: Calgary Stampede
When: Friday, July 7, 2023
7:30 a.m. – Parade prelude (on-street entertainment) begins.
8:55 a.m. – Parade Begins
Watching from anywhere in the world:
Watching in person:
When: The Parade begins at 8:55 a.m. on July 7th, and the Parade Prelude begins at 7:30 a.m.
Parade Route:
The parade begins on 9 Avenue at 3rd Street SE and runs west to 10 Street SW, then turns north at 9th Avenue and 10th Street SW, turns east at 6th Avenue and 10th Street SW and finishes at 6th Avenue and 4th Street SE.
The entire Parade route will remain closed to traffic until the last entry has left the route (approximately 1:30 p.m.)
Parade Route; Calgary Stampede
How to watch:
The Calgary Parade is free to watch and more than 80% of the Parade route along 9th and 6th Avenues is available for free-of-charge seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reserved seats are available for a fee.
Arrive as early as possible to get good seats. Remember to take refillable water bottles. Portable water stations will be available along the route.
Calgary Parade committee asks spectators to remember to wear a broad-brimmed hat, stay hydrated with water, wear a minimum SPF 30 sunscreen to protect themselves from heat-related emergencies, and use raingear instead of umbrellas, in case it rains as umbrellas may block the view of other spectators.
Portable toilets will be available along the route.
Spectators are asked not to cross the Parade route at any time. The Parade operations require five full lanes of traffic: the center three for entries and the outer two lanes for parade operations and emergency vehicle access.
Calgary Transit:
Calgary Transit is the best way for spectators to get downtown to the Parade route, with the most access to downtown Calgary closing at 7:00 a.m. on Parade Day.
Discounted Stampede Transit Day Passes are available during Stampede and are valid for one full day between July 6 and 16. The special price for Adult transit day passes is $8.25 (reg. $11.25), and Youth transit day passes are $6.25 (reg. 8.25).
CTrain service will run before, during and after the parade.
To reach Stampede grounds after the Parade on July 7:
Route 501 will begin service right after the parade and continue until approximately 3 p.m. You can catch 501 shuttle bus at one of these locations:
-
- Northbound 4 Street SW at 7 Avenue SW
- Eastbound 7 Avenue SW at 1 Street SW
- Southbound 1 Street at 8 Avenue SE
CTrain service runs 24 hours during the Stampede week (July 6 to July 17) and to reach the grounds, you can take the CTrain to Victoria Park/Stampede or Erlton Stations. Erlton Stampede Station is the nearest option to reach Midway.
The following routes will be on detour during the parade: Route 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13, 17, 22, 24, 62, 64, 66, 69, 70, 90, 101, 109, 116, 117, 131, 142, 151, 300, 301, 302, MY, 305, MP & 449.
Accessible Viewing Zones:
The eight accessible viewing zones will be reserved for people with mobility challenges until 8 a.m. Accessible viewing zones will be located on 6 Avenue and 9 Avenue at:
- On 6 Avenue at: 1 Street S.E., 2 Street S.W., 6 Street S.W. and 9 Street S.W.
- On 9 Avenue at: Centre Street, 2 Street S.W., 6 Street S.W. and 9 Street S.W.
Calgary Transit Access will provide drop-off and pick-up services near the designated accessible viewing zones at 801 – 6 Street S.W., and 855 – 2 Street S.W. Drop-offs will be between 6:40 a.m. and 7 a.m. The first pick-up will be at 12:30 p.m.
See here to plan your trip using Calgary Transit:
Parking & Parking lot closures:
Parking:
There are many Calgary Parking Authority parking options close to the Stampede grounds, including the new Platform Parkade at 399 – 9 Avenue S.E. Located only blocks away, it will remain open until 11 p.m. for vehicles and until midnight for those who wish to watch the fireworks from the rooftop.
Summer promo rates, including $10 and $15 parking, are also available at select facilities across Calgary. You can download MyParking app to receive the parking discount. Complementary extended parking is also available at facilities on Saturday and Sunday mornings until 10 a.m.
Parking Lot Closures:
The following Calgary Parking Authority lots will be closed until the streets have been fully swept and the roads re-open at 2 p.m.:
Thursday, July 6 from noon until Friday, July 7 at 2 p.m.
- Lot 55, East Village (north half) – (724 – 4 St. S.E.)
- Lot 75, (401 – 4 Ave. S.E.)
Friday, July 7 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Lot 74 (6 a.m. closure) – East Village (656 Confluence Way S.E.)
- Lot 77 (6 a.m. closure) – East Village (415 – 7 Ave S.E.)
- Lot 78 (6 a.m. closure) – East Village (424 – 8 Ave S.E.)
- Lot 79 (6 a.m. closure) – East Village (427 – 8 Ave S.E.)
- Riverwalk Parkade (6 a.m. closure) – (620 – 6 Ave S.E.)
Friday, July 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Lot 7 (208 – 9 Ave S.W.)
- Lot 24, Arts Commons Parkade (829 Macleod Tr. S.E.)
- Lot 25, City Centre Parkade (9 Ave access closed, only) – (221 9 Ave S.W.)
- Lot 36, City Hall Parkade (322 – 9 Ave S.E.)
- Lot 54, Centennial Parkade (608 – 9 Ave. S.W. / 823- 5 St. S.W)
- Lot 55, East Village (north half) – (724 – 4 St. S.E.)
- Lot 60, Convention Centre Parkade (727 – 1 St. S.E.)
- Lot 61 (701 – 11 St. S.W.)
- Lot 62, Platform Parkade (399 – 9 Ave. S.E.)
- Lot 64, (825 – 11 St. S.W.)
- Lot 83 (940 – 8 Ave. S.W.)
- Fort Calgary (750 – 9 Ave. S.E.)
On-street ParkPlus zones along the parade route will not be accessible during the parade, but will be in effect once roads re-open.
Stampede taxi and Uber zones:
Taxi Zone (24 hours):
- 14 Avenue S.E. east of 5 Street S.E.
- South side of Stampede Park, north of 25 Avenue S.E.
Taxi zones (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.)
- 12 Avenue S.W. between 1 Street S.E. and 3 Street S.E.
Uber/Lyft (24 hours):
- 14 Avenue S.W. between Stampede Trail S.W. and 5 Street S.W.
- South side of Stampede Park, north of 25 Avenue S.E.
Uber/Lyft (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.):
- 10 Avenue S.E. between 1 Street S.E. and Olympic Way S.E.
- 1 Street S.E. between 10 Avenue S.E. and 12 Avenue S.E.
Road Closures & Parking restrictions:
Credit: City of Calgary
Road closures, beginning at 6 a.m. (roads closed for parade set-up) Friday, July 7:
- 9 Avenue S.E. between 8 Street S.E. and 3 Street S.E.
- 6 Street S.E. between 7 Avenue S.E. and 9 Avenue S.E.
- 5 Street S.E. between 7 Avenue S.E. and 9 Avenue S.E.
- 6 Avenue S.E. between 3 Street S.E. and 5 Street S.E.
- 7 Avenue S.E. between 4 Street S.E. and 6 Street S.E.
- 8 Avenue S.E. between 4 Street S.E. and 6 Street S.E.
Road closures, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Friday, July 7:
- 4 Street S.E. between 6 Avenue S.E. and 9 Avenue S.E.
- 3 Street S.E. between 4 Avenue S.E. and 9 Avenue S.E.
- Westbound 6 Avenue from 3 Street S.E. to 11 Street S.W.
- 10 Street S.W. from 6 Avenue S.W. to 9 Avenue S.W.
- Eastbound 9 Avenue from 11 Street S.W. to 3 Street S.E.
- The morning connector from Bow Trail to westbound 5 Avenue S.W. will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. only.
Limited access to Ramsay:
Until July 17, resident access into Ramsey will be by permit only at Bellevue Avenue and MacDonald Avenue S.E. or Burns Avenue and Spiller Road S.E
Calgary traffic report and road closures
Fun Fact: Approximately 2 tons of manure will be deposited on the Parade route. Since 2001, the City of Calgary’s “Street Sweeper Critters” – Chestnut the Horse, Barlow the Buffalo, Outlaw the Bull, and Daisy the Cow – have been responsible for clearing the Parade route.
Where will porta-potty units be available along the parade route?
The press release says it will be available along the parade route. Specific locations are not mentioned.
What time will the c/train start running from the Dalhousie station, after the parade is over.?
It is not specifically mentioned in any of the press releases. It might start after road closures end at 3:00 p.m.