{"id":778511,"date":"2026-07-03T22:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T22:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/778511\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T22:07:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T22:07:13","slug":"stampede-parade-draws-downtown-crowds-as-calgary-kicks-off-10-day-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/778511\/","title":{"rendered":"Stampede Parade draws downtown crowds as Calgary kicks off 10\u2011day celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calgary\u2019s downtown streets filled up with hundreds of thousands of spectators early Friday morning as the annual Stampede Parade marked the official start of the 10-day event.<\/p>\n

The parade began on 9 Avenue and 3 Street SE, moving west through the core before turning back toward 6 Avenue and 3rd Street SE.<\/p>\n

Organizers estimating as many as 350,000 people along the route. Crowds gathered before sunrise to secure viewing spots, with some arriving as early as 5:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Some spectators told CityNews it was a long\u2011standing family tradition for them; others described a first\u2011time experience after travelling from out of country.<\/p>\n

\"\"Spectator arrives early to take in the 2026 Calgary Stampede parade on July 3, 2026. (CityNews\/Logan Stein)<\/p>\n

Olympians Courtney Sarault and Mika\u00ebl Kingsbury helped lead the celebration and officially open the Stampede as parade marshals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s a better way to do my first Calgary Stampede than being a parade marshal,\u201d says Kingsbury.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know how to control things within ourselves, now we\u2019ve got to figure out how to control this horse,\u201d said Sarault. \u201cOnce we figured that out the pressure kind of faded.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Olympians Courtney Sarault and Mikael Kingsbury as the 2026 Calgary Stampede parade marshals. (CityNews\/Logan Stein)<\/p>\n

Actor and comedian Andrew Phung took on float\u2011judging duties, saying he relied on instinct and emotion when choosing his favourites.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not good at judging people, but I know what I like,\u201d says Phung. \u201cWhen I see a float I love and I feel something, I want to react to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a Calgary kid, born and raised in northeast Calgary. I get to come home for the Stampede so I\u2019ve got to do it right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other parade dignitaries this year included Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.<\/p>\n

\"\"Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre at the 2026 Calgary Stampede parade on July 3, 2026. (CityNews\/Logan Stein)<\/p>\n

\"\"Alberta Premier at the 2026 Calgary Stampede parade on July 3, 2026. (CityNews\/Logan Stein)<\/p>\n

The parade signals the start of 10 days of midway rides, chuckwagon racing, and pancake breakfasts. A roundup of what\u2019s going on at the 2026 Calgary Stampede can be found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Stampede runs until July 12.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tA crowd takes in the 2026 Calgary Stampede in downtown Calgary on July 3, 2026. (CityNews\/Logan Stein) <\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

Add CityNews Calgary as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n

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