The city hosts the famous Calgary Stampede and thus widely known as 'the Stampede City'. The Stampede, the 'Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth', is a great agricultural fair and rodeo organized every July. An internationally recognized rodeo competition, a midway, stage shows, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon races, First Nations exhibitions, pancake breakfasts around the city are the main attractions of the festival.

The Stampede is one of the most famous festivals in Canada. The people dress up in country attire, and the shopkeepers decorate their shops, stores and offices in this western style, during the stampede week. The stampede parade is the second largest parade in the North America.
The festival was started by Guy Weadick (1885-1953), an American trick roper in 1912. The first Stampede was a world-class rodeo event and Wild West show with prize money totaling $20,000. The best cowboys from all over North America took part in the competition. It attracted more than 100,000 spectators.

The Calgary Exhibition and the chuckwagon races were added to the gala event in 1923. The rodeo prize money was doubled to $1 million in 2004. The 10-day rodeo and exhibition attracted 1,242,928 spectators, and set a new record in 2005.

The next Calgary Stampede will take place from July 4-13 in 2008.