Almost as soon as the Calgary Stampede gates opened for Thursday night’s Sneak-A-Peek, heavy rain and hail began to fall.
While the first full-scale exodus since the start of the pandemic doesn’t officially begin until Friday’s parade, people dusted off their boots and slipped on their cowboy hats to hit the field early.
Hundreds of people lined up outside the park’s north entrance to be among the first to head to the midway rides and food.
A storm that ripped through much of Alberta hit the Stampede grounds, sending people running for shelter.
Before the storm hit, Stampede-goers from around the world were eager to experience the greatest outdoor show on Earth.
Ninfa Delgado and her family traveled from Mexico and will spend several days in the field.
“My dad, he’s kind of a cowboy in Mexico, so he really wants to come and see the shows and the Stampede,” she said.
They are in Canada for the first time and plan to experience as much as possible during the 10 days of the Stampede. Apart from checking out the shows and the food, there is one main event they traveled for.
“The rodeo … (we want to) see the rodeo and have fun,” Juan Delgado said.
The Stampede officially kicks off Friday with the parade, after which the gates will open for day one of ten days of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
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