A sneak peek at Stampede 2014
Planning began back in November, says fair liaison
Things are getting bigger and better JENNIFER BOOTH
Last year people flooded the Calgary Stampede with “Hell or High Water” T-shirts. The year before that, the event celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 2011, royals William and Kate visited the city and participated in the parade. What about Stampede 2014? “There’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ Stampede,” said publicity manager Jennifer Booth, laughing.
With the 102nd incarnation of the city’s biggest party starting Friday, Booth said Stampede organizers try to make each year a little different.
“We really like to challenge ourselves every year and make a new and exciting program.”
As the gates opened for Sneaka-Peek Thursday night and thousands of early midway enthusiasts poured into the park, the usual smells and sounds of Stampede filled the air.
Wearing matching vests, chaps and cowboy hats, two pint-sized cowboys caught lots of attention on their way into the park.
“People were taking our pictures,” eight-year-old Ben Hatfield said shyly.
He wants to be a rodeo cowboy one day — he’s not sure what event he’ll choose — but for now, he and his brother, six-year-old Daniel, are content to go on the rides and take in the sights.
“Sneak-a-Peek’s always a very exciting day,” Booth said.
“We’re working on everything until the very last minute.”
Throughout the park, young children pulled their parents towards rides and eagerly pointed at the stuffed animals. Some parents, like Sandee Johnson, stomached the topsy-turvy midway rides with their kids. “That was nauseating,” said Johnson after she got off the new ride, called Re-mix, with a friend’s daughter.
Over by the kid’s midway, two friends in pink cowboy hats were making a beeline for the carousel.
“We like going on the carousel instead of the animals, but we like the animals too,” said four-year-old Zoe Zimmerman with her friend, five-year-old Anika Marshall.
This year’s midway has 60 rides, around 80 games and 20 food stands. Getting it all set up takes three days, but planning starts in November. It’s practically a science, said fair liaison Scooter Korek from North American Midway Entertainment.
“We can be within three or four inches of everything here,” he said.
“The park has changed a ton,” Booth said.
The kid’s midway, now called the “Great FUNtier,” has moved, as has Nashville North. The new Agrium Western Event Centre is now open, and a new venue, Triple B, is set up near the grandstand.
To top things off, William Shatner will be at the head of Friday’s parade.
“Things are getting bigger and better,” Booth said.