All systems go for the launch of the 2023 Stampede Parade presented by Suncor!

Calgary – The 111^th Calgary Stampede Parade hits the streets on Friday, July 7, to kick off The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, celebrating more than 100 years of a proud community tradition and western heritage. 

“The Calgary Stampede Parade Committee is very proud of the show we have this year celebrating both great traditions and pioneering firsts,” says Dwayne Spence, Chair of the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee. “We are thrilled to have the first Canadian traveling to the moon, leading a parade which will also celebrate the first 100 years of a sport which is a time-honoured tradition of the Stampede.”

The parade kicks off at 8:55 a.m. on Friday, July 7, on 9th Avenue at 3rd Street SE, and will run for about two hours. Parade goers can then take advantage of Stampede Parade to Park presented by Suncor by going straight from the Parade to the Park to receive free admission from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

This year’s Calgary Stampede Parade features a colourful and exciting lineup of close to 100 entries, 24 floats, 12 bands, 28 horse entries, and 9 mounted colour parties. Nearly 800 horses will make their way around the route!

As part of the celebration of the 100^th Anniversary of Chuckwagon Racing, this year’s Stampede Parade will honour many of the champions and the legendary families which have made this sport such an iconic fixture of the Calgary Stampede.

Leading off the show will be the 2023 Calgary Stampede Parade Marshal, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. A Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, Jeremy will be the first Canadian to venture to the moon as part of the historic Artemis II mission.

The Celebrity Judge for the 2023 Calgary Stampede Parade will be Ashley Callingbull. Ashley is an actress, model, and television personality from the Enoch Cree Nation. She is an actress on Blackstone, Tribal, The Great Salish Heist and was a contestant on the Amazing Race Canada. She was also the first Indigenous First Nations woman to win the Mrs. Universe title. 

The 2023 Stampede Parade will also welcome Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, as honorary Parade Marshal. General Eyre was born in Wadena, Saskatchewan and attended high school in Medicine Hat, Alberta. His distinguished military career has included many commanding roles in the Canadian Armed Forces, in addition to his international service which included his time as Deputy Commander of the United Nations in South Korea. Eyre was also named Commander of the United States Legion of Merit in 2021.

The Parade Prelude kicks off at 7:30am with more than 30 incredible and entertaining acts featuring over 1,500 performers to warm up the crowd for the main show.

Global Calgary is back as the 2023 broadcast partner of the parade, providing an Alberta-wide broadcast on Global Television beginning at 9 a.m.; as well as the Global TV App, GlobalNews.ca, the Global News YouTube Channel, Global Calgary Facebook Live and Amazon Prime.

Spectators are encouraged to cast their vote for the C977 Fan Favourite. While watching the Calgary Stampede Parade, text the entry number to 403-692-0977. Each vote earns you a chance to win fabulous Stampede prizes!  For more information visit www.c977.ca.

The Parade is organized by a team of more than 160 passionate volunteers who make up the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee, some who have served on the Committee for more than 40 years. This year-round committee logs over 19,000 volunteer hours throughout the year, and about 9,000 on Parade Day alone.

Calgary Transit is the best way for spectators to get downtown to the Parade route, with most access to downtown Calgary closing at 7:30 a.m. on Parade Day. Visit calgarytransit.com/home.html for more details.

For more information, please visit calgarystampede.com.

Find a copy of the 2023 Calgary Stampede Parade Media Guide here. 

Notice to media requiring access to the parade route during the parade: 
Once the Parade beings, access to the streets of the Parade Route is restricted. Media wishing authorization to be on the street must obtain prior authorization and adhere to the Guidelines set forth by the Parade Committee. Those guidelines can be obtained here and you are asked to contact the Chair of the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee Media and Communications Sub-Committee no later than 12 p.m. (noon) MDT on Thursday, July 6. Contact information is below.

About the Calgary Stampede:
The Calgary Stampede celebrates the people, the animals, the land, the traditions and the values that make up the unique spirit of the west. The Calgary Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through our world-renowned Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. Exemplifying the theme We’re Greatest Together, we are a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and celebrates our western heritage, cultures and community spirit. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities.

Like Us, Follow Us, Visit Us:
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/csparade
Follow us on Twitter: @CSParade (#stampedeparade)
Follow us on Instagram: @CSParade
Visit us: calgarystampede.com/stampede/parade

For more information, please contact:
Bob Young
Media Coordinator - Calgary Stampede Parade Committee
C 403.850.5575
E mediacoordinator@calgarystampedeparade.com