the greatest outdoor show on earth

There is so much buzz about The Calgary Stampede. What exactly makes it so good?  Well, i am a bit of a nerd and so below i have compiled a short list of reasons to LOVE the greatest outdoor show on earth or at least my reasons for this year:

1.  The Flags

The excitement starts weeks before the stampede when the flags go up ALL over the city.  They always go up when the weather starts to finally be nice.  You can't help but start to count the weeks til the stampede starts.  

2.  The whole city gets involved

Where else can you eat for free all week?  and Wear jeans to work for a week?  The whole city uses the stampede as an excuse to go COUNTRY.  It is so fun, all the buildings downtown and throughout the city have murals painted on them. 

All the billboards even get cowboy-ed out.  I just love it.  There are stampede breakfasts and bbq's all week everywhere (this year there was this flapjackfinder.com to help).  

3. You can wear a cowboy hat

It doesn't matter your race, size, shape, color, age etc. Anyone and EVERYONE enjoys sporting the cowboy hat during stampede week.  And you also see hates of every size, shape and color.  Not even just on the grounds.. its EVERYWHERE in the city. :)

4.  the C-train

5.  The grounds/fireworks every night

They seem to get bigger during stampede and there is so much to do/see/ and eat.  This picture was taken right before the fireworks went off.  The fireworks every night are always pretty sweet. 

6.  Free concerts

The coke stage is always full of good free concerts.  Tonight i got to take a quick break from work and watch some Plain White T's.  This years line-up was pretty good: finger11, puddle of mud ( i got to meet members of both bands), natasha beddingfield, derks bentley, lifehouse etc. always a little something for everyone.. and its free once you get in.    

7. Job Opportunities

The stampede was where i had my first job, like my older sisters.  My first job was where angies was here.. at the Pizza place.. where we made/sold pizza for 14 hrs a day.  We always had a blast and made some good friends and shared Tons of laughs all week.  I still miss working there!

8.  the food

the corndogs, the mini donuts, the candy apples, cotton candy, pizza, pickles on a stick, ice cream, lemonade, funnel cakes etc.

all of it is HORRIBLE for your health.. but just so greasy and delicious for once a year. 

I tried a couple new things this year.. mac and cheese wedges.. which were actually SOO good!

and i tried deep fried oreos.. also good, even if you feel your arteries closing up while you chew. 

9.  All these people love it.. why shouldn't you?

there are always crowds at the stampede.. everyone else is loving it because there is a little something for everyone.  I didn't even brush on the rodeo and the young canadians.  The rodeo and the chuckwagons should be reason #10, i didn't get to go to them this eyar so i didn't have any pictures.  But seriously, it is what the stampede is all about, so it is kinda a huge deal.  

10.  It ends when you are tired and leaves you excited for next year.