Calgary Stampede Parade Kicks Off Stampede 2021
Calgary – On Friday, July 9, 2021, the Calgary Stampede Parade officially kicks off The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede! For this year only, the Stampede Parade will be a broadcast only experience and wind its way through Stampede Park prior to the Park opening to the public.
“While spectators will experience it differently this year, the 2021 edition brings together everything that makes the Calgary Stampede Parade so special,” said Jennifer Evangelista, Chair of the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee. “A tremendous amount of work has gone into assembling a parade that features the world-famous Calgary Stampede Showband, the dozens of horses, the floats and armoured vehicles which everyone expects to see.”
Celebrating Coming out of the Storm Together, the 2021 Calgary Stampede Parade Marshal will be Katari Right Hand. Katari is the talented young woman from the Siksika First Nation featured on the 2021 Stampede Poster. Right Hand’s Blackfoot name is Nààpiwa otó piim Akikowan which means Rainbow Girl. As a Fancy Dancer, her regalia features signature rainbow ribbons that can be seen on the 2021 poster. In addition to Katari, Lexi Hilderman, the 23-year-old artist who created the poster will be travelling the route in the Calgary Stampede Foundation carriage.
The Calgary Stampede is very proud to salute Calgary’s essential-workers as part of the 2021 Parade. Calgarians representing the thousands of courageous people who gave selflessly during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our city safe, healthy and working will be prominently featured. “Without these brave souls there would be no Stampede in 2021,” Evangelista added. “We owe a great deal to all of them.” Members from Calgary’s medical, police and fire services as well as those who kept the grocery store shelves stocked, the transit buses and supply trucks moving, the care facilities and classrooms functioning will march in this special entry.
Led by the world-famous Calgary Stampede Showband, this year’s parade will feature a colourful and exciting line up of 59 entries, including the floats and horses Calgarians expect. The 2021 parade will also feature 9 entries that would typically perform in the parade prelude entertaining parade goers prior to the start of the main parade.
Also returning to Calgary will be Brazilian-born cowboy Filipe Masetti Leite. Last year the 34-year-old rode onto Stampede Park completing an 8-year journey on horseback which began in Calgary in 2012 and took him over 26,000 kilometers travelling the full length of the Americas. Masetti Leite was slated to be the 2020 Calgary Stampede Parade Marshal.
The community is invited to enjoy the parade from the comfort of their living rooms through a special broadcast by our partners at Corus Entertainment. Global Calgary will broadcast the parade live on Global Television beginning at 8:00am on Friday July 9. The parade can also be viewed on the Global News YouTube Channel and on Amazon Prime.
The Calgary Stampede Parade is organized by a team of passionate volunteers who make up the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee. The Calgary Stampede is July 9-18, 2021.
General Parade Information
• This year’s Calgary Stampede Parade will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021.
• The parade will take place on Stampede Park and is not open to the public for in-person viewing. Only individuals with proper accreditation issued by the Calgary Stampede, and parade participants will be permitted onto Stampede Park.
Broadcast Notes
• Global Television Calgary will broadcast the Parade on Friday, July 9, 2021 commencing at 8:02 a.m. The parade will also be Livestreamed on Global Calgary, Global News YouTube Channel and Amazon Prime
• Parade coverage will be hosted by Dallas Flexhaug http://globalnews.ca/author/dallas-flexhaug/ and Leslie Horton http://globalnews.ca/author/leslie-horton/
Resources and Support for Media
• The Calgary Stampede Parade Committee is pleased to offer support for media in advance of, and on Parade day.
• Note: if you anticipate needing resources or support on Parade day, please contact Bob Young, Media Coordinator – Calgary Stampede Parade Committee, by Thursday July 8 at (403) 850-5575 or mediacoordinator@calgarystampedeparade.com.
Road Closures
A number of road closures and parking restrictions in the immediate vicinity of Stampede Park will take place beginning Friday, July 9 at 6:30 a.m.
6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Local traffic only – MacDonald Avenue at Bellevue Avenue SE
• Parking ban on 12 Ave SE from Olympic Way to 7 Street SE
• Parking ban on 7 Street SE from MacDonald Avenue North
• 11 Avenue SE and Olympic Way – local traffic and Stampede permit holders only