Vernon Cowgirl, Capetown Cowboy

Stampede to Calgary is like Mardi-gras to Rio de Janeiro. Not the crazy huge costume part, but how everyone seems to live the spirit of it for the duration of the fesitval (the cowboy costume part). Everyone gets into it, and everyone has cowboy boots here. Doesn't matter if you never step foot on a ranch or ever come within miles of a horse or a cow, you still own cowboy boots. (I can tell it will be hard not to get some, especially since they are, after all, boots).

It is not only common to see cowboys everywhere in Calgary during stampede, it would be an anomaly not to see cowboys during the week of stampede, and a big faux-pas to not dress the part when going to Stampede events. Kind of like showing up to a costume event wearing jeans and a tshirt. Y'all are just a dang damper on the parrty! 

Given the status quo we haven't gone to the grounds, or to any events, however we were invited to a private event during Stampede at a friends house last night. It was a mother-daughter chili cook-off, held in their back yard overlooking the city and mountains... a perfect reason to dust off the cowboy hats and get a glimpse of my husband dressing like a cowboy. Yeee haw!

The weather was fantastic and the chili was mighty fine (both Mom's and Daughter's). It was fun to mingle with friends and get into the Stampede spirit, even if for one night!