July 3, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Calgary, Alberta _ The spirit of the Old West will be alive and well today as thousands of people dressed in fringe, cowboy boots, and belt buckles line Calgary’s streets to celebrate the start of the Calgary Stampede.
Leading the charge as this year’s parade marshal is Canadian country legend Shania Twain, who will ride on horseback to kick off the festivities. Twain is also set to perform Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The 10-day celebration runs until July 13.
Best known for chart-topping hits like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” Twain, originally from Timmins, Ontario, last performed at the Stampede in 2014. Now 59, she holds the title of the best-selling female artist in country music history, according to Billboard, and currently appears as a judge on Citytv’s Canada’s Got Talent.
Her list of beloved songs includes “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” “Any Man of Mine,” and “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?”
“She’s a perfect fit to marshal the parade,” said Stampede CEO Joel Cowley. “We’re expecting crowds of over 300,000 again this year. It’s the perfect way to start the Stampede.”
Early birds traditionally flock downtown hours ahead of the parade to secure prime viewing spots.
At Stampede Park, preparation has been in full swing all week, with workers setting up rides and food stands. For Gregg Korek of North American Midway Entertainment, this will mark his 49th time participating in the Stampede. He compared the final touches to getting ready for prom: “Right now, we’re just pinning on the corsage,” he joked.
A born-and-raised Calgarian, Korek began working the midway as a teenager. “I always say I love all our fairs the same—but this one has a special place in my heart.”
Cowley noted that nearly 1.5 million people attended last year’s Stampede. About 73 per cent were from the Calgary area, nine per cent from other parts of Alberta, and 10 per cent from across Canada. The remaining visitors came from the U.S. and abroad.
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