CALGARY STAMPEDE! (WITH LITTLE ONES...)

We've been visiting in Calgary this past week and a half and we've been soaking up the hot summer weather.

The timing was so great as we were able to take all our kids to the Calgary Stampede this year for the first time. Growing up in Calgary, I had fond memories going to the Stampede each year with my family. It was so fun seeing it through the eyes of our children and nephews. 

I thought I'd share a few pictures of our Stampede adventures from our trip. Amazingly enough, the Stamped hosts over a million people each year (from all over the world!) and is called the Greatest Outdoor Show. There's really a wonderful sense of community here!

A few tips that helped me when packing for the day...

Bring water...lots of water! It was SO hot when we were there the kids were drinking it non stop. We found some waterfill stations in the Corral and the Agri-Dome that we were able to refill our water bottles with. I would also recommend hats, sunscreen and snacks for your little ones.

Look for shade! The BMO Canada Kids Zone was so great for younger kids. They had a huge coloring wall that Ellie loved. (I mean, when's the last time you got to draw on a wall!) They also had free face painting that the girls loved. They got matching butterfly's in different colors. They also had Paw Patrol cast to meet and greet, which was so fun for the kids. Apparently they also have basketball dunk shows, but we missed those.

We also caught the Canine Stars show which was amazing! All the kids loved this show as it was so high energy and exciting. The dogs were so impressive with their racing, high jumping and speed competitions. This was a great family friendly show.

Josh and Ben went with the other boy family members to the Live it Up show in the Corral. The boys apparently loved all the stunts and tricks from the motor bikes show. They couldn't wait to tell me all about the most dangerous stunts, and that fire was even involved! Be warned though: it is super loud!

The Agricultural Showcases was so educational and fun! Ben loved doing the experiences and games (they had mini-golf, bean bag tosses and learning about washing sheep wool!) The younger kids loved looking at the baby chicks and newborn donkeys! The babies were only 2 months old, and they looked so furry and snuggly. 

And you can't visit a local outdoor fair/exhibition without getting some delicious fair food. Our favorites from our large group were the mini donuts, dole whip (sadly, only half our party got it as the machine was malfunctioning from overusage!), poutine, noodle house and colassal onion. 

If you're a Calgary Local, there's still a few more days to go!

Swing Dresses Couture Flower
Wood Necklaces Coral and Cloud
Yellow Bow Mina loves bows
Glitter Bow The Prettiest Bow