The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth

This is what it has been billed as for the past 98 years and I'm inclined to agree with them. After spending a Thursday chatting with up and coming PR students at Mount Royal University, I spent the rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday enjoying the kick off to the 2010 Calgary Stampede.

This annual event has a rodeo, chuckwagon races, country music performers, agricultural shows, handicraft displays, a carnival/midway and no end of other sights, sounds, smells and deep fried foods to enjoy for the 10 days that it is on each July.

I couldn't resist spending some time rediscovering my cowgirl side as my last Stampede was 2007 as I was planning my trip to Australia. I brushed the dust off my cowboy boots and my straw hat and hit the town with my fantastic friends Courtney, Paisley, Denise, Jason and Sean.

2010 didn't disappoint as we hit the local hot spots by day and night, crashed a few pancake breakfasts, wandered the Stampede grounds, took in the spectacular kick-off parade and enjoyed the fireworks at night.

As promised I've been playing with my new camera and have some video of the parade to share as well as photos of all the fun.