Ponoka Stampede makes triumphant return from June 27-July 3

The Ponoka Stampede is almost back after two long years off.

Running June 27-July 3, Ponoka Stampede officials will welcome close to 600 competitors and an estimated 100,000 people through the gates of the event, taking place in the small central Alberta town of 7,000.

Blair Vold, director and past president says it will be bigger and better than before, adding that ticket sales are going extremely well.

“There seems to be lots of enthusiasm. Lots of fans just want to get out, and that makes us excited because we’ve put a lot of planning into this. We’ve got big concerts, plus the chuckwagons, so we’re expecting a very boisterous and big fun week,” says Vold.

“This is huge in two aspects; one, for the community itself, with businesses such as restaurants and hotels benefitting, as well as service groups. We’re going to have over 700 volunteers from those service groups who’ve been hurting the last two years.”

Vold says with rodeo largely being shut down over the last couple years, it’s important as well, because contestants and those who have animals need to be able to feed and provide for them.

“This is long overdue, and we’re actually the largest sanctioned rodeo in Canada currently. We even have about 45 per cent of our contestants who are from the United States. We have all the top competitors here this week.”

Officials estimate about 2,500 campers are already set up and ready to go for the Stampede. Stampede-goers will also experience the midway, an expanded beer garden, and a trade show, plus an overall ‘Western’ atmosphere bolstered by concerts featuring Colter Wall, Aaron Goodvin, The Reklaws and Garrett Gregory.

The parade goes Thursday, and fireworks are scheduled for June 29 through July 1.

“People are just ready to go out and have a party,” says Vold. “We’ll probably have record crowds like we’ve never seen before.”

More information is at ponokastampede.com.

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