Calgary Stampede on a Budget

Calgary is gearing up for a great summer with fun events happening all season long. One of the biggest events is the Calgary Stampede from July 5-14, which attracts more than a million attendees from international tourists to Albertans and many local patrons. As Calgary gears up for the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, it is best to pre plan your trip to stay on budget and avoid overspending. Our Money Mentors team has put together the following tips on how to enjoy Stampede within your budget.

 

 

Calgary Stampede Free Admission Days

Ticket prices at the door can be expensive. There are certain days where admission is free and this is a great way to stay on budget at the Stampede. Plan your visit on the following dates for free gate admission to the Stampede:

Friday, July 5 – 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM – All Ages

Parade-To-Park – Watch the parade and then enjoy the rest of the day at the Stampede. FREE admission is only available from 11 AM – 1:30 PM.

Sunday, July 7 – 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM – All Ages

Family Day – with a FREE pancake breakfast from 8 – 10 AM while supplies last and FREE admission until 11 AM.

Tuesday, July 9 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – All Ages

TC Energy Community Day – FREE Admission for everyone from 10 AM – 2 PM. Seniors (65+) enjoy an extra perk with free admission all day long AND free coffee and doughnuts until 11 AM.

Wednesday, July 10 – 8:00 AM – Midnight – Kids 12 & under

BMO Kids Day – Kids enjoy free admission all day long, and adults enjoy free admission until 10 AM AND free breakfast for everyone in the GMC Stadium Courtyard from 8 – 9:30 AM while supplies last.

 

If you are unable to attend one of the free days, the ‘Stampede Superpass’ is a great option if you are looking to go to the grounds more than once. At $51.45 per pass (tax included), you get unlimited admission for 10 days at a set price, saving you money. Offer is available until July 4^th from the Calgary Stampede Superpass Page.

Remember that although you can enter the Stampede grounds for free on these days, you will still need to budget for the midway rides, games and food, if those are part of your Stampede experience.

More information can be found on the Calgary Stampede website.

 

Explore the Stampede with an Interactive Map

To make the most of your Stampede experience, check out this fully interactive Stampede Map from Alberta-based company Showpass. This map includes nearly every event happening in the city, allowing you to plan your activities and discover free events and attractions easily. Using this tool can enhance your visit and help you stick to your budget by finding free and low-cost events.

 

Calgary Stampede Transportation

Save money on gas and be friendly to the environment with the following options:

Calgary Transit

Planning your transportation to the Calgary Stampede via Calgary Transit is a budget-friendly way to reduce spending. Plan for your Stampede budget by adding in transportation costs.

Single transit ride tickets

Adult $3.70

Youth $2.50

Child Under 12 is free

*Weekend Group Pass $16 – this pass is available on Saturdays and Sundays for a group of 5 people  – 2 adults and 3 youth, 12 and under, are free. This is the most economical transportation pass to experience the Stampede.

Carpool

If it is an option, consider carpooling with others. If someone you know has a larger car or van, travel together to save gas and time to find parking.

Free Parking

Although free parking may be hard to come by, if you must commute with your own vehicle, try to find free parking or park at a Park-and-Ride lot and take public transportation to the grounds.

 

Budget for Your Calgary Stampede Experience

Prior to visiting the Stampede grounds, plan ahead to manage expenses and avoid overspending– create a budget, consider different interests and decide how much you can spend during the day. Keep yourself on track with Money Mentors Budget Planning Spreadsheet and check out our resources page for other financial tools and tips.

Costco Stampede Bucks

Did you know you can pre-purchase Costco Stampede Bucks to spend like cash on the grounds? For $39.99 you can purchase 10 Stampede Bucks, worth $50. You can use these bucks like regular cash for admission, the rodeo and evening shows, Midway games and rides, food and drinks, or for retail shopping at Stampede Park. If your purchase is less than the value off the Stampede Bucks , you even get change back in cash! Stampede Bucks are available for sale at any Calgary Costco location.

Stampede Coupon Prices for Midway Rides

A fun part of Stampede is going on the rides so you will need some tickets. This is where those Stampede Bucks from Costco really help you save because you can pay $39.99 and get 55 ride tickets, a value of $50! If you love going on rides, opt for the Ride All Day Wristband instead and use your Stampede Bucks for entry, entertainment, food and drinks. If you want to enjoy a few rides then you may only need a few coupons.

• 1 Coupon – $1
• 11 Coupons – $10
• 22 Coupons – $20
• 55 Coupons – $50
• Ride All Day Wristbands—These can be purchased for $44.99+GST at participating Sobey’s locations in the Calgary area until July 4, 2024, or while supplies last. By purchasing ahead, you’ll save more than 15% and can use your Stampede Bucks on other Stampede expenses.

The amount of money you need for the Calgary Stampede depends on what activities you want to do while you are there, how many people you need to budget for, which day you attend, and the transportation you choose.

If you go on a free admission day, take public transportation with the group weekend pass, bring your own water and snacks and buy Stampede bucks at Costco, budget a minimum of $40 per person (unless you plan to enter for free and simply walk around without spending). However, if you pay for admission, pay regular prices for ride coupons, purchase food and drinks, attend concerts and extra events, and drive and pay for parking, then budget $100-$200 per person.

Here are 3 scenarios to help you budget for Calgary Stampede:

The Frugal Stampeder: $0 – $56

• Go on a Free Admission day: $0
• Take Calgary Transit or get a ride: $0-$16
• Buy Stampede Bucks at Costco: $39.99 (10 tickets valued at $50)
• Pack your own food and drinks: $0
• Enjoy a free Stampede breakfast or BBQ: $0

 

The Sky’s the Limit Stampeder: $201 – $1000+

• Pay for admission: $25 for general admission (Age 13-64)
• Buy food and drinks: $20-$100 per person, depending on how many meals, snacks and drinks you purchase
• Get the Ride All Day wristband: $44.99 per person (when purchased ahead)
• Park at Stampede: $15
• Buy Rodeo tickets: $43 – $625
• Buy Evening Show tickets: $53 – $578

 

Family of 4 Stampede Fun: $370+

Based on the purchase of two general admission tickets and two kids under 7 (free), parking, 4 wristbands for rides, and $30 for food and drinks per person, a family of 4 could plan to spend around $370. If you add rodeo tickets, then the total is around $550, and if you also add evening show tickets, then the total is around $760 when purchasing the least expensive tickets.

Cash-only Stampede Budget

A tried and true method at Money Mentors for budgeting is to use a cash-only budget. Once you have priced out your day at Stampede you will know exactly how much you will need to put into an envelope for your cash budget. There are two ways you can do this: one envelope for your entire Stampede experience or an envelope for each category i.e. Transportation, Admission, Midway Rides, Food and Drinks, and Souvenirs.

How you manage your cash budget depends on your preference and how you like to organize budgeting. If you are working within a very fixed budget already then you will need to decide how you can save money from reducing spending on other allocated items like groceries – going meatless for two meals a week, or not buying treats like ice cream, cookies and chips. A bit of a bonus hack on cash budgeting is that if you budget for all the different categories but take advantage of free admission days and ask someone to drop you off and pick you up then you have saved money for things that you can shift over into another category like food and drink.

 

Free Events in Calgary During Stampede

Calgary’s national and international identity is tied to the Calgary Stampede. The city comes to life with various events throughout the city. If the grounds aren’t your scene, the city offers plenty of free events during this time to celebrate our Western culture!

Free Pancake Breakfasts

There is nothing that screams Stampede like the sizzling sounds of sausages and the smell of delicious pancakes in the air! During the 10 days of Stampede, you can view the Breakfast Calendar for various businesses and locations offering free pancake breakfasts in the city. Here are a few to get you started:

Thursday, July 4 – 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
The Salvation Army Stampede Breakfast – West
1731 29th Street SW, Calgary, AB T3C 1M6

Friday, July 5 – 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
New Horizon Mall Annual Stampede “Breakfast for Dinner”
260300 Writing Creek Crescent, Rocky View County AB, T4A 0X8

Saturday, July 6 – 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Upper Greenwich Community Stampede Breakfast
Greenwich Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6M3 Canada

Saturday, July 6 – 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
OMO 7th Annual Green Tea Stampede Breakfast
5222 Macleod Trail, Calgary, AB T2H 0J2

Sunday, July 7 – 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pancakes and Open House – Barlow Trail Animal Hospital
2307 Centre Ave E, Calgary, ABa T2E DA9 Canada

And many more…

Free Entertainment

Calgary Stampede Coca Cola Outdoor Stage
Enjoy free music on the Coca Cola outdoor stage within the Calgary Stampede grounds. Take advantage of free admission days for a completely free outing.

Remember, it is fun to attend the Calgary Stampede, but it is not fun to open a credit card statement filled with overspending that could have been avoided with a little budgeting to keep you in check. It’s also ok to say no to the more costly events and keep things within a small budget.

If you need any additional information or would like to chat with a non-profit credit counsellor about budgeting, book an appointment or give us a call.

 

Calgary Stampede FAQs

How much money do you need for Stampede?

At minimum you will need to budget $40 (assuming you get all the deals), otherwise a typical day could cost anywhere from $100 and up.

How to save money at Calgary Stampede?

Follow these tips to save money at Calgary Stampede:

• Plan to go on a day with free admission
• Price out the activities you want to do
• Take your own snacks and water (do not spend money on food)
• Use Calgary Transit or arrange for someone to drop you off and pick you up Families can buy the Calgary Transit group weekend pass
• Buy Stampede bucks at Costco to get more for your money
• Get the Ride All Day wristband so you can do unlimited rides
• Write out your budget ahead of time and stick to it
• Use a cash budget