Record crowds expected for MB Stampede

Organizers of this year’s Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition are no strangers to large crowds. After all, last year they topped 35,000 people over the three-day event.

Yet as they prepare for the 59th anniversary event running from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21, they are expecting to exceed those numbers.

Much of that is due to this year’s hosting of the RCMP Musical Ride.

“We’re expecting huge crowds just because of that alone,” board member Tim Lewis said.

Lewis, who’s been involved in the rodeo for more than three decades, has seen big crowds in the past.

“We had a complete sellout on Saturday last year,” he said. “We had to shut down the box office and not allow any more people into the grandstands.”

The event has always been well attended and Lewis said it’s likely because of the unique nature of the rodeo.

“There are lots of other smaller rodeos in Manitoba, but (this) is the only professional rodeo,” he said.

That means many of the competitors are people who have competed at events like the Calgary Stampede.

“It’s a chance to see a higher calibre of contestants and stock for that matter,” he said.

While the professional rodeo remains the highlight of the event, there is plenty more going on.

Displays, entertainment and a midway are all part of the excitement.

People can attend a powwow demonstration, see the Manitoba Mounted Shooting Association in action, watch the draft horse farm chore event, visit the petting zoo, take in some entertainment or kick back in the beer gardens.

Admission is only charged to people who want to enter the grandstand area.

While it may be cliché to say this event features something for the whole family, Lewis said it’s true.

“That’s something we strive to really push every year; to make sure that there’s something for everybody,” he said. “We want them to take part in as many things as they can.

Every year it takes a large group to host the event.

The Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition is led by a 12-person board of directors and two permanent staff. It takes somewhere in excess of 200 volunteers to operate annually.

More details and a full schedule are available at manitobastampede.ca.