Calgary – The Royal Couple, Rick Hansen, Kevin Costner, Katy Perry, Kenny Chesney, Salé and Pelletier, deep-fried Pop Tarts, horses prancing across the Grandstand stage and a guy shooting 200-feet out of a cannon twice a day.  There’s no shortage of surprises at the 2011 Calgary Stampede.

With more than 180 attractions and events daily, The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth will again challenge every visitor who hopes to see it all.  “Actually, our research shows that most guests visit twice and still don’t cover everything,” says Jim Laurendeau, director, Stampede Programming. “Experiencing all the new features in addition to old favorites is virtually impossible to do in just one or two days.”

There is much to experience in 2011, among the highlights:

• The human cannonball, David “The Bullet” Smith Jr. will launch himself across Saddledome Plaza twice daily (that’s the length of a 747 aircraft).
• The Grandstand Show has been transformed into Volte; an equine themed musical extravaganza that organizers say is the biggest spectacle in the 43-year history of the show, delivered on TransAlta Stage – the largest outdoor production facility in the word.
• Billboard chart topping artists – Katy Perry, Kenny Chesney, NKOTBBSB and Sugarland – perform at the Saddledome and there’s an outstanding line-up of top artists at Coca-Cola Stage and Nashville North.
• The Calgary Stampede Rodeo promises to be most competitive rodeo on the planet, with 24 current and past world champions, 20 Canadian champions and 20 Calgary Stampede champions competing for a share of the $2 million in prize money including a chance at $100,000 on Showdown Sunday, the richest ride in rodeo.
• GMC Rangeland Derby brings together the top 36 chuckwagon drivers in the world thundering around the track for a portion of the $1 million purse.
• A section of Agriculture Building has been transformed into Cattle Trail, an exhibition integrating multimedia and live animal displays to help consumers understand how food is produced.
• Kids’ Chuck Challenge – Experience the adventure of the chucks for kids.  Kids can take the reins of petal push plush horses at Saddledome Plaza.
• Bell Midway Circus introduces Aiden Orange.  Catch this fire-whipping contortionist as he twists through a flaming tennis racquet leading up to the highly anticipated fire dive to kick off the evening fireworks.
• The ENMAX Ice Show returns this year with champions Jaime Salé and David Pelletier as feature skaters in a show that includes a live rock n’ roll band, cirque acrobatics and a mesmerizing light show.
• 130 food and beverage vendors – including 19 new vendors – will feature favorites like mini doughnuts and deep-fried Oreo cookies and new treats such as the doughnut burger and pork-chop-on-a-stick and MacKay’s pancake breakfast flavored ice cream.
• 1,000 new parking stalls have been added for premium access to the Park.
• The Western Showcase is now one of the world’s largest exhibitions of western art.

Admission to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is only $15.  Tickets for the Rodeo, GMC Rangeland Derby and Saddledome Concerts are selling fast and premium seats are almost gone.  To secure seats, visit Calgary Stampede.

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Booth
Publicity Manager
T 403.261.0327
C 403.463.6834
E jbooth@calgarystampede.com