Where Grey Cup Spirit Meets Stampede Spirit

This November, Stampede Park will once again become the gathering place for one of Canada's biggest celebrations as the 2026 Cenovus Energy Grey Cup Festival returns to Calgary.

From November 11-14, Stampede Park will come alive with free entertainment, live music, rodeo action, fan experiences, pancake breakfasts and community celebrations, welcoming visitors from across the country for a week unlike any other.

Few people understand the connection between Grey Cup Festival and Calgary Stampede better than volunteer Di Wensel.

As a volunteer with the Calgary Stampede since 2015 and a member of the Calgary Grey Cup Committee since 2013, Di has spent more than a decade helping create memorable experiences through two community spirit-driven organizations. With the Calgary Stampede, she has served on both the Parade and Caravan Committees, supporting volunteer-led community events across the city. With the Calgary Grey Cup Committee, she has helped plan and deliver Grey Cup Festival celebrations at every level, including serving as Chair from 2020 to 2024.

That dual perspective has given her a front-row seat to what makes both organizations special.

"At their core, both are built on volunteerism, community pride and hospitality," says Di. "There is a genuine desire to welcome people, create memorable experiences and showcase the best of Calgary."

Those shared values were on full display when Calgary last hosted the Grey Cup Festival in 2019.

"One of my favourite memories from 2019 was seeing Stampede Park buzzing with fans from across the country," she recalls. "There was an incredible sense of excitement and community. Watching visitors experience Calgary's hospitality firsthand and seeing volunteers come together to create an unforgettable celebration reminded me why hosting Grey Cup is so special."

While Grey Cup week is often associated with football, Di says the festival's true magic lies in the people and traditions that bring CFL fans and Canadians together.

Many first-time attendees to Grey Cup Festival are surprised to discover it’s about much more than the game itself.

"Even if you're not a football fan, there's something for everyone," she says. "The atmosphere is welcoming, family-friendly and full of uniquely Canadian traditions."

And some of those traditions can be pretty unforgettable.

When asked about her favourite Grey Cup Festival memory over the years, Di recalls one that perfectly captures the distinct spirit of the event. As Calgary Grey Cup Committee Chair, she had the opportunity to take part in a long-standing festival tradition: riding a horse into a hotel during Grey Cup week festivities.

"I experienced this twice in Hamilton and then again in Regina and Vancouver," she says. "Bringing the fun and tradition that this Committee stands for was an unforgettable highlight for me."

This November, that same energy will return to Stampede Park as Grey Cup Festival and Calgary's Western hospitality come together once again.

As host venue, Stampede Park will help the Grey Cup Festival welcome fans from coast to coast to coast for four days of celebrations, before the Grey Cup game at McMahon Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 15. 

The BMO Centre will serve as the central festival hub, featuring fan zones, team parties, and interactive experiences. The Big Four Roadhouse will host live concerts and special events throughout the week, the Suncor Street Festival will take over Lot 3 with entertainment and family-friendly festivities, and the Nutrien Western Event Centre will host two ticketed Grey Cup Festival Rodeo performances. These are just a few of the many events and experiences planned across Stampede Park during Grey Cup Festival week.

Visitors can also expect some unmistakable Stampede spirit as a part of the event, from pancake breakfasts to Stampede Showband and Young Canadians performances to Harry the Horse and Stampede Royalty appearances and more, supported by Stampede’s volunteers. 

"The pancake breakfasts are always a favourite," says Di. "They perfectly represent Calgary's welcoming spirit. People from all backgrounds come together, enjoy great food, live entertainment and community connection. It feels like a little piece of Stampede spirit brought to Grey Cup week."

For Di, that's why Stampede Park is the perfect place to host the festival.

"I'm excited to see Calgary welcome the country once again and showcase everything that makes our city special," she says. "Stampede Park is the perfect venue because it naturally brings together Western hospitality, community spirit and celebration."

As football fans and community members make their way to Calgary and Stampede Park this November, Di hopes they'll leave with memories that extend far beyond the Grey Cup game.

"The football will be exciting, the events will be memorable, but what stays with people is how they were welcomed and how they felt," she says. "If visitors leave with a sense of Calgary's warmth, generosity, community spirit and Western hospitality, then we've done our job."

Whether you're a lifelong football fan or simply looking for a fun way to experience the energy of Grey Cup week, Stampede Park is the place to be November 11-14. With free entertainment, free family-friendly activities, free live music, free pancake breakfasts and more, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Bring your friends, bring your family and come experience firsthand what happens when Grey Cup spirit meets Stampede spirit.