The 113th annual Calgary Stampede kicked off Friday as huge crowds gathered to watch the Stampede parade, led by Canadian country-pop icon Shania Twain.
Canadian country-pop icon Shania Twain participated as parade marshal
CBC News ·
Parade marshal Shania Twain, centre, rides a horse during the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Horses, hats, and a whole lot of “ya-hoos.”
The 113th annual Calgary Stampede kicked off Friday as huge crowds gathered to take in the Stampede parade, led by Canadian country-pop icon Shania Twain.
“I’m so happy to be here in Calgary,” Twain said, before riding down the parade route clad in western garb and a white hat.
“It’s a privilege to be the parade marshal. It’s been a dream of mine for a very long time.”
The 10-day festival will run from July 4 to July 13.
WATCH | The 2025 Calgary Stampede kicks off:
Highlights from the 2025 Calgary Stampede Parade
Parade Marshal singer & songwriter Shania Twain led this year’s parade through the downtown, marking the official start of the 113th Calgary Stampede.
Shania Twain, left, meets a Calgary Police Service officer while she rides a horse during the Calgary Stampede parade. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
The Calgary Stampede Showband marches in the parade. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
Long-time parade goer John Proctor came to get a front row seat with his wife. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
Santa Claus drives a mini-Jeep during the parade. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
The Calgary Police Service marching band struts down the parade route. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
Anne Servold is getting married on Aug. 2 and came to the parade for her bachelorette party. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
Two members of the Calgary Stampeders enjoy cheers from the crowd. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, centre, waves from a float. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
A crowd of onlookers in the city’s East Village. (Dave Gilson/CBC)
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre waves to the crowd as he rides in the Calgary Stampede parade. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
The Fiesta Filipino parade entry was one of many multi-cultural displays bringing splashes of colour to the parade route. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
A rider with the Stoney Nakoda parade entry sits on horseback along Ninth Avenue. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
A taekwondo demonstration captivates onlookers during the parade. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
A marching band performs in the parade. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
A member of Calgary’s Al Azhar Shriners rides down the parade route. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
Sorrel Holmes with his sons Rafferty and Elliot. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
A performer plays the South Asian drum called a ‘dhol.’ (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
A Brazilian dancer cheers during the Calgary Stampede parade. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
A boy in western wear sits on the curb and waits for the next group, Falun Dafa, to make its way down the parade route. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
A classic car decked out for the Calgary Stampede rides down the parade route. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
