Stampeding Calgary

Our Local Expert Says:

Cowboys is famous in downtown Calgary for being a great place to pick up especially during Stampede. However, there are all sorts of different people that hang out here so be careful.

Description:

Fans have voted Cowboys the top country bar in the nation, but with acts as un-country as rappers having graced its stage, purists might wonder how that happened. That popularity likely has less to do with music than with the push-up bra brigade of hard-bodied waitresses who staff this downtown club. Playing the part of a less overt Hooters is a clever and wildly successful marketing ploy. The Stetson-wearing guys working the doors and floor are in turn marketed to the clutches of women who drop in. It's an open wood-floored room stripped-down to stools, chairs and tables, with areas loosely separated by railings. Get a long-neck bottle of beer sold in ice-filled tin tubs, or use regular bar service. The typical greasy finger foods are available. This venue is built to handle large crowds of people out to party, typically to recorded music. Expect particularly long line-ups during the annual Stampede.

Our Local Expert Says:

The biggest event of the year, the Calgary Stampede is an experience you won’t get anywhere else. One of the largest outdoor shows on earth, book your hotel, flights and event tickets early.

Description:

The Calgary Stampede is definitely the event of the year in Calgary. The city is consumed by Stampede for 10 days, and everywhere you go you'll see people dressed in Western gear. If you are coming to Stampede for the first time, you must see the Rodeo, or the evening show (Chuckwagon races, a musical show and fireworks). You can buy last-minute rush seating, or high-end premium seating to view the events. If you are interested in the nightlife of Stampede, the best place to party is Nashville North, a tent on Stampede grounds with live music. However, line-ups start early and can get very long. Other bars downtown infamous for Stampede parties are Cowboys, Coyotes and Ranchmans, but any bar downtown will do.

Description:

Consistently voted among the top country bars in the country, this south Calgary institution has been packing people in for generations, particularly during the wild annual Calgary Stampede. While other bars purport to be country, this is the real deal, with strapping young men pulling in by truck at night from the ranches that litter the land surrounding Calgary. The rodeo crowd also hangs out here when in town. There's live music in the dance hall section and a DJ in the bar up front, as well as on the outdoor patio. The attached restaurant serves steaks and burgers.

Our Local Expert Says:

The biggest event of the year, the Calgary Stampede is an experience you won’t get anywhere else. One of the largest outdoor shows on earth, book your hotel, flights and event tickets early.

Description:

The Calgary Stampede is definitely the event of the year in Calgary. The city is consumed by Stampede for 10 days, and everywhere you go you'll see people dressed in Western gear. If you are coming to Stampede for the first time, you must see the Rodeo, or the evening show (Chuckwagon races, a musical show and fireworks). You can buy last-minute rush seating, or high-end premium seating to view the events. If you are interested in the nightlife of Stampede, the best place to party is Nashville North, a tent on Stampede grounds with live music. However, line-ups start early and can get very long. Other bars downtown infamous for Stampede parties are Cowboys, Coyotes and Ranchmans, but any bar downtown will do.