Guide: 6 more ways to be savvy during the Calgary Stampede
Photo via @curiocitygroup Instagram
So, we just released a guide on how to be a little frugal during Stampede. But, we’re going to be honest and say that most tried and true Calgarians will already know those tips. So, for this one, we’re focusing on the ‘advanced’ ways to save during Stampede.
Here are 5 tips to stretch your dollar during the Stampede.
Know what tickets to buy
Nobody likes overpaying, and concerts during the Calgary Stampede can be, for lack of a better word, vicious. Does your ticket on a Friday at Cowboys cost $90? Get the fast pass for $10 extra and start drinking an hour earlier. Not happy with the seating for the rodeo? Head down when gates open and grab a standing room ticket. Time is money, and money is money, it’s the golden rule.
Our pick: RL Grime at Knoxville’s on Sunday– RSVP for free admission before 8PM
Don’t be afraid to predrink
This is a no-brainer. Nobody likes spending 8 bucks for a can of Budweiser. Either grab a bottle of Alberta Premium as a present for your friend hosting the pre-game, or, head to the far side of downtown during happy hour for an easy spot to warm up. Of course, know your limit and stay within it. And don’t be that idiot looking like a surprised Pikachu when your micky is confiscated from your boots/purse. There’s one in every crowd.
Our pick: $5 pizza and beer at Cibo between 3-5PM Monday to Saturday. And, you can’t go wrong with Alberta Pure and soda water (you get drunk and stay hydrated, plus zero sugar!!)
On that note…
Don’t be afraid to take a break
It’s easy to get caught up in the mentality that each day (and hour) will be better than the last, but human beings can only handle so much fun. Darn these biological forms. Let’s face it- only those who actually book the entirety of Stampede off from work will remember the Tuesday night fondly. Skip it and you’ve got an extra $60 (minimum) for Friday night.
Our pick: Seriously, nothing good ever happens after 2AM, or after 10PM on a Tuesday
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The best clothing is your parent’s clothing
Western gear is supposed to be worn. We don’t care if you scour the family home for vintage Wrangler or make a trip to Value Village, as long as your shirt doesn’t look like a piece of cardboard. Same goes for boots- unless they’re snakeskin, there’s a reason why they’re called ‘sh*tkickers’.
Our pick: For next year, get used Lucchese boots off of eBay. (Hands off the size 13s, we’re building a collection)
Get your flirt on
Who says only girls get free drinks? The Stampede is a time of passion, and that extends to the tent scene too. We like to treat it as a zero-sum game, where we’re buying drinks for people just as much as people are buying drinks for us. Don’t be that person that is ‘generous’ during Stampede, or you’ll be eating hot dogs the rest of the month for necessity, not for fun.
Our pick: Play a game where you offer a drink to a coworker if they buy you one first then beat you at rock, paper, scissors (they always pick scissors, buncha suckers)
Know about contests
You know, like the one we just did with Wildhorse Saloon, where we’re giving away a 4-person VIP pass for the entirety of Stampede. We have a feeling there will be a lot more on Instagram throughout the next 10 days, and likes/follows cost zero dollars.
Our pick: No, seriously, we’re giving away a 4-person Boss Pass to the Wildhorse Tent. Good luck and godspeed!
Alright, that’s more like it. You’ve got our insiders tips for the Calgary Stampede. Now, go out there and show your city slicker friends visiting from out of town why Calgary excels at both partying and pinching pennies.
