This is the fifth and final part in Trishna Patel’s five-part series on the Calgary Stampede. Check out the series homepage here, the first part here, the second part here, the third part here, and the fourth part here, and tune in on Monday for more on the Stampede.
After a few days at the Stampede, you’ll start to look for the best places to lessen the effects of your perpetual hangover. My vote for most delicious and effective “hair of the dog” cocktail is from The Nash, a restaurant bar located in a cool, refurbished, historic hotel of the nearby town of Inglewood.
My favorite, the Prairie Dew Cocktail, is a Stampede special, made from Dickle Tennessee sour mash whiskey, Cream of Assam tea syrup, Lem-Marrakech bitters, and freshly squeezed juice and mint.
The appetizers, particularly the the Farmhouse goat cheese platter that the head chef sources from local farmers, provide a light, crisp and refreshing contrast to Stampede’s fried foods.
The Stampede Roundup
There was no better way to wrap up my first rodeo experience than with the Stampede Roundup, which in a nutshell is a huge outdoor party in a music festival format.
Coined the “hottest ticket in town” by Stampede goers, the Roundup gives you access to a respective corporate tent, which has an open bar and food and a full night (3-10 pm) of live entertainment.
The roundup’s musical lineup is not limited to country or folk, either. I had the opportunity to rock out to Collective Soul and Journey, which made my college self extremely happy
Tip: If it’s possible for you to attend the Roundup, it’s definitely worth it. I roamed the grounds with friends, made some new ones and enjoyed classic bands I wouldn’t have otherwise ever seen live.
As with any other outdoors music festival, keep logistics in mind: Stay with your group and make sure your mobile device is charged. Also make sure you settle on a spot ahead of time because the concerts are standing-room only. There’s not much tolerance for sneaking your way to the front. I found that out the hard way!
For more on the Stampede, head back to the series homepage.
Tickets for next year’s Stampede (July 8-17, 2016) are on sale October 5th 2015 atcalgarystampede.com. Buy in advance for better seat selection, premium seating and potential discounts. Contact the extremely helpful folks at Travel Alberta and Tourism Calgaryfor inquires for large groups (20 or more) and for additional help with planning your itinerary. And of course, tell ‘em Trish sent you!
