‘Scorching on this pavement’: How to seek heat relief at Calgary Stampede

Hot weather this week will make some Stampede events feel even hotter. Here's how to keep cool at Stampede Park.

Stampede is getting spicy again with Calgary expecting temperatures in the high twenties everyone on the grounds is seeking relief.

Several free shows, booths and hands-on displays in the Agriculture Building, Nutrien Event Centre and BMO Centre provide air-conditioned relief, but people outside on the pavement must find other ways to beat the heat.

“It is hot, especially on the tarmac, the cement, it radiates heat,” said Sharon Kaczkowski with Chinook Country Line Dancers.

With a dozen 30-minute performances a day and only 10-minute breaks in between, Kaczkowski and her teammates have a lot of experience dealing with the heat at Stampede Park and know to maximize their cooldown time in the shade or indoors.

“A lot of us have fans to cool off, and keep hydrated, and my neckband is a little bit of a gel thing that we keep wet and keeps the neck cool,” she said.

Coming to the grounds prepared and ordering supersized cold drinks helps.

“Sunscreen, hat, shade, water, and a big drink of lemonade,” said Nadine Hardy from Sydney, Australia, as she and her kids enjoyed a bucket of raspberry lemonade complete with a rubber duckie floating among the ice.

Stampeders can also bring in their own water bottle and fill it for free at several stations, including one in the lobby of the BMO Centre.

Erika Henker from Calgary knows to bring her own shade.

“(An) umbrella helps a lot,” she says. Henker added staying hydrated and flocking to the misters at some of the food vendors can offer some relief.

Staying inside is key for the chuckwagon crews, too.

“Don’t step outside for too long cause that’s when it gets pretty, pretty scorching on this pavement,” said chuckwagon driver Jamie Laboucane.

Chuckwagon drivers say keeping the horses cool, calm and comfortable is the main goal before and after the races.

“There are always fans going, we wash them two to three times a day,” said driver Chance Bensmiller.

Spraying the barn floors and air with water helps, too.

“Misters set up in the barn we run that in conjunction with the fans,” said chuckwagon driver Jordie Fike.

And the horses need to stay hydrated too.

“(Have a) steady supply of water (and) electrolytes on hand for them. They get a lot of love a lot attention and massages,” Laboucane said.