With summer well underway, cowpokes throughout the region are dusting off their cowboy boots and hats in preparation for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, known as the Calgary Stampede, which runs July 6 to 15. Lesser known, perhaps, are the many amateur and pro rodeos taking place throughout the region every weekend - including Innisfail, Sundre, Ponoka and Airdrie. Rodeo season will forge on until after Labour Day. If you've been bit by the Stampede bug and want to get out and see some local talent in action, check out some options below. JULY Millarville Heritage Rodeo runs July 20-22 for its 22nd year. The action-packed day will include family-friendly activities and music to accompany the Chinook Rodeo Association and Foothhills Cowboy Association-sanctioned event. The weekend seeks to entertain, as well as educate attendees on western heritage and culture. Tickets range from $5 for kids ages 6-12 to $15 for adults. Children under five get in free. From July 25-28 the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede will take place and for its 131st year, its a big one. From broncs and honkey tonks to family fair fun and a parade, this is one yee haw event you won't want to miss. Adult rodeo admission is $20 a ticket. AUGUST The Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days will take place Aug. 3 to 6 at the Strathmore Civil Centre. This rodeo offers up bareback riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, bull riding, tie-down roping, chuckwagon racing and more. This stampede also hosts Running With the Bulls for the 15th year in a row. This is where ordinary people voluntarily choose to run away from a herd of bulls and is the only event on its kind in Canada. Grandstand tickets are $15. Jasper Heritage Days run Aug. 8-11. Since 1926 this western heritage event has been kicking up a fuss and churning out talent through its seven professional events. All proceeds go to the Alberta Hospital Burn Unit and tickets are $25. On Aug. 11, the Calgary Police Rodeo will be hosting their rodeo right here in Cochrane at the Lions Club rodeo grounds. This rodeo is an amateur competition that has been running for 36 years with contestants from Canada and the United States who are first responders, including police, firefighters, paramedics and peace officers, or their immediate family. The afternoon rodeo is followed by a barn dance with Drew Gregory and Renegade Station performing. Adult rodeo tickets are $15, barn dance tickets are $10 and all day passes are priced at $20. Camping plans at Waterton Lakes National Park the weekend of Aug. 16 to 19? Don't forget to make a point to stop at the Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo on your way home. There's a team roping event on the Thursday and the pro rodeo begins Friday. As well as the rodeo events, there's a rodeo cabaret on Saturday evening and kids mutton busting on Sunday. Tickets are going for $15. The Cochrane Classic Bull Riding will be taking place Aug. 18 at the Cochrane Agriculture Society. This event is prime bull riding, sanctioned by Bullriders Canada and paired with the Cochrane Fair that will run Aug 17 to 19, offering no shortage of buck-free activities to fill the day. Midway rides, food trucks and beer gardens are at the Classic and the bull riding event is followed by a dance. Adult tickets for the event are $30 with students and seniors paying $20. Taber Cornfest and Bull-A-Rama is an event not to be missed. With the corn fest wrapping around the one-day bull affair (Aug. 23-25) fill your belly to some world famous corn while taking in the bull-tacular event on the Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the Taber Agri-Plex. To finish off the month, Okotoks will be hosting their pro rodeo on Aug. 24 to 26. This is Okotoks Pro Rodeo’s 27th year at the Okotoks Pro Rodeo Society. This rodeo is 100 per cent volunteer run and hosts athletes from across Canada, the USA and around the world. The event is sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association and is one of the final qualifying events for athletes hoping to compete in the Canadian Finals Rodeo. Tickets are priced at $15 per person. SEPTEMBER The highly anticipated Cochrane Lions Labour Day Rodeo runs Sept. 1 to 3 at the Lions Club rodeo grounds. This rodeo spans the Labour Day weekend with competitions on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and the finals on Monday afternoon. There's also a dance on Saturday night and Cowboy Church on Sunday morning. Adult tickets are available for $15 and $10 for youth. The Hanna Pro Rodeo takes place Sept. 28-30, boasting a bevy of to-dos in addition to the rodeo. From a pie-eating contest to free pancake breakfast and a western art and craft show, there is no shortage of family fun. Advance adult rodeo tickets are $20 or $15 for rush seating.
