The numbers are in: 35,747 people crossed the entry gates for the 2023 Calgary Stampede, making one of the largest starts to the Stampede in the past decade.
All that despite rainy weather which has traditionally kept the crowds at bay.
Only two years since 2013 had higher attendance numbers, with 36,953 in 2017 and 40,446 in 2018. The attendance numbers for this year were nearly 10,000 over the 2022 start of 24,536.
Photos from Sneak-a-peek night
Visitors line up in the rain to buy tickets for Calgary Stampede sneak-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYVisitors line up in the rain to buy tickets for Calgary Stampede sneak-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe Band of Outriders perform during the Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYOohay! at the Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYRotary volunteers pose for a photo during the Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYVisitors to the Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night wait for Bugus at the Coca-Cola Stage on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYRain doesn’t dissuade visitors to the Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYCompetitors compete in the heavy tractor pull competition, which has been held at the Calgary Stampede for 32 years, during the sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYHungarian dancers perform on the community stage at the BMO Centre during Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYCanine Stars Dog Bowl dogs perform during the Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYCanine Stars Dog Bowl dogs perform during the Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYCanine Stars Dog Bowl dogs perform during the Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYGrandstand show fireworks on Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYGrandstand show fireworks on Calgary Stampede sneek-a-peek night on Thursday, July 6, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
