<strong>Welcome to the rodeo:</strong> Dubbed the "greatest outdoor show on Earth," the annual Calgary Stampede will once again bring 10 days of rodeo and high-voltage entertainment to Calgary, Canada, from July 6-15, 2018.
Welcome to the rodeo: Dubbed the "greatest outdoor show on Earth," the annual Calgary Stampede will once again bring 10 days of rodeo and high-voltage entertainment to Calgary, Canada, from July 6-15, 2018.
Mario Tama/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
<strong>Rodeo origins:</strong> Dating back to 1886, the Calgary Stampede started out as an agricultural fair and gradually evolved into a full-on annual festival-slash-rodeo.
Rodeo origins: Dating back to 1886, the Calgary Stampede started out as an agricultural fair and gradually evolved into a full-on annual festival-slash-rodeo.
Chris Bolin/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Front-row seats</strong>: At the stadium, you'll be shaking in your boots as bulls and horses writhe around in chaos -- bucking, jumping and bending at bone-breaking angles.
Front-row seats: At the stadium, you'll be shaking in your boots as bulls and horses writhe around in chaos -- bucking, jumping and bending at bone-breaking angles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
<strong>Place your bets:</strong> The various rodeo tournaments include everything from bareback riding to steer wrestling, bull riding and ladies barrel racing (where a rider and horse race around barrels as quickly as possible).
Place your bets: The various rodeo tournaments include everything from bareback riding to steer wrestling, bull riding and ladies barrel racing (where a rider and horse race around barrels as quickly as possible).
Chris Bolin/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Wild world: </strong>And for the winners? Big prize money is up for grabs.
Wild world: And for the winners? Big prize money is up for grabs.
Chris Bolin/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Foodie finds:</strong> It's not just about the rodeo shows. The Calgary Stampede is also a culinary wonderland, where outrageous edible inventions come to life.
Foodie finds: It's not just about the rodeo shows. The Calgary Stampede is also a culinary wonderland, where outrageous edible inventions come to life.
Andy Nichols/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Delicious bites:</strong> With new inventions every year, you can easily spend 10 days taste-testing the long list of imaginative foods.
Delicious bites: With new inventions every year, you can easily spend 10 days taste-testing the long list of imaginative foods.
Mark Neustardter/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Tune in:</strong> Music continuously blasts from the Calgary Stampede's concert venues in a variety of genres.
Tune in: Music continuously blasts from the Calgary Stampede's concert venues in a variety of genres.
Shaun Robinson/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Off to the races:</strong> In the evening, the action starts with a chuckwagon derby, where a driver (on a wagon) steers a team of galloping horses around the stadium.
Off to the races: In the evening, the action starts with a chuckwagon derby, where a driver (on a wagon) steers a team of galloping horses around the stadium.
Chris Bolin/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Just dance:</strong> Next comes the TransAlta Grandstand Show -- picture gravity-defying acrobatics, singing, dancing and fireworks.
Just dance: Next comes the TransAlta Grandstand Show -- picture gravity-defying acrobatics, singing, dancing and fireworks.
Chris Bolin/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Top talents:</strong> Each year, the country's top talents take part in the theatrical show.
Top talents: Each year, the country's top talents take part in the theatrical show.
Andy Nichols/Calgary Stampede
<strong>Wheel on over:</strong> If you think the rodeo is topsy-turvy, so too are the rides in the Calgary Stampede Midway, where every manner of roller coaster awaits. For an easy warmup, the Great Wheel promises a bird's-eye view of the grounds.
Wheel on over: If you think the rodeo is topsy-turvy, so too are the rides in the Calgary Stampede Midway, where every manner of roller coaster awaits. For an easy warmup, the Great Wheel promises a bird's-eye view of the grounds.
SHANE KUHN/ Calgary Stampede