Alberta Gets Ready for Canada Day and the 2018 Ponoka Stampede
For more than 80 years, the Ponoka Stampede has entertained Alberta families who enjoy the fun and excitement of rodeo action as well as western culture. As usual, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) will hold one of their circuit stops in Ponoka from June 26 to July 2, but there will be a lot more than just PRCA action this year.
The 2018 Ponoka Stampede will start with a stage show and live concert featuring the Road Hammers country rock band as well as rodeo clowns and trick performers on June 26 starting at 6:30 pm. On June 27, the West Coast Amusements Midway center will open its doors at noon, and the PRCA tournament will start at 1:00 pm; in the evening, the All Pro Canadian Chuckwagons will race down the dirt track for the enjoyment of families before the talent show and nightly fireworks.
The PRCA action will continue with Kids Day on Friday June 28. On July 1, the Ponoka Stampede will celebrate Canada Day with more rodeo action, chuckwagons, wild pony racing, music, and fireworks. The rodeo finals will wrap up this event on Monday, July 2 with a showdown plus a raffle and the opportunity to win $70,000 or 40 heifers; the choice of grand prize will be up to the winner.
As can be expected, the beauty of Alberta women will grace the stampede with a Rodeo Queen pageant, where young ladies between the ages of 18 and 23 will have a chance to prove their horse riding and roping skills as well as their ability to charm audiences with their looks and style.
Farmers markets, beer gardens, parades, local crafts, and fun amusement rides will be enjoyed by all guests starting on June 27. One of the best ways to enjoy the stampede is to rent a spot at the RV campgrounds, which start at $20 per day or $30 per day for a spot with a full hook-up. The best deal for tickets is the full package, which costs $273 for adults and $194.25 for children 12 and under. The ticket hotline is taking calls at 403-783-0100; online purchases are handled through Ticketmaster Canada.
Online coverage of the Ponoka Stampede 2018 is brought you by the Cowboy Lifestyle Network in collaboration with the the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Earnhardt Auto Centers, and the Papa John’s Road Team. Visit https://cowboylifestylenetwork.com to learn more and to stay on top of all things country and western.
