Stampede unveils its summer of ‘Spirit Untamed’

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Ryan Dahlman

By Brendan Miller
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Dust off your boots and start thinking about the summer heat, the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede announced its lineup of events, including the Stampede Night Shows and several returning events.

Stampede officials unveiled on Feb. 25 this year’s summer fair poster themed “Spirit Untamed,” with an action photo of a cowboy dismounting a horse that was snapped by local sports photographer Randy Feere.

This year the Stampede promises to bring back all its annual staple events and performers that received positive feedback, as well of course as the midway and carnival food.

Returning for its second year, local ranch hands will compete, mainly for bragging rights, in the Local Ranch Rodeo, where teams compete in events that imitate their daily work.

“You got the rodeo, you got the Night Shows, you got the midway, everyone loves the midways and the food,” says general manager Ron Edwards.

Stampede runs July 23-26.

Four Canadian acts are ready to headline all three Night Shows during the summer fair, including two JUNO Award-winning bands.

Music fans of the 1990s will love this year’s headliners, alt-rock band Crash Test Dummies joined by Wide Mouth Mason for the Saturday night performance.

Country music will also be well-represented with performances by Doc Walker, set to kick off the concert series Wednesday, followed by rising stars Tim & The Glory Boys on Thursday evening.

“We are really looking forward to this year’s night shows, all Canadian acts; we’re really happy with what we’ve got coming in,” sponsorship and marketing co-ordinator Ryan McCracken told reporters.

This year the Stampede has reduced the price of its ticket packages for all three night shows, and will begin selling early-bird packages Thursday for $109. Individual tickets will go on sale after the Spring Rodeo, April 25-27.

The action is sure to heat up during this year’s Summer Pro Rodeo as the Stampede welcomes some of the top NFR/CFR qualifying stock to go up against some of the world’s toughest cowboys and cowgirls.

“You’re going to see the great bucking bulls like ‘Devil’s Advocate’ and ‘Down with the Devil,’” explains rodeo chair Neal Siedlecki. “These are the bulls that our top world champion cowboys want to draw and want to get on. So when you have stock that comes with the tour of the event, you’re going to draw the best of the best in the rodeo industry.”

New this year, following each night of rodeo competition the Stampede will host a ‘Down in the Dirt’ dance for all ages.

Ahead of the big week, June sees the chucks return to town for four days as the Stampede welcomes the WPCA Chuckwagons and 36 of the top wagons in North America.

“The people enjoy it, (the riders) really like coming here,” said Ross Brigden, chair of the chuckwagon committee. “I think it’s really affordable and we’re happy with the way the community supports us.”

Action kicks off June 12, and the top three outfits will race ‘for all the marbles’ during the Dash for Cash finals June 15.

Later this summer, the popular Indian Relay Races will return for a second year, with two days of races Aug. 23 and 24.

A one-day celebration of cars and musicals returns in August as well with Cars & Guitars, a car show during the day and two performances by Arrival, an ABBA tribute band, and Dreams, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. That is set for Aug. 9.

The Stampede grounds will also host the annual RCMP Musical Rides and Beef Pen Show this summer. And this weekend is the Rock N’ Gems Show, which begins Friday morning.