After four jam-packed, fun-filled days in the heat, the sun has set on Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede 2024. The silhouette of a cowgirl is seen during the Summer Pro Rodeo 'Under the Lights' on Friday.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Another edition of the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede is in the books and officials are reporting large crowds on the grounds Wednesday to Saturday after looking at early ticket sales and gate entry numbers.
The midway opened Wednesday afternoon on a blistering hot afternoon to moderate crowds, however the grounds started filling up once the sun set, and the Stampede energy, lights and live music filled the night.
“For us it was a total success … You can’t ask for anything better than that,” says Ron Edwards, general manager. “We had good attendance, the heat on Wednesday was a little hot but people started coming in the afternoon and evening.
“And then after that, Thursday to Saturday was great.”
Edwards says popular free stage performances including Terrance B, the celebrity hypnotist, as well as the Spruce Meadow Prairie Dogs, drew large audience numbers throughout Stampede, and Friday’s Summer Pro Rodeo ‘Under The Lights’ was sold out.
Although no official attendance numbers have been released, Edwards says the Stampede noticed long lines at the entrance gates. Edwards told the News the Stampede looks to address any long wait times next year.
“We were dealing with lineups and it became a problem to get in,” explains Edwards.”We need to restructure a little bit but it’s a good problem to have.”
And despite downtown, major road construction affecting traffic along Third Street SE, Edwards says the Stampede Parade was enjoyed by thousands of residents along an alternative route that was finalized in the weeks before the Stampede kicked off.
“We had nothing but good results from it,” says Edwards. “After lots of stumbling blocks because of the streets being torn up downtown, we really did have a good turnout, and people that were in it are really strong, so I was really happy with that.”
The Stampede also attracted thousands to free pancake breakfasts across the city, including the South Country Co-op annual breakfast which served up more than 3,500 flapjacks and sausages this year.
“There were lot’s of pancake breakfasts around town and that’s really good when the business people get involved and get the excitement going,” says Edwards.
And fans of the rodeo were treated to some saddle-broncing action as the Summer Pro Rodeo featured some of the top talent in North America.
“We had championship cowboys coming through, championship rodeo stock,” says Edwards. “We had the best of the best come through here.”
In August a new rodeo-style event will be coming to Medicine Hat as the Stampede hosts two days of Indian Relay Racing on Aug. 24-25.
