When to Visit - Arts and Events

If there is one thing Calgary is known for internationally it is Stampede Week, with its Wild West rodeos and parades. It begins on the Friday following 2nd July with a world-televised parade and continues with a series of events that make it the premier annual cowboy event to be held anywhere. Stampede Breakfasts are served outside office buildings between 7:00 am and 9:00 am and outside many hotels and shopping malls between 9:00 am and 11:00 am. The breakfasts are often accompanied with displays by Native Americans, marching bands, gunfighter shoot-outs and wagon rides. The biggest breakfasts are held at Chinook Centre and Market Mall. There are also special saloons set up for the week throughout Calgary, and Stampede Park is where to go to see the rodeos.

Calgary Dining

Like many cities in Alberta, Calgary is richly endowed with restaurants serving food from around the world. But the people from this part of Canada are also justly proud of their own cuisine. From 'tasty, authentic cowboy grub' to Alberta specialities like buffalo burgers, you'll find restaurants offering all sorts of excellent, locally produced food. Ask anyone in town about Alberta cuisine and the response is sure to be unanimous: beef! Alberta claims to raise the best in the world and knows how to prepare it. Whether you're after steak, prime rib or burgers, roasted, braised, boiled or barbecued, the beef from the Canadian prairies really does deserve its world-famous reputation.

Calgary Tipping Advice

In a hotel, bell service should be tipped at about CAD 1.00 per bag. Housekeeping should be CAD 1.00 to CAD 5.00 per day (in proportion to your room rate). The standard tip in restaurants is 10% to 15%, with 20% given for outstanding service. Tip a similar proportion for taxis, or at least round fares up to the nearest dollar.