Midway returns to Strathmore for Stampede weekend

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

After a five-year hiatus, the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society managed to secure the travelling carnival, Wild Rose Shows, for this year’s Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days.
According to the society’s records, 2013 was the last year a midway was associated with the four-day weekend event.
Discussions between Strathmore and Wild Rose Shows occurred shortly after another community’s event dates changed, in turn making the carnival available during the first weekend in August.
“Based on the identification of our internal needs as well as the comments from members of the community at large in respect to how nice it would be if we could round off our offering to the public with a midway, we’ve been looking for some time. Unfortunately, the opportunity is limited to attract midways, or carnivals, of this sort,” said Herb McLane, general manager of the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society.
“They’re simply not available to pick up at a moment’s notice or on a year-by-year basis. There is the definite possibility that they’ll be here for some time if we’re successful.”
Wild Rose Shows is a family-run carnival that travels throughout the province of Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan from April to September. With just over 50 years in business, the company offers close to 50 attractions.
The society remains optimistic that bringing the midway back will increase attendance. Last year, over 40,000 people attended the Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days – an upsurge from the previous year when weather impacted attendance numbers and forced the cancellation of Strathmore’s popular Running With the Bulls event.
In hopes of further strengthening turnout, the society is introducing a trackside bar for those 18 and over located in the Stampede zone, immediately northwest of the grandstand.
McLane has confirmed SuperDogs will not be returning this year. He added that some alterations to previous entertainment will be required to accommodate Wild Rose Shows. The 52nd Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days will take place Aug. 3-6.