This time, we had the kids, and it was Petro-Can Family Day. We got down there on the C-Train at around 8 AM to get our free admission. We had resigned ourselves into believing that there would be no more of the 20,000 free breakfasts available, but were pleasantly surprised to be handed admission tickets near the gate and filed quickly into a very very very long line. It was so long, it stretched across a good portion of the grounds and took almost an hour to get in. A very friendly Chinese woman chatted with us the entire hour we were in line about kids (she had one and was considering a second), family (her parents were standing next to her and couldn't speak a lick of English), annoying friends (really), and pretty much anything she could think of. It was actually rather fun.
Then we got our breakfasts and pushed the stroller to the Grandstand whilst balancing 5 plates and cutlery among three of us. Perhaps we should have been cited as a performance this year. We get to the Grandstand, and there is nowhere to eat at ground level! One wheel chair ramp up, multiple strollers jamming the way; if you invite families to breakfast on family day, wouldn't you consider having a family-friendly location to have the breakfast? We ended up crouching next to a vendors booth who had compassion on us and was kind enough to let us set our kids' food on her Rubber-maid tub. She also gave the kids free wristbands afterwards.
Following the free food fiasco, we walked over to watch the Iams Superdogs perform. It was a good thing we arrived and ate when we did. The line for food stretched out past the admission gates and they were running low on pancakes! Also, we got in 10 minutes before the doors closed and actually found enough seats all together. Judah loved the puppies right up until he fell asleep on Faith. Micah and Aslynn enjoyed them too. We were grateful we had dressed all of our kids in red shirts so we wouldn't lose them. Tacky? Well, at least they weren't like the little girl the M.C. paraded around on the main level until her mother came running with a half-empty double stroller. Or like the American families in fluorescent explosions of hideousness.
We then went to the Big Four building and checked out the Hockey venue. It had some skills competitions happening and some history, but no Flames to sign autographs. They had Canadian no-namers from New Jersey and Buffalo. I think the most famous person they had there was Jason Wolley from our winning Canadian Jr. Team. The kids had more fun sitting on the Zamboni than much else there, so we took them downstairs to Buckaroos where they played for a while and had an old western photo taken.
Next we took Micah to break dancing at a stage on the other end of the park. At one point, they asked for volunteers, and Aslynn made her way up on to stage. The whole time Micah is yelling at me, "Daddy! No! Don't let her go! I'm scared! No! Don't let her go up there." As for Aslynn, she was quite content being passed around like a football by the strong dancers, who then placed her in a line with other volunteers. One dancer then jumped over four-and-a-half people (Aslynn being the half). There was this huge black dude who was the M.C. who decided he would try to jump six and a half, but when he ran at the group, one of the b-boys grabbed Aslynn and ran away. A complete stranger sent us the pictures. Our camera has kinda bit the biscuit, so we were incredibly grateful.
Then we bought some cotton candy floss for $5 and headed to the BMX exhibition at the Bell-X pavilion. Aslynn, exhausted from her performance, fell asleep on Faith while I wrestled with Judah the whiner. Those riders were pretty incredible! Micah loved it. I hope he doesn't try anything that crazy until he's at least 13 years old!
Then we went back to the same stage as before to watch Barrage perform. They're an incredible fiddle band based in Calgary. Certainly as impressive as they ever were, we'd seen them about 8 years ago with Mom & Dad at the Crystal Gardens in G.P.. Though many members have changed, they were astonishing to watch and every note was exactly as I remembered. No child slept through their performance.
Besides these things, Micah sat behind a mounted gun on a military helicopter, we all saw the Saddledome's interior, and we ate mini-donuts (another $5). All in all, for under $20 (that includes transportation, food, events, and everything we did) we had an amazing day at the Stampede.
We got to City Centre before we realized we had left the kids' photo in the Big 4 Building, so Micah and I rode the C-Train back. At the gate, I forged my way forward by licking and sticking the stamp that had been placed on Aslynn for re-entry which I had neglected to acquire, to match Micah's authentic one. We then ran through, found it, broke my sunglasses somehow, and caught the next train back. We were only 20 minutes behind the rest of the family. Of course, a busy day like that had Judah passing out on the train to add to Faith's load of Aslynn and the stroller when she arrived at the van without me. Oh well. We're still exhausted. I don't know how soon we'll recover... but it was sure fun!
- Mark
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