CALGARY: Stampede planner

It’s that time of year again in Calgary. Suits are replaced by plaid shirts and shiny belt buckles. Hay bales become a normal decoration for restaurants and bars. And douches who don straw cowboy hats and skanks who slip on too-short jean skirts and get disgustingly loaded need to apologize to real, live cowboys and cowgirls for sullying their fine reputations.

Yay, Calgary Stampede (July 9-18)!

Whatever you think of the Stampede, the free pancake breakfasts — several a day — are a unique tradition welcomed by everyone. Who could possibly dislike free pancakes served by impossibly cheerful volunteers?

The best resource for tracking all the Stampede breakfasts in town is Flapjack Finder which also comes as a handy, free iPhone app.

The Stampede itself has a new slate of deep-fried goodies and things on a stick.

One of its new features is a copycat Japadog. The Stampede blog is boasting of a hot dog with teriyaki sauce, fried onion, Japanese mayo and seaweed. Looks like they’re going the international dog route with a Chicago dog and a Mexican dog too. Look for the booth just past the Coca-Cola stage, on your way to the midway.

Cochrane’s MacKay’s Ice Cream will have a booth at the Stampede this year (in Weadickville near the Coca Cola Stage) serving up flavours of beer and mini doughnut!

The Stampede’s also put out suggestions for people with food sensitivities.