First Stampede parade-goers already lining up
Posted Jul 2, 2015 5:08 pm.
Last Updated Jul 2, 2015 6:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Stampede fever appears to be gripping some Calgarians, with the first few people already lining up in advance of Friday’s parade.
The Berridge family were first on the route Thursday at noon, securing a spot for the 80 relatives they expect to be joining them for the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
Tricia tells 660News it’s a family tradition that dates back three generations.
“We have a lot of seats that we need to save, we have a big family,” she explained. “I think this year will probably be about 80, but we’ve had up to 120.”
“The last few years, we’ve been coming out at noon on the Thursday to make sure we can all sit together and be curb-side. We used to not have to come out until 5 in the morning, but every year we started coming out and there were chairs in our spot, so we started coming earlier and earlier.”
She says it’s family that keeps them coming out and staying outdoors, year after year.
This year, they have relatives coming as far away as Victoria, British Columbia.
She says they’ll likely spend the night visiting, talking and catching up. Early Friday morning, they’ll hold a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to a local charity.
“It’s still the same parade, we’ve seen it a lot of times, it’s new for the little ones and exciting for them and for us older ones, it’s just about being together with family.”
Anyone thinking about driving in the downtown core on Friday morning are reminded of the following closures because of the parade:
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3 the following roadways will be closed for the 2015 Calgary Stampede Parade:
Westbound 6 Avenue from 3 Street S.E. to 10 Street S.W.
10 Street S.W. from 6 Avenue S.W. to 8 Avenue S.W.
Eastbound 9 Avenue from 10 Street S.W. to 3 Street S.E.
The 5 Avenue S.W. lane reversal will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. only.
All roadways are expected to re-open at approximately 2 p.m.
