20 Canadian Tourist Traps That Are Total Letdowns

5. Calgary Stampede (AB): Rodeo Meets Tourist Machine

The Calgary Stampede markets itself as an authentic celebration of Western heritage—but the reality often feels more like a giant theme park with cowboy branding. Sure, the rodeo still draws pros and purists, but the surrounding festival is a maze of beer gardens, carnival rides, overpriced merch, and throngs of tourists in rented plaid. Lines are long, food is expensive, and the whole affair can feel like a city trying a little too hard to prove its cowboy credentials. If you’re genuinely interested in rodeo culture, head to smaller events like the Ponoka Stampede or a rural county fair, where the grit is real and the community runs deep. You’ll find fewer selfie sticks, more storytelling, and a kind of unscripted charm that the big-city version can’t replicate. It’s still Alberta—but with fewer neon signs and more sky.