July is only a few months away and you know what that means Calgary! It’s about time we dust off our boots and pull out our party hats (literally and figuratively)! This year The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is going all out to reclaim its pre-pandemic glory. From the previously announced chuckwagons return to the recently confirmed parade, everything is making a grand comeback. And so should our own mid-July party traditions.
The only problem: hosting a Stampede party which is equal parts classic and unique is a Herculean task. But like always, we’ve got you covered this time as well. We curated a list of six party essentials that will ensure we can enjoy all the Stampede signatures with a creative twist.
Whatever be your version of a Stampede party- an intimate backyard gathering or an elaborate corporate event- these party essentials will make your party a smash hit.
#1 Music & Dance
C’mon, it’s a party. Of course, there ought to be music and dance. In this case, there ought to be a whole lot of strings (fiddle, banjo and guitar preferred) and a version or four of line dancing. While live music is the best way to go, if you’re partying on a budget, you can download a Stampede playlist and dance to the tunes of Blake Shelton, Aaron Goodvin and Jade Eagleson.
#2 Leather Wearables
From boots to belts to hats to neck cords and corsets, we love our western fashion-inspired, leather-loaded Stampede style. And we trust none other than Calgary-based leather smith Kat Marks. Her eponymous leather label actually has a fun brand- LETHRBAR, where you can get customized leather goodies for yourself and your guests. LETHRBAR Live is like the coolest of party experiences. You can book a team of leather smiths who will customize leather goods on the spot with logos and names and whatever else you wish. Can’t make it in person? Kat and her crew can design and create from scratch, just for you. Amazing gifting options all year round if you ask us! Our fave on the list: a custom beer holster of course.
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#3 Midway Food
You can’t expect a Stampede party without a pancake breakfast. So, there’s that. But you can also layout a Midway-like spread with carnival-inspired handhelds like corndogs, mini doughnuts, ribs on the grill, and deep fried anything. If you’re planning something a little more extravagant than a backyard gathering, we suggest you either get it catered or better yet, rent a food truck (or 2).
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#4 Midway Games
When is gaming not fun, eh? So, let your guests battle it out at a dedicated Midway-style arcade section. The best thing is, you can go as elaborate or as basic as you want with these. Go all out with the games by renting out your fave machines or keep it simple with easy-to-put-together classics like ring toss or stand up the bottle. It’s undoubtedly one of the best ways to spruce up a party.
#5 A ‘Pede Party Tent
We’ll be honest, this isn’t strictly necessary but something about a party under a tent just screams Stampede to all of us. So, if you really want to take your party to Stampede levels of glam, add a tent over your gathering- big or small. Practical reasons aside, a tent is also a nice and fancy ode to the real event.
#6 Beer Tubs
Can a party even be called a Stampede party without beer tubs? We’d have to say no! So, add a beer tub or two to your setup so your guests can easily and constantly pull out cold ones.
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If you want your mid-July festivities to be kickass, you might want to start planning RN. In case you’re looking for more deets on LETHRBAR, you can check out their website. Oh, and while you’re at it, we suggest you also take a look at Kat Marks collections. Her statement leather pieces are a great way to amp up your Stampede style.
