Calgary Vegan Society

A Calgary Tradition

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Welcome to the very first edition of The Sprout, the Calgary Vegan Society’s new community resource library! We’re kicking things off with The Vegan’s Guide to Calgary Stampede 2026, co-written by Erica W. and the Calgary Vegan Society. Erica is a lifelong Calgarian and vegan for nearly a decade, and brings a unique perspective to navigating life in “CowTown” with compassion. Together, we’ve created a guide to help you enjoy Stampede season with vegan-friendly food, events, and activities that align with your values.

As someone who’s called Calgary home my whole life, Stampede has always been part of the city’s identity. Every July, the streets come alive with music, celebrations, and western hospitality. It brings a huge economic boost to Calgary and remains one of the city’s defining traditions.

As a vegan, I have mixed feelings about it, and I’m sure many of us do. Cowboy culture is woven into Calgary’s identity, and the rodeo and agricultural exhibits can be difficult to reconcile with our values. But those events are only one part of Stampede. There are countless opportunities to enjoy the music, community, culture, and western hospitality without supporting the aspects that don’t align with our ethics.

Every vegan will experience Stampede differently. Whether you embrace it or avoid it altogether, I hope this guide helps you find a way to enjoy the season that feels right for you.

What to Do (as a Vegan)

Looking for vegan-friendly events? Here are a few happening during Stampede that celebrate great food, community, and compassion: 

• Vegan Street – All Hat No Cattle Event (July 3rd) – tickets here: (18+)
• Canela Vegan Bakery & Café – Vegan Pancake Breakfast (July 4)
• Animal Rights Effort – Buck the Rodeo 2026 Rally’s! (July 3-12) Facebook Post here.

If you decide to head to the Stampede Grounds, the good news is that you can easily build a day around the attractions that interest you. While many vegans choose to skip the rodeo and animal exhibits, they make up only a small part of the overall experience.

To avoid animal-centred events, it’s best to steer clear of the Agriculture Building, Nutrien Western Event Centre, and GMC Stadium. Instead, here are some of the best attractions that have little or nothing to do with rodeo culture:

• Coca-Cola Stage (free concerts with admission)
• Nashville North
• Big Four Roadhouse
• Western Oasis Art Showcase (BMO Centre)
• Midway rides and games
• Shopping vendors
• Elbow River Camp and Treaty 7 cultural experiences
• Evening fireworks

The Calgary Stampede doesn’t just begin at the gates, it invigorates the rest of the city with its energy, bringing our diverse Western spirit and hospitality to life. Some off-grounds events include:

• Downtown Stampede events and live music
• Badlands Music Festival (July 2nd-12th)
• Cowboys Music Festival (July 2nd-12th)
• Wildhorse Saloon (July 2nd-11th)
• National Saloon (July 2nd-11th). 

Vegan Eats for Stampede

Calgary is generally a Vegan-friendly city, with options throughout its core. Stampede can prove mildly challenging for our lifestyle, but thankfully with a bit of planning and mindfulness, we can access some pretty great grub. 

In addtion to the Vegan Street and Canela events noted above, Here are just a few of the vendors with plant-based options on the Stampede Grounds. As always enquire on the plant based/vegan options as some of these require modification:

In the BMO Centre

• Nacho Average Quest – Plant based Taco Bowl, Loaded Nachos
• Super Crunch Tanghulu – Tanghulu Candy Fruit
• Family Squeezed Lemonade – Lemonade
• Summerland Soft Serve – A refreshing dairy-free pineapple Dole Whip (cup or cone)
• Covet Sips & Sweets – Coffee and Tea with Oat Milk, Cookie, Drinks
• Western Showcase Cafe – Mediterranean Harvest Mezze, Strawberry & Coconut Dome
• Smoothie Shop – Smoothies (ask for no milk)
• Brandi’s Salsa – Salsa
• Wonder Bites – Fruit Puree Vegan Treats
• Miss P’s Gluten Free – Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

On the Midway

• Drink A Fruit – Fruit Juices (Watermelon, Pineapple)
• Avatara Pizza – Beyond Meat Pizza
• Curry in a Hurry – Samosas, and Chickpea curry
• Los Tacos Hermanos – Nopal (aka Cactus) tacos, Nachos
• Gaia Greek Foods – Pita and Hummus, Dolmades, Falafel
• Taco in a Bag – Taco Bowl
• Taco Nori – Sushi Taco (ask for no mayo), Seaweed Salad
• Summerland Soft Serve – A refreshing dairy-free pineapple Dole Whip (cup or cone)
• Covet Sips & Sweets – Cookie, Drinks
• Smoothie Shop – Smoothies (ask for no milk)
• Click this link to check out more vegan options for the Midway.

There is always the reliable nuts, fruits and good ole french fries too! Keep in mind it’s always best to double check with the vendors that these foods don’t contain any hidden animal products (milk, eggs, honey, confectioner’s glaze etc.)

And if you’re more interested in supporting our local plant-based spots around town while indulging in Midway-Style eats, you can always check out:

• Heart’s Choices – Corndogs, and Cauliflower Wings
• V Burger/ The Sweatered Hen – Vegan options for Burgers
• Vegan Street – Wings, Tacos and Nachos

Additional Tips for Enjoying Stampede Events

To make the most of Stampede Season as a vegan requires a bit more planning and intention, here are some ways you can maximize your enjoyment:

• Plan your meals before you go.
• Bring snacks and water.
• Double-check ingredients with vendors.
• Research events ahead of time.
• Go with friends—it makes the experience even more fun.
• Remember that Stampede looks different for everyone. Build an experience that reflects your own values.

Conclusion

Whether you choose to fully embrace Stampede or simply enjoy parts of the season, I hope you found some useful information to help you experience it in a way that feels right for you. The vegan community showing up and participating in events that are not focused on animal exploitation will continue to shift the Stampede from “just a rodeo” to a joyful celebration of community and western hospitality.


Author Bio

Erica W. is a lifelong Calgarian with a passion for compassion. Vegan for nearly a decade, she’s gained a unique perspective on navigating life in “CowTown” while staying true to her values, and enjoys sharing her experiences with others in the community. In her free time, you’ll find her at the gym, meeting up with friends on a whim, or spending time with her foster-fail feline, Miss Janice.