Eight Stampede breakfasts to try this year
By Emily Macphail, July 8 2016 —
With over 180 Calgary Stampede breakfasts advertised this year, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get your fill of free pancakes, breakfast meats and coffee over the next ten days. Although most Stampede breakfasts are fairly standard, the following eight all have something unique to offer.
1. The Established One
Going into its 56th year, the annual Chinook Centre breakfast is accustomed to entertaining and serving thousands of flapjacks to hungry Calgarians. With mall staff manning huge griddles, no breakfast is quite the same. Each individual business adds their own twist to the pancakes, putting tasty ingredients in the batter or providing toppings, and Chinook provides a range of sauce flavours for sausages.
Chinook Centre. Saturday, July 9 from 7:00–11:00 a.m.
2. The One That Will Also Get You into Stampede for Free
With the floundering economy, you’re probably trying to save a few dollars wherever you can. If you’re willing to brave the over-excited children and tired parents, Suncor Family Day may be your solution. Admission to the Stampede grounds is free from 6:00—9:00 a.m., and pancakes are free if you’re among the first 20,000 through the gates.
Grandstand Courtyard, Stampede grounds. Sunday, July 10 from 7:00–9:30 a.m.
3. The One with a Different Culture’s Breakfast Cuisine
In its inaugural year, the Pacific Hut restaurant Agahan All Filipino Stampede breakfast diversifies the common Stampede breakfast with a traditional breakfast and live music.
Pacific Hut 3223 17 Ave. SE. Sunday, July 10 from 7:00–10:00 a.m.
4. The One for the Dog-Lover
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but not all Stampede breakfasts are the pet-friendly affairs that the Puppy Pancake Brunch promises to be. Hosted by Bon-A-Pet-Treat! Pet Bakery, this event features pancakes for dogs, as well as free canine nail trims and a caricature artist ready to capture your pet in pencil.
Bon-A-Pet-Treat! Pet Bakery, 5111 Bowness Rd. NW. Sunday, July 10 from 12:00–5:00 p.m.
5. The Unconventional One
For those who are to Stampede what the Grinch is to Christmas, radio station X92.9’s Not-So-Stampede breakfast provides a way to partake in July’s free breakfasting without the cowboy hat. With past breakfasts including virgin Caesars, hot wings and Mary Brown’s chicken, the Carl’s Jr. foodstuffs served this year to the first 200 guests are not out of place.
X92.9 Studios, 255 17 Ave. SW. Monday, July 11 from 7:00–9:00 a.m.
6. The Political One
Hosted by Premier Rachel Notley and the Alberta Government, the Premier’s Stampede Breakfast provides an opportunity to rub shoulders with MLAs, talk politics and eat pancakes that were probably funded by your tax dollars. If you’d like to chow down with other elected officials at all levels of government, many also host their own breakfasts.
McDougall Centre, 455 6 St. SW. Monday, July 11 from 7:00–9:00 a.m.
7. The One for the Night Owl
If you usually wake up too late to get to most Stampede breakfasts, the Ship & Anchor has you covered. Their annual Hank & Patsy Night features music, no cover and a midnight pancake feast.
Ship & Anchor, 534 17 Ave. SW. Wednesday, July 13 at midnight.
8. The Efficient One
Run by the Calgary Stampede, this breakfast is ideal for those who feel that there’s not enough time to attend a full Stampede breakfast. Served off of GMC Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon griddles at Olympic Plaza, the bacon here is cooked right into the pancake for a one-handed meal. If you do have time to spare, this breakfast also features a variety of entertainment and interactive competitions, like the Lammle’s Hat Stomp.
Olympic Plaza, corner of 7 Ave. and Macleod Tr. SE. July 9 and July 11–16 from 8:15–10:30 a.m.
Bonus: The Suspect One
The posting for this Stampede breakfast states only “Horse pancakes. Come and decorate your horse and eat it too!” Hopefully they’re referring to horse-shaped pancakes rather than pancakes made of actual horses, but it’s unclear. Attend at your own risk.
Raw Canvas, 1130 Kensington Rd. NW. Friday, July 8 from 1:00–3:00 p.m.
For more Stampede breakfast options, visit www.stampedebreakfast.ca and www.freestampedepancakes.com