The action starts off on Friday afternoon with slack followed by chuckwagon and chariot races at 7 p.m. New this year is a midway to keep the whole family entertained. Shelley and Bud Bixby will be the Friday night entertainment at the kick off party to the 2006 rodeo. The action begins early on Saturday with a Western Breakfast served from 8-10 a.m. The rodeo begins at noon. All day Saturday there is plenty to do, and plenty of entertainment. Joanne Janzen will be onstage throughout the day. She is the 2005 Country Spotlight winning act. Also performing on Saturday is Almost Famous featuring Verna Charlton, Kelly Grant and Tim Peerson on lead guitar.
Chuckwagons and chariots roar again at 7 p.m. Following that, the Cowboy Cabaret will open with Phoenix taking the stage. On Sunday it starts all over again with breakfast followed by a Cowboy Church Service at 10 a.m. The Rodeo begins again at noon. Sunday afternoon also brings a new addition to the Stampede, the Country Vocal Spotlight. This is one of Alberta’s largest country talent competitions held each November in conjunction with Farmfair International and Canadian Finals Rodeo. The program supports the discovery and development of amateur country vocal talent. The sanctioned competition will take place at the Hand Hills Stampede Sunday, June 4th starting at 1 p.m. on the Calgary Stampede Travelling Show Stage. Winners of the competition advance to the semi-finals round in Edmonton leading up to the Canadian Finals Rodeo. This is a great chance to see some rising stars, or find out if you have what it takes.
For more information on the Hand Hill Stampede see www.handhills.ca
