The Best Show On Dirt: Experience the William's Lake Stampede
Tucked in the Central Interior British Columbia, Williams Lake is a historic ranching community. At one time, Williams Lake was a "boomtown," important to the Cariboo Gold Rush.
The Cariboo region is surrounded by dense, expansive forestland, rolling green hills, and rugged cross-country terrain popular with all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts. Mild activities such as kayaking, trail running, and fishing are equally as popular as heart-pounding winter adventures including dog sledding and heli-skiing.
One such heart-pounding event is the Williams Lake Stampede, the second-largest rodeo in Canada (the Calgary Stampede being the largest). The event's origins date back over a century and is held over Canada Day weekend every July. And after a two-year hiatus, the beloved Stampede is BACK! Let this serve as your ultimate guide to the iconic event.
History of Williams Lake Stampede
Back in the summer of 1919, Williams Lake cowboy Jo Fleiger hosted the first-ever Stampede (not just the first in Williams Lake, but the first in all of British Columbia) as a Wild West-themed community event for local ranchers and railroad construction workers who were in town temporarily. The event, although not technically a rodeo, consisted of bareback and steer riding events, saddle bronc, and a wild mustang race. Competitors, primarily local girls and boys who simply wanted to showcase their cowboy talents, earned just a few dollars apiece and the Stampede was held at Borland's Ranch, where it would continue to be until 2019.
As Cariboo's second Gold Rush was in full swing in 1920 and the Pacific Great Eastern Railway had also just been completed, the second year of the Williams Lake Stampede was bigger and better than the first. Ranchers and vendors decided to join local cowboys in the event and the result was a full-blown rodeo, albeit a small rodeo. That first Cariboo Stampede consisted of riding, roping, and racing, then capped off with dancing that night — a tradition that continues in modern-day rodeos all over the world today.
By 1921, the Stampede was a 3-day event and even First Nations people joined as both participants and spectators. It is still a celebrated 3-day rodeo to this day, now an official Canadian Professional Rodeo Association event with thousands of people coming from all over the world.
The Stampede has mostly gone on continuously since its inception nearly 100 years ago. The exceptions were 1940 through 1946 during World War II, when most of the cowboys who competed regularly were serving in the armed forces overseas. The second period of time the Williams Lake Stampede was suspended was, of course, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Accounting for those two stretches, the event is celebrating its 94th year in 2022.
Williams Lake Stampede Schedule of Events
The 2022 Stampede schedule of events with specific times will be released before the event. Events are held throughout the afternoon and evening Thursday through Sunday, with the highly-anticipated Ranch Rodeo (more on that below!) held before the main Stampede events on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The Williams Lake Stampede Event Highlights
- Barrel racing - The "colourful speed event of rodeo," this fast-paced event involves female riders circling barrels three times in a cloverleaf shape, with the goal being to make the best time and not knock down any barrels.
- Steer wrestling - Coordination and timing are the name of the game in this rodeo event, where a rider must jump off his horse and wrestle a steer to the ground gracefully and in the fastest time. To count, the steer must be on its side with all four legs out.
- Team roping - A pair of riders works in tandem, one aiming for the steer's horns and the other trying to catch two of its legs.
- Tie-down roping - In this highly technical event, a rider ropes a calf, then hops off his horse, runs the calf down, and hand-ties at least three of its legs. The tie must hold for at least six seconds to qualify.
- Bull riding - Easily one of the most dangerous and exciting events in rodeo — and therefore, of course, one of the most popular! The ultimate goal is to stay on the bull for a full eight seconds and to receive the highest marks.
- Bareback riding - Perhaps even more thrilling than bull riding (both to watch and to participate in!), bareback riding is incredibly physically demanding. The cowboy, who does not ride in a saddle, must hold onto a thin leather pad attached to the horse with one arm. Unlike bull riding, the goal here is to actually spur the horse and get him to buck wildly.
- Saddle bronc - The goal in saddle bronc is not merely to stay on the horse — though that's certainly important — but also to ride in rhythm with the animal, swinging back and forth to keep his time.
- Ranch Rodeo - Possibly the most treasured event locally, the Ranch Rodeo goes back to the Stampede's origins. Cowboys from several local ranches compete directly against one another for nothing more than bragging rights as the "best cowboys."
Where to Stay: Coast Fraser Inn
If you're planning to attend the Williams Lake Stampede, you're going to need a comfortable place to stay. The Coast Fraser Inn is an excellent choice, with a convenient location and a lengthy list of amenities. Fuel up for your action-packed days with a free hot breakfast and feel free to bring your pup, because the Coast Fraser hotel in Williams Lake is also dog-friendly! Other guest amenities include:
- Free parking
- Free wi-fi
- Boston Pizza Sports Bar onsite
- Fitness centre
- Hot tub
- Meeting space
- Beer, wine, and spirits store
Williams Lake Stampede Ticket Pricing and Seating
The Williams Lake Stampede offers several ticket and seating options. General admission tickets, which include unassigned seating in the Grandstand, start at $20. Tickets for children ages 5-18 and seniors 65 years and older, as well as wheelchair-accessible seating, are available for $15. Children below the age of 5 and seniors over age 80 can get into the Stampede for free. Spectators may also purchase VIP infield seats for rodeo events and other performances for an additional $25.