The High River Stampede Breakfast is gearing up for the big day on Saturday, July 26th.
There are a lot of new changes for the second annual events, including three events that the public can register for.
They include mini-chuckwagon soapbox races, a pancake eating competition and a cowboy bean cook-off.
Organizer of the event, Rick Green, is pretty excited about how it's all coming together now, and they even have a sponsor for the mini-chuckwagon races.
"Yes, J&D's Attic has already stepped up. They'll give us a coupon, we'll send the kids in, and it's free shopping for the chuckwagon stuff they need."
Now, the mini-chuckwagons will be soapbox races; however, they need two outriders on hobby horses, and they have openings for 12 mini-chucks, and they will hold heats of four wagons around George Lane Park.
Yes, the all-day event has been moved to George Lane Park to accommodate the thousands of people expected to take part in the free event.
Green says the pancakes will be available at 3 or more stations this year instead of one, and they plan on hosting a pancake-eating competition too. "The world record pancake eating contest is only 118 pancakes, believe it or not, in 8 minutes. I think we have someone in High River who can do that, and that too is going to be a trophy, and we'll sweeten the pot with a little bit of cash."
They also have a cowboy bean cook-off planned to kickstart the day with 10 entries.
All three of these events are free, but you do need to register, and they're working on setting up registration days on June 14th and 17th. Kids who want to enter the mini-chuckwagon soapbox races need to be registered by a parent or guardian and must be between the ages of 6 and 12-years-of-age.
Last year, the inaugural event had one lineup for the pancakes, but since the lineup was so long, the organizing committee expanded it from one line to six.
There's also a rumour floating around that there may be another train robbery happening around noon at the dining car, and possibly a wild west shootout over a card game gone wrong in George Lane Park.
Two live bands will also be performing throughout the day. The pancakes are expected to last until about noon, with food trucks setting up for the afternoon.
The date has also moved to coincide with the Battle of the Foothills WPCA chuckwagon races happening at the High River Ag grounds from July 24 to 27. Last year, the event was held during the Calgary Stampede on Monday, July 8.
Here's the list of times and events for the big day.
8:30 am:
Indigenous Acknowledgment, Main Stage – Sarah Scott
Cowboy Bean Cook Off, Main Stage
9:00 am:
FREE Pancake Breakfast begins
‘Classic Vibes’ 1st Set, Main Stage
Acoustic Guitars begin, Main Stage
9:30 am
Historic Carriage Rides begin, Bus Stop
10:00 am:
‘Classic Vibes’ 2nd Set, Main Stage
Dunk Tank Opens
Food Trucks Arrive, escorted by Steel Scouts
10:30 am
Little Britches Soap Box Parade begins Centre Stage
11:00 am:
‘Classic Vibes’ Final Set, Main Stage
11:30 am:
Little Britches Soap Box Chuckwagon Races – Heats 1 & 2, Area A
12:00 pm
Little Britches Soap Box Chuckwagon Races – Heats 3 & 4, Area A
12:30 pm:
Train Robbery @ The Dining Car downtown
1:00 pm:
‘Credence Creek’ 1st Set, Main Stage
2:00 pm:
‘Credence Creek’ 1st Set, Main Stage
2:30 pm:
Card Game Shoot Out, Centre Stage
3:00 pm:
‘Credence Creek’ Final Set, Main Stage
3:30 pm:
Announcements, Presentations & Closing Ceremonies, Main Stage