Bison Festival
Elk Island National Park
was founded as a reserve to
protect what had become a
severely depleted population of its namesake animal.
While hundreds of elk now
roam the park, these days
it’s even better known for
its large herds of two other
once-threatened beasts:
wood and plains bison. (Elk
Island played a crucial role
in saving plains bison from
extinction in the early 20th
century). The park’s annual
Blue Rodeo
hits the stage
in Drumheller
rates for festival attendees.
Festival admission is also
free for kids under 12
and seniors.
August 6
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Path of History
Everyone knows the
Calgary Stampede, but
for a brief period in the
early 1900s, a Wild West
show near tiny Consort
also roped in the crowds.
Cowboys and girls can
celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the Big Gap
Stampede by joining a
wagon trek and trail ride, a
24-kilometre journey from
the stampede’s original
site to the Gooseberry
Lake Provincial Park rodeo
grounds. (Don’t own a
horse? You can hitch a ride
on a chuck wagon.) After
the ride, rest your spurs
at supper and in the beer
garden, or hoof it to the
evening dance.
Hillside Songs
Few things say summer
like spreading a blanket on
the grass and basking in
the sun with friends. Take
the experience up a notch
by adding a soundtrack of
your favourite tunes. The
inaugural Bear Creek Folk
Festival brings good vibes
to Grande Prairie, where
upwards of 30 musicians
and bands—including k.d.
Lang and Corb Lund, as
well as Bruce Cockburn
and Ashley MacIsaac—are
scheduled to perform on
Muskoseepi Park’s Borstad
Hill. If you want to stay
near the action, Bear Creek
and Pipestone Creek campgrounds offer discounted
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SUMMER 2016
August 12-14
bearcreekfolkfest.org
HISTORY
July 9
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AMA INSIDER
ETC.
Survival Game
You’ve heard of escape
games; call this a stayescaped game! Red Deer’s
Heritage Ranch invites
visitors to don their best
camouflage and evade
eagle-eyed Ranch Tracker
Joel Martens. You’ll be
given a map, a compass
and one hour to capture
flags hidden on the
property—or be captured
yourself. Win or lose, a
post-chase dinner awaits
at the ranch’s acclaimed
West Lake Grill.
heritageranch.ca
Elk Island’s colourful
bison fest
fest ]