It started in the late 1800s as a humble celebration for the Greeley community to honor its local potato farmers. And more than a century later, it has evolved into the “World’s Largest Fourth of July Rodeo and Western Celebration,” which is estimated to attract about 450,000 patrons each summer.
“The Greeley Stampede is a great event for the whole family,” says Justin Watada, the Greeley Stampede’s director of marketing. “We pride ourselves in offering quality entertainment for a reasonable price.”
The acts that will perform on this year’s main stage include country artists Craig Morgan and Joe Nichols, David Nail, Gloriana, Stealing Angels, and headliner Keith Urban. But according to Watada, the Stampede is much more than cowboy boots and country tunes. Other main stage performances will be conducted by Cinderella, Warrant, Saving Abel and Buckcherry, all of which play music of the rock variety, thus providing a good amount of diversity to the festival’s music lineup.
In addition to main stage acts, the fairgrounds will also see an increase of on-site entertainment, including an expanded free stage concert schedule and two new free stages: The Tribune Community Stage and, on opening weekend, The South Park stage, which will feature music from 96.1 KISSFM, KYGO and La Tricolor 96.5.
But the boost to the Stampede’s live entertainment didn’t come without cost.
Earlier this year, Stampede committee members announced that for the first time in the event’s history, an admission fee will be charged.
“The new fee was implemented as a revenue source to help continue to bring the high level of music entertainers and to bring a top notch festival,” Watada says.
The cost of admission will be $5 for those who are 13 to 60 years old and $2 for those who are 6 to 12 and 61 or older. Children who are 6 years old or younger will be admitted for free, and ticket holders to Stampede shows and rodeos will also have free admission.
Although the new charges have caused somewhat of a stir among community members, the organizers of the event have also introduced a money-saving opportunity. Beginning June 1, $2 admission coupons will be available at the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, 902 Seventh Ave., and at participating Grease Monkey franchises, King Soopers and Kum & Go gas stations. These free coupons will be available for customers throughout the duration of the event; and depending on the age of the ticketholder, the admission cost can go down to $3 or free. Watada says it’s just one of the many ways the Stampede strives to accommodate the community.
“We annually spend almost a half a million dollars to promote the Greeley Stampede, which helps market the city of Greeley, too,” Watada says. “As part of our agreement with the city, we provide capital improvements to the park, including parking lot lighting, the completion of the Stampede Arena, and major landscaping. We are currently fundraising for a new capital improvement project, which is called the Stampede Barn, which will become the center of the park and a main attraction.”Also new with fairgrounds admission is free entry to Centennial Village, car shows, high dive shows and a hypnotist three times a day.
“It is great to enjoy an outdoor concert in the summer and take in the atmosphere that the event brings to the area every summer,” Watada says. “It is also the only time to eat multiple things on a stick, including my favorite … chicken on a stick.”
2010 Park Admission Prices
Guests (age 13-60): $5, $3 with coupon Guests (age 6-12 and 61+): $2, FREE with coupon
Guests (under the age of 6): FREE
All arena tickets include one-day park admission
Park admission is included with all sponsor and donor badges
Stadium concerts:
June 25: Craig Morgan & Joe Nichols with David Nail, $25
June 26: Keith Urban, $49-$69
July 2: Cinderella with Warrant, $30
July 3: Buckcherry with
Saving Abel, $35
July 4: Gloriana with
Stealing Angels, $15
For more information, go to www.greeleystampede.org
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