Our History
The High River Stampede Breakfast originated from a simple yet heartfelt vision: to bring the essence of a Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast to High River, Alberta, on a more intimate and community-driven scale.
Inspired by a pancake breakfast attended in July 2023, co-founders Rick Green and Brenda Walsh envisioned a free event for 2024 to foster community connections, celebrate local heritage, and engage families and organizations. As planning commenced, collaborative meetings began and the objective was clear; reignite the community spirit that has always been a cherished aspect of life in High River.
2024 - The First Breakfast: A Downtown Block Party is Born!
Monday, July 8, 2024 | Downtown High River
What started as a neighbourhood pancake breakfast, rapidly broke out into a full blown block party as folks gathered by the hundreds to partake in the festivities. With the delightful aroma of pancakes and sausage filling the air, the sounds of a lively western band performing on the portable 35 foot stage, generously donated by Roger Hamel of CDI International, downtown High River was alive with community spirit!
The celebrity dunk tank was the splash hit of the day, turning the event into a family-friendly fiesta! But it wasn't just about the laughs and giggles—it was all for a good cause, supporting Wild Rose Food Connexx. Brave souls taking the plunge included MP John Barlow, members of the RCMP, the High River Fire Department crew, and some daring locals.
With the sun cranking up the heat past a toasty 30°C by 11 a.m., keeping everyone cool and hydrated was mission critical. Thanks to Century 21 Foothills, about 1,500 bottles of water were handed out like liquid gold, every single one gulped down in the sizzling fun!
The days events also offered free horse-drawn carriage rides with Highwood Museums own Oliva sharing our western history and the pivotal roles of High River cowboys George Lane and Guy Weadick. Fun fact, the Calgary Stampede's own historical account confirms George Lane's role among the four prominent businessmen who backed Guy Weadick's vision for the first Stampede.
This breakfast showed the everyone involved that High River was indeed ready for a western community celebration!
2025 - From Breakfast to an All Day Western Celebration!
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | George Lane Memorial Park
We couldn’t have been more proud to see how far the High River Stampede Breakfast has come. As interest in the event continued to grow, we outgrew our original venue and moved to a bigger space: George Lane Memorial Park, where we welcomed approximately 3,500 locals.
The move created an opportunity for something even bigger! Around the same time, we were approached by the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) about hosting our breakfast on the same weekend as the “Battle of the Foothills.” It was a natural fit and sparked an idea: bring our community closer to High River's western traditions while creating an event that would appeal to an even broader audience.
From that partnership, Brenda Walsh brought the Little Britches Soapbox Chuckwagon Races to life. Inspired by traditional soapbox racing and our community's passion for chuckwagon racing, the competition featured miniature chuckwagons, young drivers and outriders. Professional WPCA drivers and their teams also joined the celebration, creating a special connection between the next generation of racers and the sport's professional roots.
At midday, the transition from “Chuckwagons to Truck Wagons” came to life as a convoy of food trucks rolled into the park, escorted by members of Steele's Scouts Commemorative Troop in period dress and on horseback. WPCA participants joined the miniature chuckwagon parade, bringing together the history, present and future of chuckwagon racing in one memorable celebration.
Volunteers dressed in period costumes from Sheppard Family Park helped serve guests in the VIP area, the High River Kinsmen brought five grills and the manpower to keep the pancakes cooking, while Jason and Karen from Sobeys High River donated the pancake mix and spent the morning preparing batter in the community block-party trailer, while local community groups, sponsors and volunteers generously contributed their time, equipment, food and expertise.
It was a true community effort — a celebration of western heritage, local partnerships and the people who make High River the community we love!
2026 - A Western Celebration Becomes “More Than a Breakfast!”
Saturday, July 25, 2026 | George Lane Memorial Park
By its third year, the High River Stampede Breakfast had developed a character and momentum of its own.
The theme, “More Than a Breakfast,” reflected how far the event had come since the original downtown gathering. The Association was no longer simply organizing a pancake breakfast. It was building a family-oriented Western festival around community participation, local history, entertainment and the excitement of chuckwagon racing.
Once again, organizers considered the possibility of moving to the High River Ag. Grounds. The Association however, chose to remain at George Lane Memorial Park, a setting that had become an important part of the event's identity.
The Soapbox Chuckwagon Races continued to grow, with more teams, more wagons and greater involvement from the professional chuckwagon community. Canadian Tire became involved in supporting the miniature wagons, and the organizers developed ways to build and customize wagons using tarps and sponsor logos.
The wagons and the “Breakfast Truck” began appearing in local parades, helping raise awareness of the event and build excitement throughout the community.
A particularly significant development came through collaboration with the High River Ag. Society (HRAS) and the WPCA. The partnership created an opportunity for the top Soapbox Chuckwagon teams to advance to a special championship race during the Battle of the Foothills' Sunday Dash for Cash.
Olson Silver contributed three specially designed championship belt buckles for the winning team. Racing the miniature chuckwagons on the professional track in front of the grandstands brought the young competitors into the same setting as the sport's professional participants.
The championship was a highlight for kids and spectators alike. The Soapbox Chuckwagons had evolved from a creative family activity into a genuine community attraction — one that connected young participants with High River's chuckwagon heritage and professional racing traditions.
The WPCA publicly announced its collaboration with the Association and HRAS in April 2026, confirming the growing partnership behind the Soapbox Chuckwagon competition.
The third year reinforced the central idea behind the Association: when volunteers, businesses, community organizations and western heritage come together, a simple breakfast can become something that brings an entire community to life.