Prize for Peru in the 2024 Calgary Stampede Parade

Raíces del Perú (Roots of Peru) won another prize in the 2024 edition of the Calgary Stampede Parade. Their entry, celebrating a Peruvian (Inca) myth of origin together with a range of traditional dances and music such as El Huaylarsh, La Diablada Puneña, La Danza de los Tulumayos, and La Marinera, was awarded the Best Overall Prize by the Stampede Parade Committee.

Some of the performers from Raíces del Perú receive the Best Overall Parade Award from a judge from the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee. © J. Ashley Nixon

In 2017, Calgary’s Peruvian Cultural Association won the Best Cultural Entry Award on their first appearance in the Stampede Parade. They won it again in 2018.

The Calgary Stampede Parade is one of the largest parades in North America and has been running since 1912. An estimated 300,000 people lined up along the 5 km route through the downtown core in 2024 to see over 100 entries with 21 floats, eleven marching bands and over 700 horses.

Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo

According to Inca mythology, the Sun God, Inti, sent two of his children, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo into the world to create order and civilization. Emerging from Lake Titicaca on the border of Peru and Bolivia, they travelled north to found Cusco, the city of the Incas and heart of their empire.

In the header photo (above), Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo are standing on the Raíces del Perú float as it passes the Bow Building and Wonderland (2012), one of Jaume Plensa’s wonderful sculptures that Calgary has the privilege to show.

Cultural diversity

The Parade is the traditional kick-off for ten days of Stampede celebrations including rodeo, fireworks, show ground rides, music concerts and a plethora of pancake breakfasts organized by communities and companies. While the core of the parade is western culture, particularly agriculture, many cultural organizations with their roots in countries around the world participate making the Stampede Parade a truly diverse occasion.

Photo gallery

You can see more of my photos from the 2024 Calgary Stampede Parade on my photo website.