Head to Edmonton for a 48-hour tour featuring the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
From South, Central, North, Rockies, Calgary Area: 48 hours+
From Edmonton Area: 24 hours+
Accommodation: Available
We are proud to showcase The Canadian Finals Rodeo as our first Itinerary!
2024 is a special year for CFR. It turns 50 this year, and it returns to Edmonton for four days of dust, glory and excitement, from October 2nd to October 5th.
It’s a spectacle that kids will love, too!
There are five performances across the four days, all held in the spectacular Rogers Place facility in the heart of downtown Edmonton’s Ice District, including a matinee performance on the Saturday and the Championship round on Saturday evening.
You can buy individual tickets for each performance.
It is possible to buy 5-Pack passes that provide premium seating for all five performances, too.
The Itinerary
Limiting the itinerary to just 48 hours:
Friday, October 4th
Travel to Edmonton early, and arrive at your hotel/accommodation around noon.
Accommodations: Check the CFR site, as the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association have struck a deal with Edmonton’s Best Hotels. Accommodation booked through CFR comes with goodies and bonuses for rodeo lovers.
Afternoon: Visit the Canadian Country Expo, at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, only a short walk away from the Ice District. The Expo celebrates all things Western! It includes trade show exhibits, stage shows, a Western Art Show, and a variety of interactive experiences, including a special 1974 Exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the CFR.
Plus, the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame offers a deep dive into the storied legacy of Canada’s rodeo heritage, celebrating five decades of thrilling history.
Evening: Attend the Friday night performance of the CFR at Rogers Place.
Saturday, October 5th
Morning
Enjoy a leisurely brunch at any of these downtown cafes:
- District Café (open at 8am)
- Rosewood Foods (open at 9am)
- DOSC (open at 10am)
Five minutes’ walk from the Ice District is the Royal Albert Museum, which opens at 10am. There is a Children’s Gallery, which includes interactive experiences, a dig pit, and The Big Machine, that kids can operate. There is also a toddler’s area.
For older kids, and the young at heart, you can also stroll through the downtown core, through Edmonton City Centre to 105th Street, and experience the mental and physical challenge of the GTFO Escape Rooms; a live action adventure game where you must escape confinement using logic and exploiting your surroundings. (Tip: Print out the waiver for under 18’s ahead of time!)
Try one of Edmonton’s newest features; the funicular, that will take you from the top of the hill, down to the river valley, where you can stroll alongside the North Saskatchewan River, which has just been made a Heritage River by the Government of Canada.
Or you can take one of the Downtown area’s Art Walks that take in the many art installations in the area. Download a map and directions here.
Lunch
For a late lunch, try Crossing the Bridge noodle soup at Dagu, just off Jasper Avenue, or an amazing sandwich from Farrow, an Edmonton institution. There are food halls in both Edmonton City Centre (basement) and Manulife Place.
Afternoon & Evening
The CFR’s last qualifying rodeo performance takes place in the afternoon, and the championship round in the evening.
Enjoy!