Greeley Stampede to return for 99th anniversary in 2021
One of Colorado’s foremost western summer celebrations is returning this year with the annual Greeley Stampede community festival set to be held.
This summer’s celebration is scheduled for June 24 to July 4 at Island Grove Park. This comes after the festival was forced to close in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“We are thrilled to finally say we are officially having a Stampede in 2021,” said Justin Watada, Greeley Stampede general manager, “but we still have a lot of work to do.”
The Greeley Stampede tradition dates back to the late 1800s as a community celebration started to honor local potato farmers. Now, it’s an internationally acclaimed festival that attracts more than 250,000 people each year.
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The festival as it’s known today began in 1922, first titled the Greeley Spud Rodeo and renamed the Greeley Independence Stampede in 1972.
It features rodeos, concerts, a carnival, a western art show, food and a Fourth of July parade. Officials don’t know what the festival will look like this year, saying they’re making modifications to meet current COVID-19 event guidelines.
“The Greeley Stampede has been working hard making plans and collaborating with the city and state,” said Greeley Mayor John Gates. “We are confident that the Stampede is creating an event that will be safe and entertaining for our community.”
Additional information on this year’s festival events will be available soon, officials said.
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Tickets are set to go on sale sometime in early May. Officials said the ticket sale date is so late because they are unsure what capacity they’ll be allowed with COVID-19 restrictions.
Guests that chose to receive a credit for their 2020 tickets will be notified when they will be able to claim their tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
“We appreciate everyone’s support and patience as we navigate through this,” Watada said. “It hasn’t been easy to prepare for 2021, but we’re dedicated to making the Stampede something to look forward to.”
Updated information about the Greeley Stampede will be posted on its social media accounts and website at greeleystampede.org.