OLDS — Oldstoberfest, billed as the world’s only Bavarian rodeo, is taking another big step.
This year, it will run for three days, from Thursday, Sept. 12 to Saturday, Sept. 14, says C5 Rodeo coordinator Gillian Grant, an organizer of the event.
Up until now, the show, a mixture of Bavarian culture and traditional rodeos, has run for two days.
In a presentation during town council’s committee of the whole meeting on May 6, Grant said last year, it attracted 8,500 spectators. That gave C5 the confidence to expand it to a three-day event.
And going three days means there will be three concerts given instead of two; one each day.
Grant said it’s too early to say precisely who will be performing, but she said the first night will feature a country band, the second a rock concert, and on the last day, the rodeo will wind up with an act from Nashville.
Grant said over the years, C5 Rodeo has developed a reputation for providing world class rodeo stock.
She said that was reflected in the fact they were chosen to provide the stock for a rodeo this year in partnership with the San Diego Padres.
Grant said C5 Rodeo believes Oldstoberfest, with its unique blend of Bavarian culture as well as rodeo talent on world class stock has the potential to be “an unrivalled rodeo spectacle, promising to catapult the community of Olds into the international limelight with thrilling performances and competition.”
She quoted a rodeo photographer as saying that Oldstoberfest is right up there with the Pendleton Roundup, held annually in Oregon.
According to Grant, that photographer said, ‘I will put this up against the Pendleton Roundup. This is one of the coolest, most entertaining rodeos I’ve ever been to.’”
“And we truly believe that we are going to be one of those bucket-list rodeos as we continue to grow and elevate,” she added.
Grant praised the relationships that have been forged through the years with the town of Olds, O-NET and groups like Uptowne Olds.
Grant said through the years of the rodeo, C5 has reinvested funds into the community. She said last year, that figure grew to more than $150,000 and the rodeo payout totalled $62,267.
Grant said the goal is to continue growing Oldstoberfest “to its full potential, maximize tourism and increase community activation.”
To that end, she said this year, C5 hopes to reinforce its ties with stakeholders, expand the show’s audience and enhance its synergy with the tourism sector.
C5 would also like to see more businesses in the community get involved by setting up Oldstoberfest-themed displays in their windows.
They’d also like to see more residents show their spirit by dressing up for the rodeo.
She suggested a parade could be staged as well.
Grant said the Town could help though tourism funding, in-kind support, promoting the event through various media and by providing policing.
“Each year, we feel like there has been some uptake in community activation and we just hope that continues,” she said.
Grant said in previous years, Oldstoberfest has served as the last great chance for competitors to improve their position for the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR).
However, that will change now, because this year, the CFR is being held in Edmonton the first week in October.
“Because these dates have been pushed up, we’re actually the first rodeo of the 2025 season, so it’s going to be very interesting to see what type of contestants and who’s going to be entering,” Grant said.
“But the slate is clean, so we might be getting a lot more entries than we’re typically used to, or an uptake to get a new start.
“We’re not really sure what it’s going to look like, but it’s kind of exciting in a sense, so very different scenario.”
Deputy Mayor Wanda Blatz thanked Grant for her presentation.
“This really is a great event for our community. I think it’s very well received, all throughout,” she said.
Council voted to accept Grant’s presentation.
