The absence of a midway this year at the 38th annual Sundre Pro Rodeo did not seem to seriously dampen people's enthusiasm for the community's main event of the year.
Sundre Rodeo and Race Association organizers said a new attendance record of about 11,500 was set on Saturday, when the grandstands were jam-packed with energized rodeo fans for both the afternoon and evening performances.
"It's incredible," said Shane Crouch, president of the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association, during an interview with the Round Up following Sunday's final performance.
"I keep saying every year our rodeo gets better and better, and I think we even surpassed things again this year."
The annual Saturday morning parade also drew out massive crowds with people lining up along Main Avenue to check out as many as 90 entries, which featured four bands including a first-ever appearance by the Calgary Round Up Marching Band.
The traditional free community barbecue hosted before the parade courtesy of Tom and Marty Mennear, the owners of Sundre IGA, also saw a massive lineup that had volunteers feverishly serving up thousands of pancakes and sausages.
And although there were no carnival rides such as a Ferris wheel set up at the rodeo grounds this year, members of the McDougal Chapel got organized to provide, with help from numerous volunteers, a bouncy castle and obstacle course.
"It's awesome, there's always been a lineup and it's had a really good response," youth pastor Russ Klassen told the Round Up Saturday afternoon.
"The kids are having a ton of fun!" he said, adding parents seemed to appreciate having an outlet for their children and that volunteers helped to make it possible.
"It was nice to have the community involvement."
While rodeo and parade organizers are no doubt heaving a collective sigh of relief following the monumental effort that goes into putting on Sundre's main event, they've most likely already got their sights set on next year.
Meanwhile, dedicated Sundre Pro Rodeo and Parade fans such as Joyce Jewell, who told the Round Up she's never missed the event in some 30 years, are already probably marking off the last weekend of June 2018 on their calendars in anticipation of another few days of professional rodeo action and celebration of community spirit.
"That's what it's about to me. Without them ó between our fans and sponsorship ó we can't do this," said Crouch.
So hats off to everyone who contributes to making the annual event so successful, and here's to many more phenomenal, record-breaking years!
