IN PHOTOS: Downtown cattle drive event kicks off Canadian Finals Rodeo’s return to Edmonton

After being held successful Red Deer for nan past fewer years, Canadian Finals Rodeo is backmost successful Edmonton this week and nan festivities kicked disconnected Wednesday pinch a cattle thrust downtown.

Ranchers and rodeo professionals led cattle from Sir Winston Churchill Square to nan Rogers Place Fan Park arsenic funny Edmontonians looked on.

The 50th twelvemonth of nan rodeo arena is backmost successful Alberta’s superior successful 2024. Edmonton was location to nan rodeo arena for complete 4 decades earlier it moved to Red Deer.

Last year, organizers announced they had reached a woody to big nan arena astatine Rogers Place successful 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The CFR started successful 1974 and was held astatine nan aged Edmonton Gardens and Northlands Coliseum. When nan Coliseum closed successful 2017 aft Rogers Place opened nan twelvemonth before, nan arena moved to Red Deer.

The 2024 CFR arena runs from Oct. 2 to Oct. 5. More than 100 athletes and 200 animals will return portion successful rodeo events complete nan people of nan four-day event.

In a news merchandise issued Wednesday afternoon, Arlindo Gomes, nan vice-president of business improvement and venue guidance astatine Explore Edmonton, described nan Canadian Finals Rodeo arsenic a arena that has been “a cornerstone arena successful Edmonton’s rich | sporting and taste history for decades.”

“Not only does it bring thrilling rodeo action and occidental practice to our city, but it besides delivers a important economical boost, attracting visitors from crossed nan state and beyond.”

Explore Edmonton is simply a destination guidance and trading statement successful Alberta’s capital.

View photos from Wednesday’s cattle thrust below:

–with files from Karen Bartko, Global News