(Minghui.org) As the Calgary Stampede parade kicked off the Calgary Stampede festivities on July 4, 2014, tens of thousands people rushed to the grand celebration to take in the rodeo, exhibitions, and festival showcasing Calgary's agricultural heritage. Among various groups that performed in the parade, Falun Dafa practitioners brought the Divine Land Marching Band, a float, and a waist drum team that drew enthusiastic support.
With over 100 years of history, the Calgary Stampede parade in Alberta, Canada, is famous for its long route, large number of participants and huge number of spectators, making it the second largest parade in the world.
Hundreds of thousands of people come to the 10-day Calgary Stampede each year, for a special celebration filled with entertainment, rodeo events, and diverse cultures mingling to make up the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
The Falun Gong entry in the Calgary Stampede parade included the Divine Land Marching Band, waist drummers, dancers, a float, and practitioners dressed in traditional costumes.
The Divine Land Marching Band performs in the Calgary city center.
The day of the parade was hot and sunny. But as the Falun Dafa group came by, the spectators became excited. As one spectator exclaimed, “Wow, look at them. What a great group!”
The Divine Land Marching Band members were dressed in blue and white, the waist drum team wore golden yellow, while the “heavenly maidens” in the dance group were dressed in pink. The practitioners' outfits, and the beautiful float added a dazzling splash of color to the parade.
Among the audience who applauded the performance was Laura. Standing at the corner of McLeod Trail and 9th Avenue, she said to a Minghui correspondent, “This group is awesome! The energy is so special, it moved me to tears.”
Right after parade, Jason Kenney, Canada's Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, came over to greet the Divine Land Marching Band and take a group picture with the band members. Minister Kenney, who hails from Calgary, comes to this event every year. He thanked the practitioners for their contribution to the community and called aloud with the practitioners, “Falun Dafa is great!”
Hon. Jason Kenney, Canada's Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, greeted the Divine Land Marching Band and had a group photo taken with the band members.
The performance was also well received among Chinese spectators. Chen, a new immigrant from China, said to his wife as they saw the Falun Dafa practitioners performing in the parade, “Too bad we didn't have a chance to start practicing Falun Dafa back in China.”
With a pause, he smiled and added, “Maybe we can give it a try now?”
