(Minghui.org) The 2025 Calgary Stampede Parade kicked off on July 4, 2025. It is called the greatest outdoor event on earth and lasts for ten days from July 4-13. More than 100 teams marched through Calgary’s city center. The entire parade lasted nearly four hours and was broadcast live on TV. Three hundred thousand spectators gathered on both sides of the route to watch one of the largest parades in North America.
The Falun Dafa team was welcomed by the parade attendees, who praised the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. “It’s amazing said an attendee. I’m glad to see these values being put into practice. We should practice them every day and keep them in mind at all times, so that everyone will become better.”
Falun Dafa practitioners participate in the 2025 Calgary Stampede Parade on July 4.
The Falun Dafa team, which showcases traditional Chinese culture, consists of three parts: The Tian Guo Marching Band with nearly 100 members dressed in blue and white, the float which is shaped like a boat and decorated with a blue sky and white clouds, cranes flying, sails fluttering, and lotus flowers blooming; and the waist drum team dressed in yellow costumes.
Ms. Lin, the float coordinator, explained why they used the design of flying cranes, “After the ancient Chinese cultivated to become immortals, they rode cranes to heaven. Cranes also symbolize longevity in China and are endowed with noble and elegant qualities. Therefore, its meaning is very good. With the high sky, white clouds, lotus flowers representing the Buddha world, and the boat that takes people to the other shore, we hope to bring the wonders of Falun Dafa to the audience.”
The practitioners’ team was warmly welcomed along the parade route. People applauded, waved, cheered, took photos, and recorded videos. Some people followed practitioners’ exercise movements as they demonstrated them on the float. Many Chinese watched the parade, and they also greeted practitioners.
Ms. Liu, a Falun Dafa practitioner from Edmonton, walked at the end of the team, holding a banner with the words “The World needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” in Chinese and English. Commenting on the audience’s reactions along the two-hour parade route, she said, “Many people, including Chinese, pointed to the words on the banner and read them out loud, then gave us a thumbs-up, applauded, took photos, made the victory sign, and put their hands together. I waved to them, and they immediately waved back enthusiastically. I felt deeply moved that people recognize Falun Dafa and Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”
People Commend Falun Dafa Team
Carmen Chinchilla works in the human resources department of a company in Calgary. She said that the Falun Dafa team “Showed a culture that is different from the West, which is very interesting.” She paid special attention to the Tian Guo Marching Band and thought that their costumes were “Very nice, extremely outstanding, and very beautiful.” She also said the band’s performance was excellent and the music was exciting.
Kemi Keku, an administrative staff member, said that she liked the Falun Dafa team, which she felt had a strong oriental charm: “Very unique, different, bright colors, and neat formation.” She especially praised the Falun Dafa boat-shaped float, “A huge blue boat with fairies sitting on it, with beautiful faces, and people meditating in the middle. The costumes are beautiful, colorful, and the beautiful culture is really good.”
Alejandra from Mexico praised it highly: “I love it. It’s really great and beautiful. Look at how beautiful the colors are, look at how energetic the people are, they are all enjoying the parade. Their inner feelings are contagious, and the people watching them also feel happy.” She said that she could feel the energy of the team, “Yes, I felt the energy, everyone’s energy. It’s really wonderful.”
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