Riding to 100 Years

History

Williams Lake Stampede history is long and colourful.

Williams Lake is located in the heart of British Columbia’s interior. It is the centre of a large service and trading area for a population of well over 50,000 people. It is the shopping and business centre for many in the ranching industry whose land and holdings spread in all directions from Williams Lake.

The stockyards in Williams Lake market the ranchers cattle from as far south as Clinton, as far north as Quesnel, as far west as Bella Coola and as far east as Horsefly. The town was just a spot on the map until the coming of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in 1920. The coming of the railway coincided with the first real organized Williams Lake Stampede.

What a great way to celebrate summer in Williams Lake!

The 98th Annual Williams Lake Stampede once again welcomed visitors from near and far for several unforgettable days of Canadian Professional Rodeo Association action.

We were proud to host many of the sport's top cowboys and cowgirls, with competitors travelling from across Canada and the United States to compete in the World Famous Williams Lake Stampede. From thrilling rodeo performances to community celebrations, entertainment, and family fun, this year's event showcased the very best of our community.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, competed, sponsored, and helped make this year's Stampede such a tremendous success.

The World Famous Williams Lake Stampede remains an authentic and historic rodeo at the heart of a community family event—and we can't wait to welcome you back next year!

Person wearing a cowboy hat and western clothing standing at a rodeo or horse event.
A rodeo cowboy wearing a cowboy hat, red shirt, and vest is riding a bucking bull in an arena, with dust and a large crowd in the background.
A cowboy riding a bucking horse during a rodeo event, with a red fence and spectators in the background.
A rodeo cowboy riding a bucking horse, holding onto a saddle with one hand, in an arena with spectators in the background.
Horse race at Williams Lake Stampede with participants riding horses and people watching from a grandstand.
A white horse rearing up with people in the audience watching at a rodeo.
A rodeo event with two riders on horseback competing in a race on a dirt track, with spectators watching from the stands.
Children holding hands and shaking hands over a red fence in a lively outdoor setting, with blurred people in the background.
Overhead view of a rodeo event showing a brown bull with dark markings in a metal pen. A person in a blue jacket and black pants is holding onto a rope attached to the bull, preparing for the event. The pen is surrounded by a white and red metal fenc
A rodeo clown dressed in a cowboy hat, red pants with a Canadian flag design, and a patterned shirt, is jumping over a large striped barrel on a dirt arena, with a crowd of spectators in the background.
Two women riding horses in a race, one in a blue vest and the other in a green jacket, on a dirt track with vehicles in the background.
Three people riding horses on a dirt trail through a grassy field, one person in front steering, two others behind, all wearing hats and colorful clothing.
A woman riding a galloping horse decorated with a Canadian flag symbol, waving a large Canadian flag during a rodeo event with an audience in the background.
A cowboy is riding a horse inside a rodeo arena, wearing a cowboy hat, jeans, and a vest, with a lasso in hand, in front of a metal gate with other horses visible in the background.

2026 Ticket Sales

Poster for the 98th annual World Famous Williams Lake Stampede, held June 25-28, 2026, featuring a rodeo scene with a rider on a bucking horse and spectators and announcers in the background.

What’s On

A woman riding a horse during a rodeo, navigating around a red barrel, with spectators in the background.

Sponsor

A small log cabin with a red door, wooden porch, and hanging flower basket with pink and white flowers.

Stampede Campground

Crowd of people at an outdoor event with wooden structures, tents, and a grassy hill in the background.

Bronc Buster Trade Show

Group of horses standing in a dirt paddock with a fence, hills, and a cloudy sky in the background.

Volunteer