Anti-G-8 activists are holding a hootenanny of their own to protest the City of Calgary's Wild West party for G-8 summit guests this evening.
They'll be toting signs instead of six-shooters at the Showdown at the Hoedown, which is billed as a "non-physically confrontational" rally against the political and corporate elite.
"It will be a symbolic protest by those who were left out," said organizer Yutaka Dirks, a member of the Calgary Anti-Capitalist Collective.
"The underclass wasn't invited to this G-8 gala because they want to protect the image of this as a lily-white, clean, wonderful city. We want to disrupt that facade."
As many as 5,000 G-8 delegates and journalists are expected at the Hoot and Holler at Stampede Park, hosted by the city, Tourism Calgary and Enmax.
The $300,000 fiesta was approved by the city to showcase Calgary to the the world. The party is being held to drum up tourism and business as a spinoff of the two-day meeting of G-8 leaders in Kananaskis on Wednesday and Thursday.
The invitation-only party features a western barbecue, square dancing, an indoor rodeo and wild west parade, with a fireworks finale at midnight.
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