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The Okotoks & District Chambers of Commerce's annual Okotoks Trade & Lifestyle Show is this weekend.
Hosted at the Okotoks Recreation Centre on Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, this year's iteration of the show promises to be the biggest in recent memory.
Along with the trade show itself, the event is also a collaboration with Market Square, with a Spring Fling Artisan Market included.
I will feature around 90 vendors on the trade show side of the space and as many on the artisan side.
It comes at a time when people are taking care to keep Canadian goods and services in mind, which is something that was considered during the last stretch of the planning process.
"We were able to be strategic with the businesses we accepted in the last few weeks here. If somebody put in an application, if it was a local Foothills business, we did our best to put them in the show somehow," says the Okotoks Chamber's Executive Director, Dawn LeMaistre. "So this year our show flows into the lobby of the recreation centre and eating into the show space, and some vendors out with the food trucks on the north end of the building. It's jam-packed."
It won't all be strictly business, says LeMaistre, with some familiar local groups also setting up shop during the event.
"Lots of our services groups will be here, just letting people know what they do in the community... we will have the Town of Okotoks with their council corner. Municipal enforcement and fire with be there with all their toys, so you can put on the fire coat and hat if you want, lots of fun activities for everyone to get involved with."
LeMaistre advises attendees that a large curling bonspiel is also scheduled that weekend and that parking should be available at nearby schools or on nearby side streets.
Admission to the show is $5, though children 12 and under can enter for free. On Sunday between 2 and 4 p.m., you can bring a food bank donation for free admission.