The spotlight will be on music, dance, food and cool rides in what is forecasted to be perfect weather in Cochrane this weekend.
It all kicks off at the Cochrane Farmers' Market on Saturday morning (Sept. 7) with the first performances of Culture Days.
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The Mînî Thnî Dancers will be appearing at 10 a.m. in the first of four hourly performances. They'll be followed by the Celtic band Drowsy Maggies at 11 a.m., Midnight Taiko (Japanese drums) at noon and a demonstration by Ga-On Taekwondo at 1.
Chair Jane Kaczmer says the Japanese drummers are making their first appearance at Culture Days.
"Those are those great big drums, and they said seven or eight people are going to come, so it will be very loud, and very cool."
She says Cochrane has much to celebrate during Cochrane Days.
"I think it's important to bring the enjoyment and the fun and remind people that we have a lot of arts and culture here to learn about and what opportunities are out there."
Culture Days continues on Sunday, but before then the 6th annual Culture Fest is happening at the Lions Events Centre from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
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This is the largest edition yet of this multicultural feast for mind, body and soul organized by the Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee (CISC).
There are 24 exhibitors representing countries on six continents, and First Nations, up from 20 last year.
Out of 24 exhibitors, 23 will be offering food samples. and there will be 14 musical performances, four more than last year.
CISC program coordinator Caroline Barclay says it promises to be a fun-filled afternoon for the whole family.
"We want people to really enjoy every minute of their stay," says Carolyn Barclay, CISC program director. "This is a one-stop shop. You travel around the world without spending a single cent."
Upon entering the events centre, you're encouraged to pick up a travel log to document your visits to each of the booths. They'll be a draw from those returning their completed travel logs for an incredible gift basket.
Represented are Australia, South Africa, Ghana, Jamaica, Netherlands, Venezuela, Honduras, Peru, Ukraine, India, Philippines, England, Ethiopia, Zambia, Nigeria, Mexico, Stoney Nakoda Nations, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Argentina, Serbia, Chile, and the Wazin Îchinabi Ti House of Oneness.
Sunday, Culture Days celebrations will be staged in conjunction with the annual Cochrane Classic Car Club Show.
It kicks off with an 11 a.m. performance by the Westwinds Summer Jazz on the Centennial Plaza stage. The Cochrane Pipe Band performs at noon, followed by Six By Six at 1, Fig Fusion at 2, Melodic Mix at 3 and the Canmore Traditional Jazz Band at 4 p.m.
On both days Balloons and Butterflies balloon twisters will be there creating fun balloon shapes for the kids and Imagine That YYC Face Painting will give them a new persona.
Wazin Îchinabi Ti will be raising their tipi just across the tracks at The Station greenspace. This year, it will also host a display of Indigenous art.
Waylon Pye of the Cochrane Classic Car Club says they are expecting north of 250 vehicles for their annual Fall Colours Show & Shine that runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Historic Downtown.
CHECK OUT: WATCH: Classic day in the Historic Downtown
"No matter what kind of person you are or whether you're a car person at all, you'll find something to look at, so come on down and check it out."
The streets in the Historic Downtown close at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, registration opens at 8 a.m. for participants, and the show begins at 10.
Pye says they will be reopening the streets as early as 4 p.m.
On Saturday (Sept. 7), Cremona, 42 km north of Cochrane on Hwy. 22, holds its 12th annual show and shine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that offers the unique opportunity to win a vintage vehicle. This year, the grand raffle prize is a 1959 Chevrolet 31 Apache with a 283 V8 4-speed.