The Okotoks Parade is returning this Saturday (June 14), rain or shine.
While the parade is going to be downtown again this year, according to the Town of Okotoks Community Events Specialist, Connie Drake, they have had to make some changes to this year's parade route.
"There was a strong desire for us to keep with the tradition of having the parade downtown, so we worked really hard to come up with a solution," Drake explains. "As most people know, we've got some construction happening and we wanted to make sure that we were providing a very safe location."
Because of that, there have changed the direction of the parade has changed, on top of changing the staging area.
As the Town doesn't have the other staging area, they have made Daggett Street behind the businesses and between the railway tracks the staging area for this year.
Due to the parade happening, road closures will be in effect, starting at 8 a.m., including Riverside Drive for the staging portion of the parade, with the other parts of the parade route causing road closures at 10 a.m.
Before the parade begins, though, there will be the annual Lions Club pancake breakfast, which will be happening in the Eagle 100.9 parking lot.
"It's always a really great opportunity for the community to meet and greet before the parade starts," Drake says.
And with the staging area so close to the pancake breakfast, Drake believes the pancake breakfast will be a bit busier than last year.
There will be public parking at the Okotoks Rec Centre, Viking Rentals Centre, or the Lions Campground.
The parade is happening, regardless of whether it's sunny or rainy, so dress for the weather, and Drake is reminding you to bring your lawn chair.
Drake says there will be some extra staff on-site this year, because there will be some "pinch points" with this year's parade route.
"We will have a couple of spots that we are actually not even going to allow spectators to stand in, and that's for the safety of those spectators."
While Drake is leaving the identity of the parade marshals a surprise, she says this year's parade theme is Bringing the Party to the Streets.
"For Light Up Okotoks, we won the National Award for Best Event for a City or Municipality, and this is something that we want to share with our community, because our community is what makes that event possible," Drake says. "So, we thought, let's bring some winter fun in the sun. We are celebrating all things Light Up."
The parade starts at 11 a.m., and there will be around 65 floats participating.
After the parade, the Children's Festival will kick off in Ethel Tucker Park at the Arts & Learning Plaza from noon until 3 p.m.
At this event, there will be live entertainment and activities.
To learn more and to see the parade map, click here.