Discovery Days coming Labour Day weekend

The inaugural Cochrane Discovery Days promises to make the Labour Day weekend in Cochrane even more festive and action-packed than in previous years.

The iconic Cochrane Lions Rodeo weekend comes alive with history this year, featuring over 20 new events for residents to enjoy. The fun includes a mix of free, by-donation and ticketed events. The full event schedule for the first Cochrane Discovery Days, running from August 30th to September 2nd, is now available on the ExploreCochrane.ca website.

"We're excited to partner with numerous community organizations and several generous sponsors to offer such a diverse lineup of events for everyone," said Callandra Caufield, Executive Director of the Cochrane Tourism Association's Explore Cochrane. "This festival is a shared effort and celebration of our community's history and culture."

“There are events that are well established on the Labour Day long weekend and what we wanted to do was fill out those events so that there were more opportunities, more things to do and also to get more organizations involved,” she said.

“We can say to visitors come to Cochrane on this weekend and it's great for our community as well. So it really does that double duty that we're always looking to do, which is creating a better place to live and inviting visitors at the same time.”

Caufield said attracting visitors from Europe is a long term goal.

“There's a lot of interest in in Germany and France regarding history of the West and Indigenous history and Cochran is a really unique place to explore that. We hope that in the next few years this will draw people from all over the world,” she said.

“It's so unique in that you can come for four days and go to a rodeo and a powwow and a community parade. And wander through this historic downtown and engage with things like listening to storytelling in a teepee.”

At The Station, the Birds of Prey Foundation will have several large birds to get up close to.

“It's a great opportunity to look at an owl up close, recognize how special they are and then start to think how can we have more conscious animal interactions in Cochrane and you know make sure we're taking care of the animals that are coming through the valley.”

On Friday, the Cochrane Lions Rodeo kicks off the festival weekend with a free BBQ lunch, the Ranch Rodeo, and a free family concert. The rodeo runs all four days, with family fun, a beer garden, and a cabaret on Saturday night.

On Saturday and Sunday during the day, residents can head to historic downtown Cochrane to see living history actors in period costumes and listen to strolling musicians. Shoppers can explore the area for special offers and unique tastings from several local businesses. The Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society, in collaboration with Rockyview Brewing Company, will offer historical tours on a big electric bike (tickets required), and Found Books will host a cowboy poetry open mic on Sunday night.

On Saturday only the Cochrane Public Library will be hosting a family-friendly Wild West Carnival for all ages. They invite you to try your hand at classic carnival games and activities, get your smile ready for the photo booth, have your face painted or try line dancing.

The Station at Cochrane Crossing will be a hive of activity, featuring a teepee, Indigenous storytelling and crafts for purchase from Nakota Itipi & Ryder Style Craft, as well as a hands-on Hide Tanning demonstration hosted in partnership with Wazin Ichinabi Ti and Alberta Land-Based Education. The Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation will have its branding experience set up, where attendees can design a brand and watch it burned onto wood. On Saturday Wazin Ichinabi Ti will have a hosted shuttle bus to the Stoney Nakoda Pow Wow.

Cochranites can also explore natural history with the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation and learn more about the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee’s brand new ‘Wildlife Coexistence Cochrane’ program.

Outside downtown, Route 22 Collective Artist Gallery has artist demonstrations all weekend and a horseshoe art workshop, and the Cochrane Historical Museum will be open and welcoming visitors Friday - Monday. 

To wrap up the festival, Labour Day Monday will feature the beloved Labour Day Parade hosted by the Cochrane and Area Events Society and the Cochrane Activettes community appreciation pancake breakfast.

There is a mix of free and ticketed events. To see the entire schedule, times and locations, and to purchase your tickets, visit Explore Cochrane's website.or contact Callandra Caufield, Executive Director, at [email protected] or 403-688-9915.