Cochrane’s MADE Makers Festival is coming back to town this weekend, adding another fun community event option to what is already promising to be a busy Saturday on Aug. 13.
Admission and parking are free, and it will be a pet-friendly site both indoors and out.
Cochrane's largest indoor/outdoor retail market will feature over 80 Alberta-based makers, artisans, and food producers, including everything from breweries to bakeries, and fashion to fine art.
The unique shopping opportunity will be supplemented by food trucks on site. Visitor hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cochrane Lions Club Event Centre, at 109 Fifth Avenue.
Event coordinator Kendra Kane said the ‘Cochrane MADE’ brand is well-known to area residents accustomed to seeing a wide variety of quality offerings from local suppliers.
A visit to the festival website reveals a reference to the Calgary Police Rodeo (‘Rodeo’ is in brackets in the advertising) because they wanted to make everyone aware that they can also enjoy the rodeo on the same day, which will be taking place behind the Cochrane Lions building, on the rodeo grounds.
“Cochrane MADE is the brand,” Kane said. “And it will have that entertainment component.”
The idea behind Cochrane MADE is to support local businesses while encouraging community development, according to Kane.
There will be about 50 exhibits indoors and about 40 exhibits outdoors.
“So you’re going to see distillers, you’re going to see brewers, bakers, foodies, wood crafting, jewelry makers, candlesticks, you name it – it is a full community of Alberta artisans,” Kane said.
Meanwhile, the second Annual Cochrane Food Fest – a separate event – will be also rolling out tasty treats on the same day, about five minutes away at Mitford Park.
Kane sees the convergence of the three events in town on the same day as a bonus for visitors looking for something to do, who may be contemplating a drive to Cochrane that weekend. It’s certainly an inviting triple threat.
“Come to Cochrane, hit the Food Fest, check out the rodeo, and go shopping,” she said.
For more information on the Cochrane MADE Makers Festival go to cochranemadeaug22.eventbrite.ca
