There is something happening in Okotoks all year long. With a wide variety of special, community family-oriented events Okotoks is a great place to live, play and visit.
Visit the Community Event Calendar to find out when each of these annual events is happening. To review/print this year's event list, see the file called 2023 Community Events Listing at the bottom of the page.
Each year the Town hosts an afternoon New Year's Eve party for families at the Okotoks Recreation Centre. Activities usually include free swims and skating, gym activities and other entertainment for kids. Families can also enjoy the fireworks that happen each year!
Each January, the Town hosts an old-fashioned skating party on the outdoor rink at the Okotoks Recreation Centre to celebrate winter. Families can bring their skates and enjoy outdoor skating, music and hot chocolate.
Each May the Town of Okotoks and hundreds of volunteers come together to clean up the Sheep River Valley and all community areas and parks around town, as well as take part in the Community Tree Planting. The Community Clean Up is the largest community clean up event of the year and the tree planting is organized to celebrate Arbor Day.
Each June in celebration of Canadian Environment Week and World Environment Day, the Town's Conservation Educators will be out and about in the community offering free events and activities to celebrate our environment and to help you discover new ways to reduce your ecological footprint.
The Parade and Children's Festival has grown into one of the largest annual events in Okotoks. Bring the whole family out for a full day of entertainment and activities at the Town of Okotoks Annual Parade Day, held each year in June. Bands, floats, dancers, horses and fire trucks are all part of the proceedings that wind throughout downtown. The Children Festival is always a hit with families and includes live entertainment and activities.
Learn about the event, the parade route, and discover how to enter a float in the parade.
Musicians, actors, magicians, jugglers, street performers, dancers, b-boys, singers & entertainers of all ages and acts are spread throughout the streets of downtown Okotoks for this fun street festival. It’s all free - if you like what you hear, show your appreciation for the performances with a loonie, toonie, fiver, or whatever you can afford! Plus, shop at the local downtown stores, as well as at the artisan street market, which will feature vendors spread throughout downtown.
Each July, the Okotoks Family Resource Centre hosts this free event with plenty of games and activities for children between the ages of 2 and 10. The Picnic is also a great way for parents to learn about all the local family support resources offered in Okotoks from local business and non-profit agencies. Kids are encouraged to bring an adult, their favourite stuffed animal, and a picnic lunch or snack.
Be a part of this fun culinary event in July - experience all the delicious food and drink Okotoks has to offer and enjoy tasty treats while listening to live music throughout downtown and at the Okotoks Art Gallery! We close the streets of downtown for this pedestrian-friendly event, which boasts live music, great food, a variety of artists, family fun with crafts and entertainment, boutique shops and an artisan street market.
The Okotoks Show & Shine was established in 2009 and continues to be one of the most popular events in Okotoks. Each August, over 10,000 spectators fill the streets of downtown Okotoks to view more than 500 unique cars, trucks and motorcycles!
Organized by a dedicated group of volunteers the true spirit of Okotoks Show & Shine shines through each summer. This event is all about fun! Fun for car enthusiasts who bring their "pride and joy" to be viewed by the thousands of visitors. Fun for the families who wander the streets admiring the amazing vehicles. Fun for Seniors who are reminded of days gone by as the reminisce of their own vehicles from each era and fun for all with the amazing music filling the streets, beer gardens for soaking up the sun while enjoying a cool one, and food that will delight any and all. This show really is for everyone!
For more info, visit the the Okotoks Show and Shine website
Each year in late August, Western-themed activities take over downtown Okotoks, including the central event - a chili cook off. Come down to taste the chili creations or register a team and compete! Spice up your weekend with chili sampling, children's activities, live music, and an outdoor artisan street market!
Each year the Town of Okotoks hosts a number of free cultural activities in late September as part of Alberta Culture Days celebrations.
Held on the 3rd Friday in November each year, the Light Up Okotoks celebration kicks off the Christmas season throughout downtown.
The event includes lighting of the community Christmas tree, live entertainment, wagon rides, a sugar shack, ice sculpture demos, cookie decorating, craft sales, late night shopping, fireworks & much more! And don't miss Santa's arrival or having your picture taken with Santa Claus as he hears your Christmas wishes.
Light Up Okotoks is organized annually by the Town of Okotoks. For more information, contact the Community Events Specialist at 403-938-8950.