The Okotoks Indoor Pro Rodeo is set to saddle up this weekend.  The event is held annually and in 2010 is celebrating it's 19th year. Their non-profit Rodeo is produced entirely by volunteers. Volunteers host contestants and visitors from all parts of Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. We take over the Town of Okotoks with western themed events and activities for the whole family.

Rodeo is a part of a very unique lifestyle, a tradition handed down from our forefathers who developed various events and evolved them into competitions of individuals and animals competing against their neighboring ranches to see whose ‘outfit’ had the most skilled cowhands and the best animals. The Okotoks Pro Rodeo brings the same competition, skill and excitement to our guests for you to see how a part of the west was won.

WThe Okotoks Pro Rodeo is are sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association – CPRA, with co-sanctioning by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association - PRCA.
Our rodeo is one of the last qualifying and important stops for contestants vying to qualify for the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) - held in the late fall of each year.

The rodeo features nine exciting events:
Bare Back
Barrel Racing
Bull Riding
Tie Down Roping
Saddle Bronc
Steer Wrestling
Team Roping
Wild Horse Race
Mutton Bustin
young and old alike.

Tickets are available through the Okotoks Pro Ticket Hotline – 403-938-1518 or in person at our Rodeo Ticket Office starting in August 2010. The ticket office is located across from the Information Desk of the Okotoks Recreation Centre (111 Milligan Drive).

The Great Canadian Barn Dance in Hill Spring has the perfect mix of long weekend fun.  Family Fest offers patrons a chance to enjoy excellent food and the chance to kick up their heels all night long.

The fun starts upstairs in the Barn Dance Hall 12:30pm and stops at 11pm. There will be entertainment and old-tyme music and dancing: old time waltzes, scottische, heel-toe polka, 2-step, foxtrot, jive, butterfly and more. 2010 Dance Under the Stars for the Young at Heart $5/youth Dance Lessons 7-8pm Outdoor Dance Floor 8-11pm (weather permitting).

The regular Festival Dance will be upstairs in the Barn but GCBD will also offer dancing on the Shields Family Outdoor Dance Floor all night long. Festival Admission $30 ($15 after 6pm) Roast Beef Dinner Adults & Youth: $20.00 Kids 12 & Under: $10.00

by Scott Schmidt

Every town has a history.

There is reasoning behind each and every settlement in this country and a story behind how it came to be. And when we look back at what brought early settlers to the area, it often teaches us something about ourselves.

For the town of Coaldale, just a few kilometres east on Hwy #3, that history was too important to leave in the hands of old stories from people’s grandparents and in 2001 were able to open the Gem of the West Museum.

Located about one kilometre north of the highway – a few blocks past the Birds of Prey Centre – this extensive museum has been built into an old Mennonite church (one of the many aspects of the area you will learn about). In the coming years the museum expanded and has since added a replica blacksmith shop, an art gallery and a large display of aboriginal artifacts.

Essentially, the museum has been taking donations from the townsfolk for the past 15 or so years and that’s how they have built up their displays. This unique technique is what gives this museum its wide variety of artifacts and therefore broadened view of history.

You’ll see into the early lifestyles of those who lived in the area from their hobbies and sporting activities to their religious and political ways. Every town has history, but not every town can tell it right.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 13 and under.

by Scott Schmidt

It feels as though it finally just got here but if you can even believe it, the best part of summer is coming to a close.

The great news about that if you’re in southwest Alberta is nobody closes out August quite like the people of Lethbridge, as Whoop-Up Days Family Festival kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 24 and runs through Saturday, Aug. 28.

Like every other summer city fair, Whoop-Up Days has all the rides, carnival games and authentic fairground foods everyone waits all year for. Unlike every other summer city fair, Whoop-Up Days 2010 features a list of entertainment and activities almost impossible to cram into one week.

No less than 21 new items have been added to the itinerary for this week, including a live shark show and giant reptile display. Colin James makes his first appearance to the festival, as he performs opening night, while Saturday’s Monster Truck Mania will serve as an extra-loud closing ceremony.

New bands to the Whoop-Up stage include April Wine, The Dusty Root Band, The Original Caste and Tatum Williams. Bring the kids to the Best Buy Family Fun Zone or take them to see renowned children’s performer Bobby Boogaloo.

Several acts return to the Lethbridge stage this week also, as local country singer/songwriter Trevor Panczak makes an appearance. Also Rough Stock, The Chevelles and DNR will perform throughout the week.

Wednesday night after 5 p.m. is Moonlight Madness, where the super ticket prices – which include the whole kit and caboodle – drop to $30. Regular super ticket prices are $52, unless purchased in advance for $35.

General gate admission, which includes all but the midway are $12, or $10 in advance. For information on the festival visit www.exhibitionpark.ca and look under major events.

Cardston is gearing up for the World Miniature Chuckwagon Races this weekend

The wagons are half the size of those on the professional circuit and are pulled by a team of four miniature horses.  

The event is put on by the Alberta Miniature Chuckwagon Racing Association.  The mini chucks began 1998 with 4 wagons and 3 shows throughout the year. Now entering 2010 they have expanded to include shows across Alberta and into British Columbia. They now put on 20+ shows a year with up to 14 wagons.

For more information on the Mini Chuckwagon Races call the Remington Carriage Museum at 403-653-5139.