Cochrane Discovery Days is returning for its second year, bringing with it an even bigger and more dynamic celebration of local heritage, arts, and community spirit. The festival runs throughout the Labour Day long weekend, August 29 to September 1, 2025, and promises to transform the town into a hub of activity for residents and visitors alike.
Organized by Explore Cochrane, the event debuted in 2024 and was quickly embraced as a new signature attraction for the holiday weekend. What began as an experiment in uniting community groups and businesses under one banner has grown into a full-fledged festival.
“This is the weekend to visit Cochrane,” said Callandra Caufield, executive director of Explore Cochrane.
“Discovery Days was designed to showcase the spirit of our town by uniting dozens of organizations. From history and heritage to arts, culture, and family fun, it’s a community-wide invitation for both residents and visitors to discover Cochrane.”
This year’s festival will feature more than 80 events and activities spread across five themed districts:
- Western Heritage District (Historic Cochrane Ranch)
- Rodeo District (Lions Event Centre)
- Historic Downtown District (1st Street W.)
- Living Land and Culture District (The Station)
- Wild West Carnival District (Cochrane Public Library)
New highlights at the Historic Cochrane Ranch include a Stockman’s branding experience, horse-drawn carriage rides and historical reenactments. The downtown core will also see expanded programming, with Route 22 Artist Collective hosting plein air painting demonstrations and a “Wet Paint Sale.”
Music lovers can enjoy performances at the Centennial Park gazebo, including a show by New Law, while families can take in daily gunfight reenactments or join the Sunday afternoon picnic, capped off with a pie-tasting contest.
Unique to this year is a ticketed “big beer bike history tour,” a collaboration between Rocky View Brewing Company and Chaps that blends storytelling with cycling. Caufield noted that while a handful of events require tickets, the vast majority remain free for the community to enjoy.
To help visitors move between sites, the Town of Cochrane is offering a hop-on, hop-off shuttle service connecting all five districts.
“Our intention is to reduce the number of cars downtown and allow people an easy way to get to and from Discovery Days,” Caufield said. “You could just find one parking spot and then hop on that circular bus.”
Discovery Days is designed to complement the Cochrane Lions Rodeo, one of the town’s longest-running Labour Day traditions. The two events are scheduled to work in tandem, with rodeo announcers encouraging spectators to head downtown afterwards for shopping, dining, and live entertainment.
“We want people to spend a day at the rodeo and then come into town to experience Discovery Days,” said Caufield. “Our intention is to make downtown vibrant and alive.”
Presented by Qualico Communities, Cochrane Discovery Days is poised to become a cornerstone of the community’s annual events calendar.
Full details, including shuttle schedules, will be available at cochranetourism.ca/discovery-days.
