Bagpipes, Scottish dancing and displays on the Celtic culture are all part of Cochrane Celtic Connections.
The Cochrane Pipe Band is hosting the event in conjunction with Alberta Culture Days on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Cochrane Lions Events Centre, 109-5th Ave. W. in downtown Cochrane.
Pipe Band manager Susan Flowers says one and all to drop by for this free event and learn more about the Celtic culture.
"We're going to share the history and the culture, music, food and everything related to the Scottish Celtic culture. So we welcome people to come and hear the bagpipes, see the dancing, and taste the food."
That food includes a chance to try haggis, some describe as a savoury pudding, that is the Scottish national dish.
For those of Scottish heritage, it's a chance to bring out the family tartan.
"We encourage anybody who has Celtic garbs to come out and enjoy the fun and wear their tartan."
The Cochrane Pipe Band wears the ancient Cochrane tartan.
Bagpipes will be opened and on display so people can learn how that unique sound is created. Flowers says they hope to attract more people to the pipe band to make it sustainable into the future. In particular, she's hoping youth will be interested in entering the drum and piping world.
"Some of us are getting a little long on the tooth. We want to make sure there's a band in Cochrane in the future."
Schedule Highlights:
11 a.m. - Cochrane Pipe Band performance
11:30 a.m. - Highland Dancer performance
1 p.m. - Scottish Country Dancers performance and lessons
2 p.m. - Highland Dancer performance
3 p.m. - Cochrane Pipe Band performance
Food will be available at a concession for a nominal fee
By its very name, Cochrane's history is richly encrusted with a Celtic heritage. Our town was named after Senator Matthew Henry Cochrane, the eldest son of an Irish Anglican immigrant. He established the Cochrane Ranche Company Limited with a group of Eastern Canadian investors and obtained a grazing lease in 1881 to create the Cochrane Ranch that faced severe hardship. Significantly, it was the first grazing lease issued by the Macdonald government in Canada's Western expansion.
The Cochrane Pipe Band was formed in 1999 and was known as Cochrane Men of Vision Pipes and Drums until 2013.
No celebration in Cochrane seems complete without their presence and they also travel outside the community to participate in other parades and festivals.
For more information on the Cochrane Pipe Band look here.