Cochrane's largest annual event will see a big change this year. 

Cochrane Light Up organizers have decided to go green and are offering their own 16 oz. reusable Light Up cup for hot chocolate. 

Chris Heier, chair of the organizing committee with the Rocky Mountain Rotary Club says they have teamed up with local businesses to offer the cups for $5. 

"We've been trying to work with the Eco Department with the Town of Cochrane and we as a committee largely support this, the whole waste reduction aspect of this event and disposable cups is a massive contributor to the amount of waste that this particular event does produce."

He says in the past there has been an issue of loitering, and theft in some shops and they're hoping by having the cups in the stores will help to alleviate those issues. 

"That's one of the reasons why we wanted to work with the businesses downtown. It's kind of a two-fold opportunity, we wanted to give an opportunity and an excuse for people to actually visit some of these businesses and spend money, and give the businesses the chance to interact more with the people attending the event."    

The cups are available for purchase at:

1. Global Pet Foods Cochrane

2. Found

3. The Social Spot Cochrane + Pop-Up Holiday Market  (on Nov. 18)

4. Kitchen Boutique

5. Mackay's Ice Cream

6. Anything Grows Cochrane Garden Center

7. Rocky View Private Health Care *at the event

Event goers are encouraged to either bring their own cup or purchase a Light Up cup as there will be no paper cups available in Historic Downtown Cochrane this year, in an effort to reduce waste.

All of the hot chocolate will be brewed off site this year and trucked into the event, something that has not been done before in Cochrane. 

There will be street entertainment throughout the event.

A full pyrotechnics show with animated lighting in tandem with music will end off the evening.

Upwards of 20,000 people gather in Historic Downtown Cochrane for the outdoor street festival, that officially kicks off the Christmas season in our community each year.

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