Whether you are new to Cochrane or a long-standing community member, the Cochrane Trade Show is the perfect place to find out all our town has to offer.

For 36 years the Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce hosts a two-day event that sees thousands of people pass through the gate.

Bill Popplewell, President of the Chamber of Commerce, says this year 145 booths including roughly 30 not for profit organizations will be represented offering something for everyone. "There are all kinds of small, midsize and a couple of big corporate groups and I think you will find something of everything."

The trade show will take over the curling centre pad as well as Totem 1 arena; Popplewell says once you park your vehicle you will be able to walk around and find good deals, meet new people and learn about some businesses and meet the faces behind them. "I think that is a really important part of shop local is our business people need to have there face out in front of people because if you go elsewhere to shop your usually going to big stores and then you will never find a face you know."

Kids entertainment will also be offered on both days. "The Town of Cochrane will have their Fun Van as part of that and around lunchtime, 12 to 2, we'll have a kids petting zoo both days, there also is a face painter or alternatively she will tie you some kind of balloon animal and on one of the days there will also be a magic show. There is a good mixture of things for kids."

Admission to enter the trade show is $2 a person, ages 12 and under are free and if a family has up to 6 people it is $5; proceeds from the show go to support a couple of community initiatives. "What we do with the proceeds from the trade show and the gate is we support three scholarships at the three high schools in Cochrane and if there are more dollars that come in we support the Food Bank, so we don't keep all the money we turn it back into things in the community."

The Cochrane Trade Show runs this Saturday (May 5) from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday (10 am to 4 pm) at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.