Cochrane is in for a bash like we've never seen before and the Cochrane Public Library is expecting thousands of people to attend.

The library is hosting a Book Bash on Saturday Oct. 21 that includes author visits, a bilingual magic show, photo booths, fun activities, face painting and balloon animals, food trucks and performances by premiere children's entertainer Fred Penner. Plus there are free books for all children attending.

This huge celebration has been made possible by the library being named host of the Canadian Children's Literature Festival, supported by Muller Scholastic Endowment Fund for Canadian Children’s Literature.

"Every second year they open it up to one public library across Canada and this year our library was chosen," says program librarian Andrea Johnston. "So it's not being offered anywhere else in the country except Cochrane," says Johnston. "It's a pretty big, exciting thing to have and we're thrilled."

There's activities inside and outside of the library and it runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The outside stage lineup will be kicked off at 10:15 a.m. by emceed Scottish storyteller Calum Lykan before St. Tim's drama students give a performance. Other key times to remember are 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. performances by Fred Penner, a bilingual magic show at 12 noon and author reading by Joan-Marie Galat at 2 p.m.

"We are expecting quite a crowd so for people who want to see Fred at 11 a.m. I would recommend that they try to get down right at 10," says Johnston. "There's going to be things to do, so it's not like they will be sitting around; they'll be lots of entertainment and fun going on."

Also outside will be bouncy castles, photo booth and food trucks.

Inside three children and young adult authors will be giving readings. Featured are acclaimed local author Carrie Stanton, award-winning children's author Rukhsana Khan, of Toronto, and award-winning Joan-Marie Galat, of Edmonton, from her Dot to Dot in the Sky series.

Every inch of the library is being used to host oodles of activities, including face paint and balloon animals, a photo booth with Knights and Dragons, crafts, YIC puppet shows and a treasure hunt. At the Photo Booth you'll be able to pose with members of the Iron Heart Vanguard Knights.

Joan-Marie Galat is giving three readings. She's an award winning author of more than a dozen books from Edmonton. Her kid’s titles explore astronomy, mythology, light pollution, history, and nature.

Rukhsana Khan is offering two readings and she is also an award-winning author and storyteller. She was born in Lahore, Pakistan and immigrated to Canada at the age of three. "Big Red Lollipop," one of her 12 books published to date, was chosen by the New York Public Library as one of the 100 greatest children's books in the last 100 years.

Carrie Stanton, author of "The Jewel" and "Emmie and the Fierce Dragon," will be joined by one of her illustrators, James Pantuso.

Fred Penner is an icon Canadian children's entertainer. His television show, "Fred Penner's Place," aired on CBC in Canada from 1985-97, and was seen in the United States on Nickelodeon. He continues to tour and record and has received a Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year three times: 1989, 2003 and 2015.

Scholastic Canada and the Friends of the Library are providing the free books. There's also be library swag and out of print merchandise available for purchase.