Weekend itineraries: a rural weekend

South Cooking Lake is celebrating its 100^th anniversary on Saturday and they have a ton of things planned to help celebrate! Things are starting with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. and continue with the Trail Days parade, car show, petting zoo, Indigenous experiences, amongst many other things. Check out the South Cooking Lake Community League Facebook page for more information.

Since we’re celebrating rural this weekend, another way to do that is by eating at a restaurant with a rural connection – 70 Acre Brew Co! The beer they brew has barley that they source from their family farm, which is where this locally-owned brewery gets its name from. Make sure to check out their great patio space as well while you’re there.

Another great way to get out and support local producers is by checking out Open Farm Days. This province-wide event has six local spots for you to check out, along with a roadside stand driving tour! Here's a sample of what you can expect at each location - there are too many activities at each place to list them all here!

• Barr Estate Winery has winery tours and an artisan market on Saturday and Sunday
• Blooms on 7 has garden tours and a u-pick available but pre-registration is required.
• Dreamcatcher Nature Assisted Therapy is giving animal therapy demonstrations and hayrides on Sunday
• The Mennonite Heritage Farm is doing wagon rides and a vintage car show. There’s a concert on Sunday for a fee. Activities on Saturday and Sunday.
• Pierogerie Farm is giving free guided farm tours and serving pierogi and cabbage rolls for a fee. Saturday only.
• The Roadside Stand Tour is taking place in the Ardrossan area and organized by Experience Alberta. There are seven stops along the way with plenty to see and experience in the rural part of Strathcona County. There’s also a passport game that’s going to be running during the tour. Sunday only.

For more information about what’s taking place at each location, visit the Open Farm Days website.

If you're looking for other things to do this weekend, head to our tourism pages for more suggestions of ways to support local and find your adventure in Strathcona County.