Fun and festivities will be popping up in Okotoks once again. The fourth annual Pop Up in the Park is Aug. 18 at Minue Park in Westmount from noon to 3 p.m. and it’s full of family-friendly entertainment. “The whole idea around Pop Up in the Park is to have an event that is outside of the downtown core, thereby involving different segments of our community,” said Okotoks culture and heritage manager Allan Boss. “You don’t have to go anywhere - we come to you.” Each year, the event takes place at a different community park to attract audiences from the surrounding residential areas, but everyone is welcome to attend. “It’s just a really fun little community-based activity that brings in folks and promotes a sense of neighbourhood,” Boss said. “[Neighbours] might not normally have the opportunity to meet each other.” The event is free to attend. “It’s really casual,” said Boss. “We’re right by a playground, so you can come and hang out and have a hot dog, play a game, or listen to the music and dance around - its just a good, fun afternoon in the park.” The event will feature live music, activities, and booths where service groups will have the opportunity to provide information about what they do. “Every year we try to focus on local entertainment and local service groups, it’s really a homegrown event… it’s something that’s pretty unique.” This year, musician Brettyn Rose is one of the performers. Rose is a singer/songwriter who calls Okotoks home. She is excited to be performing acoustic-pop originals and covers at the event and to connect with the audience through music. “That’s what’s most important to me,” said Rose. “I love telling a story with my music… when I write a song, I connect with the way [an experience] affected my life, but the audience can connect to it in a way they’ve been affected by a situation. Rose will be performing alongside musicians Colleen McClurg and Chelsey Cherkas, as well as with magician Christopher Cool. She said she is always impressed by the talent within the community. “There’s always such a variety of music and entertainment at every event,” she said. “It’s going to be a beautiful park, it’s hopefully going to be beautiful weather, it’s a great event for families and something to do on a lovely summer day.”
