The Spirit of Okotoks Parade and Children's Festival is preparing to take over downtown Okotoks on Saturday.

The day will kick off with a pancake breakfast by the Lions Club for a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family from 8:00- 10:00 a.m. in the Sears parking lot with proceeds going to the Okotoks Food Bank.

Beginning at the east end of North Railway St. the parade will start at 11:00 a.m. before the festival gets underway at noon.

Janette Messer, programs and events manager with the Town of Okotoks, say there's a special theme for the parade.

"The theme for this year's parade is 'Okotoks Rocks' because of the Grand Slam of Curling but of course we still have the Big Rock and as everyone knows Okotoks rocks as a community."

Keeping up with the theme, Okotokian and Olympic curling bronze medallist Shannon Kleibrink will be the parade marshal.

Messer says there'll be a good turn out of entries for the parade.

"We're anticipating up to 100 entries so that's a really good show," she says. "We do have room for additional entries so if you just send an email to events@okotoks.ca then we can help you get sorted and if anyone wants further information they can check it out at okotoks.ca."

This year the Town is focusing on child safety at the festival and Messer recommends people take a photo of their children on their cell phone when they arrive at the event, this way parents will have a reference of exactly what their child is wearing in case they get lost.

A map for the parade route can be found by clicking here.

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