In Town Cochrane Adventures
Cochrane has all the amenities of a large city but retains its small-town charm where everyone feels like part of the community. Residents within the town also have the convenience of enjoying activities nearby throughout the year.
If you’re looking for sports and physical activities, the SLS Centre in Town is one of the largest multi-use facilities in Alberta. Spanning approximately 325,000 feet, it includes “four ice arenas, aquatic, curling, gymnastics and fitness centers, a climbing wall, indoor turf, gymnasium, indoor track, high-performance sports training facility, physiotherapy, a preschool, and many other physical and social well-being programs.” The SLS Centre offers registration-based fitness and athletic programs for all ages and interests throughout the year as well as drop-in-passes so you can spend the day with family enjoying its many activities.
For a hometown movie experience without the long lineups of traditional box theatres, Cochrane Movie House provides the perfect experience for moviegoers. With cozy seating, big Hollywood movies as well as smaller arts and specialty films, the theatre has something to fit every age and interest. It is a popular destination for birthday parties and special event bookings, and local Cochrane residents have shared that the theatre has the best tasting movie-style popcorn!
Cochrane Public Library is an ideal location to spend the day learning. The library acts as a community hub with friendly staff, programming, and special events for all ages. The library features a large collection of books, DVDs, video games, and a special equipment loaning catalogue that offers power and gardening tools, outdoor equipment and games, science equipment, board games, puzzles, life jackets, and even a seed library where members can “checkout” seeds in spring, grow and plant them over summer, and return harvested seeds into circulation in the fall for others to enjoy.
Learn about Cochrane’s local history by experiencing the “history of Canada’s West through the eyes of settlers, ranchers, and farmers” at the Cochrane Historical Museum. The museum is open through spring, summer, and fall and features exhibits that highlight historical living and rich stories from the past. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed for the Cochrane Historical & Archival Presentation Society.
Keeping to the theme of Cochrane’s history, a stroll through historic downtown evokes similar nostalgia of the old-time buildings at Heritage Park. Preserved to reflect the early 1900’s era, enjoy a cold beer at Texas Gate Bar and Grill, pick up some old-fashioned candy at Horse Creek, sink your teeth into a delectable burger at Fence & Post, and don’t forget to stop by MacKay’s ice cream parlor where small batches of handcrafted ice cream feature flavours that change throughout the year. Traditional favourites and unique flavours like durian, purple yam, kulfi, haskap berry are sure to be a delight!
From June to September, the local Cochrane Farmers’ Market has vendors every Saturday selling their specialty and local goods. Pick up some fresh produce and local treats and enjoy a beautiful stroll along the Bow River.
Cochrane Public Library Special Loaning Collection