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Watch golf balls spin out of a cement truck at roll to the hole at Nose Creek park 11 am head to the rodeo for the afternoon performance bring your blanket to Nose Creek park for the fireworks at dusk

JulY 7

Girletz rodeo ranch, located just west of Airdrie, will be hosting the 16th rogers Chomp & stomp. for the fifth consecutive year, proceeds from this event are going to the Kids Cancer Care foundation of Alberta. The goal this year is to raise $100,000. To purchase tickets, visit www.Chompandstomp.ca

AuGust 7

2nd annual batting Against breast Cancer slo-pitch Tournament at Chinook Winds

AuGust 31 rocky View school Division’s kids hop back on the bus. Moms everywhere jump for joy

Getting behind a shopping cart, standing in long lines to buy the weekly staples of life, can be a tedious chore at the best of times. We all accept it and expect to find what we’re looking for, maybe brightened by the odd surprise, but rarely find something new, original and creative.

These days, the personal shopping experience generally lacks imagination and inspiration, let alone much of a human touch.

That is unless you seek out handmade products, homemade foods and, most likely, a smile, a genuine thank you and a story behind what you are buying.

Enter into the picture the Airdrie Farmers Market. Right here in your own backyard you can find handcrafted products, fresh foods and something new every week.

“This is more of an event than it is just a place to buy fruit and vegetables,” says market manager Candice Kolson.

Looking for a place to sell her own handcrafted goods, Kolson last year took over the reins of the market, which has become a hotspot for downhome shopping every Wednesday.

“I took it over on the premise if I could get 10 vendors I would make a go of it. Then by the second day after opening week, we had 60,” she says.

“Airdrie really needed something. The response was there from the vendors and as well from the shoppers.”

After bouncing around for years at several different locations, the Airdrie Farmers Market landed a home in 2009 at the Airdrie Legion, which has room for 80 vendors.

“Without the Airdrie Legion there is no way that this market would have ever been as successful last year. We owe everything to the Airdrie Legion,” Kolson says.

Tents line the parking lot with food products and crafts and, with many more unique offerings indoors, the bazaar has become a weekly staple for many shoppers.

“It really is [somewhere] that you have to slow down and take your time and treat like an event, not just a quick run-through superstore. It’s an event to be enjoyed,” she says.

Topping the popularity charts for the fresh food fanatics are: Souto Farms, a family-run fruit farm; My Bread with fresh-baked products and dips; Innisfail Growers, a central Alberta produce co-op offering all types of vegetables; Tim’s Gourmet Pizza with homemade crusts, sauces and even a gluten-free pizza; Dietz Meats with everything from bacon to jerky; Pearson’s Berry Farm out of Bowden; Ukrainian Fine Foods specializing in cabbage rolls; Spragg’s Meat Shop with free-range pork products; River Rock Fudge; Neudorf Hutterite Colony; Harrison Farms; and many more.

“The people are thrilled. They’re coming for eggs, vegetables, fruit, breads and their basics,” says Kolson, adding that with the recent con-