🌄 Foothills Scoop

👋 Hey neighbours!
This week is a bit of a weather rollercoaster—mild and windy to start, then turning sharply colder with snow midweek. It’s also a solid mix of cozy community events, family-friendly library fun, and a couple of bigger “dress up and get out” nights to close the week. Here’s what’s confirmed across Okotoks, High River, Diamond Valley, and Longview for Dec 15–19.

✨ In Today’s Edition
🏛️ Foothills County business: council meeting + key deadlines
🎶 A festive acoustic concert night in Okotoks
🥂 Big Friday night: High River’s Holiday Gala + live music in Okotoks

🟡 Foothills County: council meeting set for Dec 17 + development permit appeal deadline Dec 18
Foothills County has its next Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Dec 17 at 9:00 a.m., with the agenda posted online. Also note: the County’s Development Permit Notices page shows an appeal deadline of Thursday, Dec 18 at 4:30 p.m. for current notices—useful if you track local land-use activity.

🎄 High River Chamber Holiday Gala supports youth scholarships (and it’s a big “out on the town” night)
High River’s inaugural Chamber Holiday Gala is happening Friday night at the Highwood Centre, with dinner/tapas from local food partners, live music, and a silent auction. Proceeds support the Chamber Youth Scholarship program for Foothills grads heading into trades or post-secondary. If you’re looking for one marquee community night this week, this is it.

☕ Okotoks Chamber brings the business community together for a Christmas Brunch Social
Midweek networking gets a festive twist with a Chamber Christmas Brunch Social at The George Traditional House. It’s a practical “meet your neighbours (and their businesses)” moment during a busy season—and an easy way to support local without needing a big time commitment.

• ☕ Parents’ Coffee & Playgroup Time — Mon, Dec 15, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Sheep River Library (Diamond Valley). A relaxed drop-in for parents of young children with coffee, snacks, and playtime for little ones. Free and welcoming for new faces.

• 🎨 Holiday Crafting (Ages 2–6) — Mon, Dec 15, 1:30–2:30 p.m., Vulcan Lodge Hall (Vulcan). A parented program with holiday crafts, songs, and stories for young children. Registration required.

• 🎶 Acoustic Nights: Christmas Edition (FREE) — Tue, Dec 16, 7:00–9:00 p.m., Old Church Theatre (Okotoks). A cozy all-ages night of festive music and local talent—great “bring a friend” vibes.

• 🧒 STREAM: Ugly Sweater Ornaments (kids) — Tue, Dec 16, 2:30–3:15 p.m., High River Library. A crafty afternoon for kids—registration required.

• ♣️ Legion Night at the Elks (Games Night) — Tue, Dec 16, 7:00–9:00 p.m., Okotoks Elks. Weekly games night (Euchre, darts, dominoes, and more).

• ☕ Okotoks Chamber Christmas Brunch Social — Wed, Dec 17, 9:00–11:00 a.m., The George Traditional House (Okotoks). Brunch + networking with local business owners (ticketed).

• 🏛️ Foothills County Council Meeting — Wed, Dec 17, 9:00 a.m., Foothills County (agenda posted online). For anyone tracking rural issues, budgets, roads, or development topics.

• ☕ Afternoons for Adults — Thu, 2:00–3:00 p.m., High River Library. Casual conversation and optional activities—drop-in friendly.

• 📚 Thursday Night Book Club (date exception) — Thu, Dec 18, 6:00–7:30 p.m., High River Library. The listing shows this special date/time shift for December.

• ✍️ Foothills Writers Group — Thu, Dec 18, 6:00–8:00 p.m., Okotoks Public Library. A free, drop-in evening for adult writers of all levels to share work, connect, and support one another’s creative journey.

• 🛠️ Open Makerspace — Fri, Dec 19, 2:00–6:00 p.m., High River Library. Hands-on tinkering time in the makerspace—great after-school option.

• 🥂 2025 Holiday Gala (High River Chamber) — Fri, Dec 19, 5:30 p.m., Highwood Centre (High River). Dinner, live music, silent auction—and it supports youth scholarships.

• 🎸 LIVE MUSIC: Winter Wonderland with Kelsey Raine — Fri, Dec 19, 7:00–11:00 p.m., Hub Town Brewing (Okotoks). Friday night live music in the taproom—reserve a seat if you can.

Expect a dramatic swing: very windy Monday, then cooler Tuesday, then snow + colder temps Wednesday, with deep cold settling in by Friday.

• 🎁 Holiday nights out — Between the Chamber Gala in High River and live music in Okotoks, a lot of folks are picking “one big night” to dress up and get out before the deep cold arrives.

👉 That’s your Foothills week ahead.

From council decisions and community gatherings to live music and a dressed-up night out in High River, there’s plenty happening across the Foothills before the cold really settles in. Thanks for reading — and if you know of a confirmed local event coming up, feel free to pass it along so we can share it with the community.