Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce's Business Celebration Gala is returning for a second year.

The annual event is a chance for local entrepreneurs to come together and celebrate the wider business community in style.

Executive Director Dawn LeMaistre says this year's event will recognize perseverance.

"We're celebrating our new businesses to Okotoks. Businesses who have opened in the last five years, so from January 2019 to December 2023. Really celebrating those who opened before COVID, survived, and are still functioning, those that were crazy enough to open during COVID because believe it or not, there were a bunch that did that, and then those that are feeling strong enough that they're in a position to open post-COVID. It's that element of celebrating how our business community is evolving and developing."

The chamber has a list of over 500 businesses in Foothills County that will be celebrated during the event.

Like last year, the event will be held at Sprung Structures in Aldersyde.

This year's theme is "Hollywood Glam," and LeMaistre says that will include a proper Hollywood welcome.

"We're going to have some paparazzi, red carpet, and lots of flashing lights. Come in your fancy cocktail attire, suit and tie. Bring your glitzy high-heeled shoes but bring some comfy shoes to put on later, because it is a cocktail party so it's not a sit-down dinner. So, a full cocktail party, a bit of a program, and then we'll have a fun money casino that everybody will have a chance to test their luck at."

The gala is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, and tickets are available on the Okotoks Chamber's website.