With the first official day of fall this weekend it's only fitting the Town celebrates it with Harvest Fest.

Families can learn about the harvest season and take in horse drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo, and old fashioned carnival games.

Mark Doherty, Community Events Coordinator for the Town, says new this year at Harvest Fest they are having a fruit collection.

"It came up at a council meeting the concern from the local community about the deer population, particularly this time of year when they get into the lying fruits of the trees, so we're actually doing a fruit collection at Harvest Fest. There will be green bins and you can bring your fruit there and other people can take it home and share their recipes, clean up the refuge of fruit on the ground that's going to attract the deer, and share it with their neighbours."

Aside from bringing local families together, the event also acts as a fundraiser for the United Way in Okotoks.

Cindy Gibson, Chair of the United Way Committee Okotoks, says the money they raise goes back into the community.

"This year in 2018 we were able to support 10 different agencies within our town and give over $90,000 back to those agencies. What's really exciting for us when we partner with the Town for Harvest Fest and our other events is every dollar that we raise in Okotoks stays in Okotoks."

The event is free on Saturday and goes from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Ethel Tucker Park.

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