The Picnic with a Purpose event went off without a hitch on Sunday June 11, with the exception of the wildfire smoke rolling in.

Smoke blanketed High River on Sunday morning deterring some families from coming down to the 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. event at George Lane Park.

The second annual event still had hundreds of people make their way to the park to enjoy everything it had to offer including a petting zoo, games for kids and food.

The event is hosted by the Rowan House Society and welcomes other non-profit organizations to help raise awareness of what they do in and for our community.

It got underway at 11:00 a.m. at the gazebo in the park with Executive Director of Rowan House Society Linette Soldan welcoming everyone. Many of the non-profit groups that set up tents in the park to help celebrate the day were from throughout the Foothills.  Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn, Diamond Valley Deputy Mayor Brendan Kelly and High River Deputy Mayor Jamie Barton also shared their thanks and greetings with the crowd as music hit the gazebo shortly after the opening remarks.

Some of the different entertainment had the Highwood Shedders, members from the IRERI group including the Mexican, Latino and Cross-Cultural Society, solo performer Colton Conway along with the Medicine Tree Manor performers entertained the audience throughout the event.

The High River Fire Department was also on hand along with the RCMP and Protective Services.