Banff is a superb destination for celebrating New Years, where sophisticated New Year’s Eve parties, mouth watering New Year menus, and fun family activities, all combine to make 2019/20 New Years in Banff Alberta very difficult to beat.
Find a Room
For hotels in Banff, New Years is a much busier time than Christmas in Banff and early reservations are strongly recommended. Although many Banff accommodations do not offer specific packages for New Years, you can be sure that they are all open for business, and those with restaurants will generally have special dinners or festive menus available.
*Note that at this busy time you will generally find better availability for a 2 night stay or longer.
To check availability and rates at Banff hotels for New Years or other dates, click here.
NYE Party in Downtown Banff
To mark the start of 2020 there will be an outdoor family friendly party in downtown Banff between Caribou Street and Elk Street from 7pm to midnight on Dec 31 featuring an ice skating party, fire show, Indigenous stories and dance, live music, fat bike course, hot chocolate, and marshmallow roasting. The party will culminate with a countdown to 2020 and a Pyrotechnic Show at the Banff High School Field.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a special New Years hotel package or festive menu, we have featured some interesting options below.
New Years at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
For years the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has been renowned for hosting the biggest New Year’s Eve party in Banff, and December 31st 2019 will be no different. If you are thinking of visiting the Banff Springs for New Years, you should take a look at what they have planned for their New Years Gala, and indeed throughout the holiday period there is a whole host of exciting festive activities and events taking place at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, as well as several ways to spend New Years Eve itself:
New Year’s Gala – Dec 31 2019
This is Banff’s big New Years celebration – in the Van Horne Ballroom a wonderful 4 course dinner is served including wine service and a host bar, with live band, Barry Shaw and The Fairmont Banff Springs Orchestra, playing in the background. Following dinner the music becomes livelier and dancing begins for a fully fledged New Year’s Eve party until 1am, with a midnight snack buffet included. Children aged 3-12 yrs are invited to attend the New Year’s Kids Party.
6pm-1am
Cost for the whole evening $350 adults, $190 teenagers (13-17 yrs), $185 children (12 yrs and under)
Cost for dance only $185 adults, $105 teenagers (13-17 yrs)
Cost for kids party only $95 – 6pm-12.30am (3-12 yrs)
New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet at the Vermillion Room – Dec 31
A worthy feast to celebrate the last day of the year featuring local cuisine.
5-10pm in the Vermillion Room
Adults $105, Children 6-12 yrs $48
New Year’s Day Brunch – Jan 1 2020
What better way to start off 2020 than to enjoy the New Year’s day brunch buffet in the Vermillion Room? A veritable feast and, for many, a New Years institution.
11am-3pm, Adults $75, Children 6-12 yrs $38
To check room rates and availability at the Banff Springs Hotel for the holiday period click here.
For further details of all the festive activities and dining events taking place over New Years, take at look at the Banff Springs Hotel’s Christmas at the Castle Guide which you will receive when you check in.
Rimrock Resort Hotel
The Rimrock Hotel has several dining options for New Year’s Eve, including a 7 course gourmet dinner in the 5 Diamond Eden Restaurant, a five course New Years Eve menu in the Primrose Dining Room, and a family friendly Alice in Wonderland Gala including buffet dinner plus fabulous music from Duelling Pianos, sure to get you in the party spirit.
Banff Park Lodge
The Banff Park Lodge has a tradition of celebrating the Holiday Season in style, and the last day of the year will be no different:
New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet – Dec 31 2019
Your last meal of 2019, so make it a good one! Gourmet buffet in Crave Mountain Grill which the whole family will enjoy, including salads, smoked salmon, seafood platter, jumbo shrimp, charcuterie, assorted Canadian cheeses, grilled pork tenderloin medallions with wild mushroom sauce, seared chicken breast supreme filled with prosciutto & goats cheese, pan seared gnocchi with grilled vegetable ratatouille, carving station with Alberta prime rib and roast veal shoulder, plus a flambé dessert station and a chocolate fountain!
6pm-9.30pm, Adults $75, Children 6-12 yrs $45
*The above rates are subject to applicable taxes, subject to availability, subject to change without notice, and hotel room rates are generally based on double occupancy. For current information, please contact the Banff accommodations directly using the links provided.
If you are spending Xmas in Banff, you may be interested in reading our article about accommodation packages in Banff at Christmas.
If you are looking at various options in the Rockies for New Years, you may also wish to consider New Year’s Eve in Lake Louise.
If you cannot find a vacancy at a hotel in Banff for December 31, you may wish to consider spending New Year’s Eve in Canmore, just 20 minutes drive east of Banff, where room availability can often be better.
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