Nothing marks the start of Christmas season (and Christmas spirit!) in Banff quite like the Santa Claus Celebration of Lights. Formerly known as the Santa Claus Parade, on the weekend of November 16 & 17 2024 there will be a variety of festive shows and family friendly activities taking place in downtown Banff to help you get your Holiday season off to a memorable start.

Located in the heart of downtown Banff, on Banff Avenue (200 Block), the Cascade Main Stage will be the venue for a range of performances from 12pm to 7pm November 16, with the main show kicking off with Santa’s Grand Arrival at 4.45pm. Also on Banff Ave, the Kids Craft Cabin will inspire creativity with Holiday activities and crafts, including writing letters to Santa and Christmas tree ornaments (12-5pm).
For a more low key celebration away from the crowds, there will also be live entertainment and storytelling on Bear Street from 12pm to 4.30pm. Wandering between the main venues on Banff Ave, Bear St, Bison Courtyard and Caribou St, you will find more magical Christmas surprises such as sled dogs, warming hot chocolate, fire pits and marshmallow roasting.

On Sunday November 17 the festive fun continues with Storytime with Santa from 9am to 2pm on Bear Street. As well as Christmas stories read by Santa and his Elf, there will be games, singing and dancing. This is a free event however tickets are required with 30 minute time slots starting at 9am, 9.45am, 10.30am, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1pm, or 1.45pm.
Also on Bear St, the Festive Pooch Parade at 10.30am will give our furry friends the chance to dress up in festive costumes and have their own pet parade through town!

For more information, including the Main Stage line-up for Saturday visit banfflakelouise.com

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you are planning to spend Thanksgiving weekend in Banff you should consider making your Banff hotel reservation as soon as possible while there are still rooms available.
To check availability and rates at several Banff accommodations for Friday October 11, Saturday October 12 and Sunday October 13 2024, click here and enter your travel dates.

If you live in Alberta and are looking for a special hotel package for Thanksgiving weekend, you may wish to try the Alberta Resident Rate at the luxury Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Although this package is not specifically for Thanksgiving, it is available over the Thanksgiving weekend, subject to availability. This offer gives you a discount of up to 30% off the best available rate.

Although most Banff hotels are not offering Thanksgiving deals as such, there are many other properties which still have vacancies for Thanksgiving weekend. For a complete list of accommodations in Banff, please visit our hotel, motel or condos & chalets pages.

Many hotels and restaurants in Banff will be offering special menus for Thanksgiving dinner or Thanksgiving brunch.
Click here to see some great options for Thanksgiving dinner in Banff.

* The above rates are generally based on double occupancy and are subject to applicable taxes, subject to availability, and subject to change without notice. For current information and for reservations, please click on the links provided.

Easter is a excellent opportunity for a springtime visit to the Canadian Rockies. With Easter Sunday 2019 falling relatively late on April 21, there is a good chance that the weather in the town of Banff will be spring-like, while the ski and snowboard season will still be in full swing at Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Mountain Resort and Mount Norquay. Easter is also a great time to go sightseeing in Banff National Park as the views of the snow-capped peaks are stunning at this time of year, and the roads are very quiet compared to the summer months. Alternatively, strolling through the streets of downtown Banff discovering the excellent restaurants and shopping can be a fun and relaxing way to spend the Easter holiday weekend.

Banff Lodging for Easter 2019

Easter weekend is usually a busy one for hotels in Banff, and most Banff accommodations do not offer specific Easter packages or special deals. That being said, at the time of writing, availability is quite good for Easter weekend and it is recommended that you make your reservations as early as possible while there is still a wide selection of hotels to choose from. As the holiday weekend approaches, vacancies for the night of Saturday April 20 are likely to become limited, while Friday April 19 and Sunday April 21 will probably have more openings.
To check rates and availability for several Banff hotels, click here.

Skiing and Snowboarding

The Banff area is blessed with a long winter which means that by Easter the ski resorts often have some of their best snow of the whole season. Both Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Mountain Resort are open until May and Mount Norquay will also still be open for Easter weekend skiing.

Easter Sunday Brunch in Banff

One of the best things to do on Easter Sunday in Banff is to treat yourself to one of the amazing brunches offered by several hotels in town, and we have listed some of the most popular options below. These events are extremely popular and are likely to sell out, which means early reservations are strongly recommended.

Easter Sunday Brunch at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Sunday Brunch at the Banff Springs Hotel is legendary, and their Easter Brunch is no exception. In addition to the impressive breakfast and lunch specialties, there are often extra Easter themed treats which make the Easter Brunch buffet even more special. Also, the Brunch for Easter 2019 will take place in the Alberta and New Brunswick Rooms, and the Cascade Ballroom, with the buffet being located in the Riverview Lounge, which is a rare opportunity to experience these venues which are reserved for special occasions.
When: April 21 2019, 10.00-14.30
Where: Alberta & New Brunswick Rooms, Cascade Ballroom
Cost: Adults $89, Children 6-12yrs $52, 5yrs + under free
Reservations: 403 762 6860

Rimrock Resort Hotel Easter Brunch
Sunday Brunch will be offered in the Ballroom at the Rimrock Resort Hotel, and will feature a buffet with breakfast and lunch items and chef attended carving stations.
When: April 21 2019, 10.00-13.00
Where: Ballroom
Cost: Adults $49, Children 6-12yrs $21, 5yrs + under free
Reservations: 403 762 3356

Easter Sunday Brunch at the Banff Park Lodge
The Banff Park Lodge will be serving Easter Sunday Brunch in the Crave Mountain Grill from 10am to 2.30pm. The buffet includes a wide selection of breakfast and hot & cold lunch items, including omelet station, waffles, carving station & salads. Make sure you leave plenty of room for the excellent desserts and chocolate fountain!
When: April 21 2019, 10.00-14.30
Where: Crave Mountain Grill
Cost: Adults $45, Children 6-12yrs $23, 5yrs + under free
Reservations: 403 762 4433

Easter Brunch at Buffalo Mountain Lodge
On Tunnel Mountain, the sophisticated yet rustic Sleeping Buffalo Restaurant at Buffalo Mountain Lodge will be offering a delectable Easter breakfast buffet including carved bone-in ham, omelet station, French toast with apple compote, savoury bread pudding, breakfast pastries, and other tasty breakfast items.
When: April 21 2019, 08.00-12.00
Where: Sleeping Buffalo Restaurant
Cost: Adults $29
Reservations: 403 760 4484

*The above rates for Easter Sunday Brunch do not include tax and service charge.

Against the spectacular back drop of the Canadian Rockies, athletes from across North America will be competing in the sixth annual Subaru Banff Triathlon on Saturday September 12 2015. The setting for the race could not be more scenic, with the swim taking place in Two Jack Lake, the bike race around the stunning Minnewanka Loop and then into the town of Banff, followed by the run along the banks of the Bow River, with the finish on Banff Avenue in the heart of downtown Banff.

Course Distances

The race will include three distances, with the Olympic distance starting with a 1.5km swim, followed by a 38km bike ride and finishing with a 10km run, and the shorter Sprint distance including a 750m swim, 25km bike ride and 5km run. There will also be a Super Sprint distance which includes a 400m swim, 12km bike ride and 5km run. There will also be relay teams competing in all distances.

Course Map

Our interactive Banff Triathlon Map shows an overview of the full course, as well as all start and transition zones and allows you to zoom in to view detailed close ups of any section of the course. To view the Banff triathlon course map, click here.

Start Times

The race starts with the swim at Two Jack Lake with the Sprint Waves starting at 10.00am and 10.03am, the Super Sprint Waves at 10.10am and 10.13am and the Olympic Waves at 10.30am and 10.34am. With the 2012 winner of the Super Sprint completing the course in just over 56 minutes, you can expect the first racers to cross the finish line not long after 10.50am.
Previous winning times for the Olympic distance have been in the 1hr 50mins to 2hr range.

For further information about the race, visit the official race website.

Cycling enthusiasts will be flocking to Banff National Park from June 12-15 for the 2014 Bike Fest road bike racing event. Taking place over 4 exciting days, Bike Fest 2014 will comprise 5 races, 4 of which will be in and around the town of Banff, with one race starting further west in Lake Louise.
Each race course route can be seen on the Banff Bike Fest map, an interactive Google map showing all the courses as well as the start and finish areas for each event.

Cascade Shops Prologue – June 12

This is a 1.5 km steep climb with approx 100m of elevation gain starting from the corner of Buffalo Street and Otter Street, heading up Buffalo Street past Surprise Corner onto Tunnel Mountain Drive and ending at the corner of Tunnel Mountain Drive and St Julien Way, behind the Banff Centre. The race starts at 6pm and riders will start individually every 30 seconds.

Lake Louise Road Race – June 13

Starting and finishing in Lake Louise, the majority of this 64 km race takes place on the Bow Valley Parkway, Highway 1A, heading east from Lake Louise past Castle Junction as far as Johnson Canyon Campground area where racers will turn around and head west back along the Bow Valley Parkway to Lake Louise. The race starts at the Lake Louise Recreation Centre on Village Road at 9.30am for Cat 1/2 Men, 9.45am for Cat 3/4, and 10am for the Open Women category. The race finish is 1km east of the 1A Exit to Lake Louise.

Individual Time Trial (ITT) – June 14

Taking an out and back route along the scenic Vermilion Lakes Road, the Time Trial sees cyclists racing against the clock on an 8 km course starting and ending at the start of Vermilion Lakes Road off Mt Norquay Road on the edge of the town of Banff. The race starts at 8am with riders leaving every 30 seconds.

Criterium – June 14

One of the most exciting races of Bike Fest, and also one of the most popular for spectators, the Criterium involves racing multiple loops of a short 1 km circuit with tight turns and fast moving action in downtown Banff, counterclockwise along Banff Avenue, Wolf St, Beaver St and Moose St. The races kick off with the Cat 5 riders at 4.00pm who will be riding 25 laps of the course, followed at approx 4.45pm by Cat 4 racers riding 26 laps, 5.30pm Cat 3 racers riding 30 laps, 6.15pm the Open Women category riding 30 laps, and culminating in the fastest and longest race of the evening with Cat 1/2 Men racing 50 laps of the course, starting at approx 7.10pm.*
*Start times are estimated.

Little Crits & Cruiser Crit
Preceding the Criterium on June 14 are two fun bike races for anyone to join in. Starting at 2.30pm the Balkan Restaurant Little Crits gives kids up to 11 yrs the chance to race on the Criterium course while raising funds for Banff Elementary School. With the styles of bike as varied as the costumes of the riders, the Cruise for a Cause is a fund raising event which is as comical for the spectators as for the participants, starting at 3.00pm.

Tunnel Mountain Road Race – June 15

The last race of Banff National Park Bike Fest 2014, Tunnel Mountain Road Race starts from the corner of Beaver Street and Wolf Street and takes racers onto Banff Ave as far as Rocky Mountain Resort where a right turn leads uphill onto Tunnel Mountain Road which loops past the Hoodoos Lookout and Tunnel Mountain Campground, left at Buffalo Mountain Lodge onto Tunnel Mountain Drive around the back of the Banff Centre, with an exciting descent past Surprise Corner and back into town. The race is split into 3 different categories with Cat 3/4 starting at 7am, Open Women starting at 7.02am, and Cat 1/2 Men starting at 10.10am. The first 2 groups will be racing 78 km (6 laps) while the race distance for Cat 1/2 Men will be 130 km (10 laps).

To view the start and finish points for the above races as well as the routes the races will take, see the Bike Fest course map.

From January 14 to February 12 2012 Banff SnowDays winter festival will bring a whole host of exciting winter activities and events to the town of Banff and other venues in Banff National Park. Like Jasper in January, a popular annual event in Jasper Alberta, SnowDays is a chance to celebrate everything that is wonderful about winter in the Canadian Rockies. While skiing and snowboarding are already extremely popular activities for winter visitors to Banff, SnowDays introduces some new ways to enjoy and appreciate the winter months, with story telling, outdoor skating, curling, mountain films, wildlife walks, live entertainment and street hockey joining existing events and festivals such as Celebrity Ski and the Ice Magic Festival.

Banff SnowDays Events & Activities

Banff Snow Days kicks off with the Fairmont Banff Springs Celebrity Sports Invitational, otherwise known as Celebrity Ski on Thursday January 12 2012. Taking place until January 15, Celebrity Ski brings together Hollywood stars such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Alec Baldwin at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel with skiing, snowboarding and other fun events at Sunshine Village in aid of the Waterkeeper Alliance.
The same weekend, the Mountain Adventure Festival will take place on January 14 and 15 with ice climbing in downtown Banff, outdoor skating, snow carving, and mountain adventure stories.
January 20-22 sees the first weekend of the Ice Magic Festival in Lake Louise where masterpieces will be carved from huge blocks of ice, while on Jan 21 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel there’s a chance to join a free guided hike with Parks Canada to learn how to identify wildlife tracks. Kids will love meeting sled dogs on the evening of Jan 21, and on Sunday January 22 the famous Lake Louise to Banff Loppet cross country ski race will take place.
On the evening of Friday January 27 the hilarious Cardboard Sled Derby takes place at Mount Norquay and on Janury 28 and 29 the second weekend of the Ice Magic Festival takes place with an emphasis on family fun for the Little Chippers. Also on Jan 28 is a talk about bear safety courtesy of Parks Canada, and that night you’ll have the opportunity to join the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada for an evening of star gazing.
Saturday February 4 sees the Dave Irwin Dash for Cash at Sunshine Village, free snowshoeing lessons at the Fairmont Banff Springs golf course, and fireside stories about Norman Sanson at the Banff Park Museum. On Sunday February 5 visit the Mary Schaffer Story Tent to hear historical stories about early explorations in Banff National Park.
For something completely different, on the final weekend of Banff SnowDays, why not go and see the Victorian Soldier Drumming and Firing Demonstration on the evening of Friday February 10. One of the highlights of Banff Snow Days 2012 has to be the street ball hockey tournament taking place on Banff Avenue throughout the day on February 11 and 12, and for a historical perspective on Canada’s national game there’s also the opportunity to see a Victorian Hockey Demonstration on Feb 11 at the Banff Community High School Outdoor Rink.

The above SnowDays activities are just a small selection of what’s on offer throughout this exciting winter festival, and you will find a full schedule of events by visiting www.banfflakelouise.com.

Find a Banff Hotel

In general, Banff hotels do not offer special packages or deals specifically for SnowDays, however if you need accommodations during this winter festival you can simply click here and enter your dates to see rates and availability for a selection of hotels in Banff.

If you are planning to celebrate New Years in the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise is well worth having on your shortlist of potential destinations. With attractive hotel packages, awe inspiring scenery, and world class skiing on your doorstep, New Years in Lake Louise is sure to provide an experience to remember.
If you are looking for a New Year package at a Lake Louise hotel, we have listed some interesting options below:

New Years at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Surrounded by magnificent views on the shore of Lake Louise, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise boasts an idyllic location for any occasion, and will indeed be a memorable place to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2012. Throughout the Christmas and New Year period the hotel is offering a special Holiday Package which includes your hotel accommodation, one sleigh ride per stay, daily breakfast, and self parking. The package is valid from December 1 2012 to January 17 2013 with rates starting at $329 per room per night.

In true Fairmont style, the Chateau Lake Louise has a wide variety of fun activities and events taking place during the holiday period, with several options for both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day:

New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet – December 31
In the Victoria Ballroom, a family friendly New Year’s Eve dinner buffet will be offered on December 31 2012.
5.30-6.30pm first seating (recommended for families)
8.00-9.00pm second seating
Adults $89, Children 6-12 yrs $44.50

New Year’s Eve Family Fair – December 31
A special party for the children in the Mount Temple Wing with face painting, balloon artist, bouncy castle and other exciting kids’ entertainment. Kids must be accompanied by parents.
7.30-10.30pm

Fairview Dining Room – December 31
An adult only New Years celebration featuring a four course New Year’s Eve menu.
5.30-10.00pm
Adults $99

Glacier Saloon – December 31
See in 2013 in a fun pub style atmosphere in the Glacier Saloon, including a live DJ. (not recommended for children)
10pm-2am

Lakeview Lounge – December 31
A sophisticated venue for enjoying your favorite drink and celebrating New Year’s Eve.
9pm-12.30am

New Year’s Day Brunch – January 1
For your first meal of 2013, the famous New Year brunch at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is sure to please the whole family, with an impressive buffet including children’s specialties, taking place in the Victoria Dining Room.
1st Seating 10.00-11.00am
2nd Seating 12.30-1.30pm
Adults $59, Children 6-12 yrs $29.50

As well as the dining options above, there is a whole host of festive activities taking place at the Chateau Lake Louise on December 31 and January 1 including Ice Walks, Snowshoeing, Cross Country Skiing, Mitten Making, and a Children’s Pool Party.

New Year at the Lake Louise Inn

At the time of writing, the Lake Louise Inn still has rooms available over the New Year period. To check current availability and rates, click here.
If you are interested in a special package, the Lake Louise Inn also has a 1 night deal for New Years, which includes accommodation for one night, plus a New Year’s Eve dinner buffet for 2 adults. This package is valid for arrivals on December 31 only and rates start at $219.

Deer Lodge New Year’s Eve

Deer Lodge is offering a one night special package for New Year’s Eve. The New Year’s Eve Extravaganza Package includes accommodations for one night, plus a gala dinner with a glass of sparkling wine and DJ entertainment on December 31 and a buffet breakfast on New Year’s Day, with rooms starting at $394.
To check room only availability at Deer Lodge click here.

*The above rates are generally based on double occupancy, are subject to applicable taxes, subject to availability, and subject to change without notice. To check current rates and availability please use the links provided.

On Saturday April 9 from 7-9pm, the opening reception for the exhibition White Mountain will take place in the Main Gallery at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff Alberta. The exhibition is a tribute to artist Phil (Gaspar) Michaud (1935 – 2010) who lived and painted in Banff from 1964 to 2001. The exhibition, which runs from April 9 to June 12 2011, documents the journey of an artist from the prairies, through the foothills, to the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, and features Phil’s last body of work “White Mountain”.

Also opening the same evening is the exhibition Reckonings: Michael Cameron & Karen Maiolo, featuring the work of 2 contemporary Bow Valley artists.

Short opening speeches introducing both exhibitions will take place in the Main Gallery around 7pm.

For more information about these and other exhibitions at the Whyte Museum, visit www.whyte.org

After treating festival goers to 9 days of awe inspiring speakers, seminars, and the very best in mountain films and literature, the 2010 Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival came to an end on Sunday November 7th.

For those of you who missed the announcement of the Best of the Festival award winners on Sunday evening, here is a list of the 2010 award winning films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival:

Grand Prize: Mi Chacra
Directed and produced by Jason Burlage
Set in the Peruvian Andes, this film documents a year in the life of Feliciano who lives in a farming community above the Sacred Valley, and works both as a farmer and as a porter on the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Like many in his rural village, he struggles with the lure of seeking a better life for himself and his family in the city.

Best Film on Exploration and Adventure: Crossing the Ditch
Produced by Greg Quail and Douglas Howard
Raw adventure as two friends attempt to be the first people to successfully cross the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand by kayak.

Best Film on Mountain Culture: A Life Ascending
Directed and produced by Stephen Grynberg
Set in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, this stunning and emotional film brings us an up-close and personal view of the lives of mountain guide Ruedi Beglinger and family who operate a backcountry ski mecca based out of the Durrand Glacier Chalet.

Best Film on Mountain Environment: L’Eau Qui Fait Tourner La Roue
Directed and produced by Jean-François Amiguet
An almost mesmerizing experience showing the intricate operations of an over 100 year old watermill in Switzerland and the beautiful simplicity of the life of Monsieur Cristinel who still operates the sawmill approaching 90 years of age.

Best Film on Climbing: The Asgard Project
Directed and produced by Alastair Lee
High adrenaline, stunning cinematography and hilariously entertaining characters find epic rock climbing in Spain, Italy and California before arriving at Baffin Island in Canada’s Arctic with the goal of making the first free ascent of the north face of Mt Asgard, one of the world’s toughest rock walls.

Best Film on Mountain Sports: Eastern Rises
Directed by Ben Knight and produced by Travis Rummel
An amusing film about fly fishing in the remote and wild landscape of the far east of Russia.

Best Short Mountain Film: The Longest Way
Directed and produced by Christoph Rehage
A year long walk through China compressed into a 5 minute film.

Best Feature Length Mountain Film: Summer Pasture
Directed and produced by Lynn True and Nelson Walker
Set in eastern Tibet, this film chronicles one summer in the life of a nomadic family and the challenges that modern life presents to their culture and traditions.

People’s Choice Award: A Life Ascending
Directed and produced by Stephen Grynberg
Set in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, this stunning and emotional film brings us an up-close and personal view of the lives of mountain guide Ruedi Beglinger and family who operate a backcountry ski mecca based out of the Durrand Glacier Chalet.

Radical Reels People’s Choice Award: Dream Result
Directed and produced by Rush Sturges and Tyler Bradt
High adrenaline paddling in Canada, Chile and Scandanavia.

Special Jury Award: Fly or Die
Produced by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen
Free solo climbing and base jumping with Dean Potter.

Special Jury Award: Cross Country Snowboarding
Directed by Adam Brodie and produced by Geoff McLean
Hilarious short film about Nordic snowboarding.

Award for Creative Excellence: Salt
Directed and produced by Michael Angus and Murray Fredericks
Photographer, Murray Fredericks, camps out in isolation on Lake Eyre in Southern Australia to find inspiration from the 360 degree horizon and featureless landscape, which results in stunning cinematography, photography and an interesting glimpse into Murray’s own life.

Audio Post-Production Award: A Life Ascending
Directed and produced by Stephen Grynberg