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Compiled by the Street Journey Alberta staff
Final up to date on November 19, 2022
With towering snow-capped mountain peaks, effervescent scorching springs, and idyllic winter scenes in all places you look, Banff Nationwide Park is a magical place to spend the vacations. Yearly, Banff townsite is remodeled right into a winter wonderland full with all types of actions that the entire household can get pleasure from together with sleigh rides, Christmas markets, carol singers, Christmas crafts, and photograph ops with Santa.
So why not mount these winter tires, head west, and uncover all that Christmas in Banff has to supply?
Celebrating Christmas in Banff Nationwide Park
Banff Nationwide Park is the crown jewel of the Canadian Rockies, and Banff at Christmas is a sight to behold. The ski resorts turn out to be nearly unrecognizable when the Christmas decorations come out, and there’s a ton of additional particular vacation magic in each Banff and the close by hamlet of Lake Louise all through the vacation season. How about taking a horse-drawn sleigh experience in each Banff and Lake Louise with that particular somebody?
Strive ice skating and visiting the ice citadel on the long-lasting Lake Louise, or maybe wander round downtown Banff, admiring the colorful decorations that adorn Banff Ave. How about some winter mountaineering? Many hikes in Banff are much more lovely as soon as they’re lined in snow. And the proper solution to finish the day? Take a soak in Banff Higher Sizzling Springs, or sip on a scorching chocolate in entrance of a hearth discovered alongside the Banff festive scorching chocolate path.
No matter tickles your fancy, you gained’t be disillusioned should you select to spend this Christmas in Banff.
Discovering the Greatest Christmas Lights in Banff Nationwide Park
Nothing screams Christmas extra loudly than twinkling lights. Banff’s Christmas lights will be loved at dozens of places, however anybody visiting Banff at Christmas can let you know there are a number of locations that stand among the many relaxation. Listed below are only a few the place locations you’ll be able to take a look at lovely Christmas lights in Banff.
Cascade of Time Backyard
The Cascade of Time Backyard will be discovered alongside Cave Avenue in Banff city. Throughout the Christmas season, an interactive vacation expertise known as In Search of Christmas Spirit descends upon the backyard to inform a fascinating story of appreciation instructed from the perspective of the wildlife that calls Banff Nationwide Park residence. Illuminated sculptures, rows of lights, and reasonable sound results full the expertise. In Search of Christmas Spirit runs on choose days from November 23 till the tip of December, and tickets will be bought on-line. Costume heat, because the occasion is totally outdoor.
Downtown Banff
Because the outlets, eating places, and resorts that line the streets of downtown Banff mild up, so you’ll certainly discover your festive spirit as you wander up and down the lanes and avenues. Sip on a scorching drink as you admire the twinkling lights, or munch on a Beaver Tail, a real Canadian basic. Banff Avenue is a good place to start out.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Nothing screams Banff Christmas greater than the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, it lights up inside and outside in the course of the vacation season. On the garden, towering bushes sparkle in shades of blue, inexperienced, and pink. In the primary foyer, a big, absolutely decked-out Christmas tree sits beneath a shocking chandelier. Whereas spending the night time generally is a bit costly, it prices nothing to go to the Chateau merely to admire the lights and it’s a surefire solution to get into the Christmas spirit. Fairmont’s location proper on Lake Louise simply provides to its magnificence and surprise.
Fairmont Banff Springs Lodge
Much like the Fairmont Chateau, the Fairmont Banff Springs Lodge transforms into an enchanted Christmas citadel and includes a spectacular mild show in the course of the Christmas season. If staying on the resort breaks the financial institution, you’ll be able to nonetheless benefit from the lights on the resort’s winter occasion, Christmas At The Fortress.
The CP Vacation Practice
Seeing the lit-up CP Vacation Practice is magical because it makes its approach throughout Canada. The practice departs Montreal on November 27 and heads west in the direction of Vancouver, making dozens of stops alongside the way in which. The decked-out practice strives to unfold consciousness and garner help for meals banks throughout Canada. For 2022, the practice stops in Banff on December thirteenth at 7:00pm on the Banff Practice Station. Don’t miss out on the free reside leisure from MacKenzie Porter and Virginia to Vegas.
Visiting the Banff Christmas Markets
There are fairly a number of Banff Christmas markets to see in the course of the festive season! Should you’re planning to spend Christmas in Banff, yow will discover that good last-minute vacation present at any of those markets.
Banff Christmas Market
The Banff Christmas Market runs each weekend from November 18th till December 4th and is loaded with over 100 artisanal distributors, reside leisure, and loads of Christmas treats to eat and drink across the outside fireplace pit. Tickets should be pre-purchased however are solely $10 per individual, and youngsters underneath 10 years outdated are free. The market grounds will be discovered at Warner Stables.
Bear Road Vacation Market
The Bear Road Vacation Market will be discovered proper within the coronary heart of Banff and is a necessary slice of a Banff Christmas. Flick through the stalls and help native artisans and distributors to seek out the proper items, pattern signature Banff treats, after which prime off your day by having fun with a scrumptious dinner at any of the eating places that dot Banff Avenue. The Bear Road Vacation Market runs from December 10 – 31 on choose dates, so verify the hyperlink above!
Christmas Carols, Performs, and Live shows in Banff
Carols on the Park
There may be nothing like Christmas carols to get you within the vacation spirit, and this further particular Christmas live performance, held in Banff Avenue Sq. on a number of Saturday nights from November by way of to January (see the schedule right here) guarantees to not disappoint.
Nation Christmas Dinner
The Brewster Nation Christmas Dinner is an excellent enjoyable solution to expertise Christmas cheer and the country nation attraction Alberta is understood for. Friends start on the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and climb aboard a horse-drawn sleigh for a magical experience to the barn the place you may be greeted by a reside band taking part in nation Christmas music. Deliver the entire household and revel in a home-cooked Christmas dinner, and perhaps even discover ways to line dance. The dinner is being supplied on December 23, 28 and thirtieth. Get your tickets earlier than they promote out!
The place to Discover Santa in Banff
Santa has been recognized to spend time at Lake Louise and Banff at Christmas. You will discover him on the Banff Springs or the Chateau Lake Louise, however listed below are a number of of his different favorite native hangouts the place you would possibly simply be fortunate sufficient to see him.
Atop Sulphur Mountain
How a few go to to Santa atop a mountain? Expertise a Mountaintop Christmas by taking the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain. A shocking hike in the course of the summer time months, the ascent is way simpler in the course of the cooler months because of the Banff Gondola. Take within the breathtaking surroundings as you experience the gondola to the mountain peak, the place you’ll find Santa’s Bakeshop, photograph ops, and lots extra for all ages to get pleasure from. The Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain runs on Saturdays and Sundays solely in the course of the month of November, however begins every day runs on December nineteenth and goes till the thirtieth.
Tickets are beneficial prematurely and will be booked on-line.
Santa’s Home and Reindeer Stables
A photograph op with Santa is a type of must-do Christmas actions, and households visiting Banff at Christmas time head to Santa’s Home and Reindeer Stables to just do that. You will discover him at Warner Stables in the course of the Christmas Markets.
Santa Claus Parade
**Cancelled for 2022**
No Christmas in Banff Nationwide Park is full with out a go to to Banff city to see the Santa Clause Parade. Santa and his elves will likely be tossing sweet canes down Banff Ave from Elk Road to Buffalo Road. Youngsters will even get the possibility to take their image with Santa and inform him all their Christmas needs. It’s a type of good Banff Christmas actions.
Santa on the Slopes
Should you’re planning to hit up a ski resort throughout your Banff Christmas, you would possibly simply be fortunate sufficient to identify the Large Man amongst lots of of different Santas hitting the slopes on the times main as much as Christmas Day, even on Christmas Eve. You additionally could catch him and Mrs. Claus freely giving sweet canes close to the chairlifts or all through the resorts.
Santa on the Slopes is a standard a part of a mountaintop Christmas, going down yearly at Sunshine Village.
Christmas Procuring in Banff
It needs to be simple to seek out that good present at Christmas at any of Banff’s picturesque vacation shops. Merely wander downtown and pop into all of the completely different outlets and markets.
Spirit of Christmas Retailer
Anybody looking for Christmas spirit and people good Christmas items can discover them at Banff’s well-known Christmas retailer, The Spirit of Christmas. Positioned on Banff Avenue, right here yow will discover these good festive dishes for Christmas dinner, lovely trinkets that invite the vacation spirit into your own home, and that particular present for your beloved to unwrap on Christmas Day.
Different fashionable outlets for Christmas procuring in Banff are:
- Cool as a Moose – They’re Canada’s #1 Memento retailer and have distinctive clothes and items for all ages.
- Branches – In search of the proper genuine handmade Banff memento? You’ll certainly discover it right here. Branches have artwork, playing cards, stickers, mugs, present units, and anything you’re searching for.
- Rocky Mountain Cleaning soap Firm – Strolling in you’ll love the odor. Right here you’ll discover pure soaps and different skincare merchandise made proper within the Canadian Rockies.
Different Christmas Occasions and Actions in Banff
There’s a lot to do in Banff in the course of the Christmas season. Be sure you take a look at these different options that can certainly carry vacation cheer.
Sleigh Rides
A non-public horse-drawn sleigh experience with your beloved is the final word solution to have fun Christmas within the Canadian Rockies. Wrap your self in a heat blanket and take within the surroundings of the magical winter wonderland that’s on the Banff valley aspect throughout a 40-minute tour.
Cross Nation and Downhill Snowboarding
There are 3 foremost ski resorts in Banff Nationwide Park that are among the greatest for Alberta snowboarding and are famend all over the world. But in addition the cross nation snowboarding is a type of Banff winter actions that simply don’t get sufficient credit score. What higher solution to get your coronary heart fee up than admiring the fantastic thing about your environment on a quiet forest path?
Skating
Do you know that you may ice skate on Lake Louise? Ice skating is the quintessential winter exercise, and in the course of the winter months, the long-lasting blue Lake Louise, simply outdoors the Fairmont Chateau, freezes stable, permitting guests to spend Christmas day ice skating, surrounded by towering peaks. One other fashionable skating selection is Lake Minnewanka or Spray Lakes Provincial Park (20 minutes from Canmore).
Hike Tunnel Mountain
There’s no scarcity of mountaineering trails within the Canadian Rockies, and mountaineering in the course of the winter gives a completely new perspective on the fantastic thing about Banff. Tunnel mountain is one among Banff’s hottest hikes, and is normally accessible in the course of the winter as properly.
Canine Sledding
It’s exhilarating to be whisked by way of the snow and bushes being pulled by a staff of canine. Banff at Christmas is the proper alternative to offer canine sledding a strive should you’ve by no means accomplished it earlier than.
Sizzling Chocolate Path
Talking of scorching chocolate, Banff and Lake Louise’s scorching chocolate path is an absolute must-do for anybody spending Christmas in Banff or Lake Louise. From November to January 1, Christmas-themed scorching chocolate treats will be discovered for a restricted time at over 20 eating places unfold out throughout Banff city and Lake Louise, together with a number of ‘grownup’ boozy scorching chocolate decisions. Why not strive all of them?!
Banff Higher Sizzling Springs
Lastly, no go to to Banff Nationwide Park is full with out a soak within the world-famous Banff Higher Sizzling Springs. Marvel on the surrounding surroundings and breathe within the crisp mountain air whilst you soak within the pure spring water.
In search of extra vacation cheer?
