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- 🐻A Grizzly Welcome to Summer – Plus Vespas for Sale and Secret Castle Tastings🏰
🐻A Grizzly Welcome to Summer – Plus Vespas for Sale and Secret Castle Tastings🏰
🌟 What's On Banff - Events, Activities, Live Music & Good News! 😊
Kevin J
May 15, 2025
It’s not officially summer until the bears say so - and this week, staff at Lake Louise spotted a grizzly wandering near the gondola site, reminding everyone that bear season has begun in earnest. As always, stay alert, give wildlife space, and enjoy the Rockies responsibly.
On the lighter side, there’s a unique event happening Friday: a fleet sale of Vespa scooters at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Yes, you read that right - your chance to own a 50cc Vespa in the parkade of the Castle.
Speaking of castles, food lovers won’t want to miss the Castle Food Experience - a behind-the-scenes tasting tour of Alberta cuisine inside Banff’s most iconic hotel.
There’s also live music, yoga, dancing, beer on patios, and happy hour deals all over town. Scroll down for the full event list and grab your spot before things sell out!
🗻 Banff: Lake Louise, Moraine, Emerald Lake & Johnston Canyon. Explore Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, and Johnston Canyon on this scenic full-day tour through the heart of the Rockies. Find Out More
🏔️ Banff in Brief - Headlines this Week
🚫 Banff bans booze and cannabis on long weekends
To reduce campground disruption, Parks Canada is prohibiting alcohol and cannabis at all major sites during summer holiday weekends through September. More
🍻 Sheepdog Brewing invites you to Banff's best patio perch
Catch the sun, sip craft beers, and people-watch from Sheepdog's taproom just off Main Street - open daily until 10 pm. More
🐻 Grizzly bear spotted by Lake Louise Ski Resort staff
With summer gondola rides just weeks away, a close encounter with a resident grizzly is a fresh reminder that bear season has begun in the Rockies. More
🔥 Parks Canada burns 65 hectares in Banff backcountry to restore habitat
Crews ignited a prescribed burn at Wigmore Meadows to help native grasslands recover, benefiting elk, bears, bison, and other wildlife. More
🦌 Banff: Wildlife and Sightseeing Minibus Tour Join a local guide for a 3-hour minibus tour to Banff’s top spots, including Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, and Banff Springs Hotel, with chances to see elk, deer, and bighorn sheep. Find Out More
🇨🇦 Canada hires U.S. publicists despite earlier travel boycott plea
Months after Trudeau urged Canadians to avoid Florida and buy local, the federal tourism board is turning to American firms to lure visitors north. More
🐻 No grizzlies killed under Alberta's wildlife responder program - yet
A year into Alberta's controversial policy allowing select residents to kill "problem" grizzlies, not a single bear has been harvested under the system. More
🏔️ Town of Banff outlines solid fiscal year and room to borrow
Banff paid down nearly $1 million in debt in 2024 and ended the year with $24.4 million in reserves, though capital reserves still need rebuilding. More
Readers' Choice: Most Visited Links from the Last Issue
🚠 Banff: Gondola Admission Ticket Ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in a 4-person gondola and take in sweeping views of Banff and the Bow Valley. Explore the summit boardwalk, visit Sanson's Peak, and stop by the Above Banff Interpretive Center. Find Out More
🎟️Events, Activities & Live Music 🎸
We keep it short here - head to the events page for full descriptions and links.
Fri, 16th May
10:00 🛵 Vespa Scooters Fleet Sale - Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff
15:00 🍽️ Castle Food Experience - Banff Springs Hotel, Banff
Go behind the scenes at the iconic Castle in the Rockies with a 2.5-hour tasting tour of locally sourced Alberta cuisine. Book here.
15:00 🎶 Live Music Afternoon - Three Bears, Banff
18:15 🧘 Yoga at the Library - Banff Library, Banff
19:30 💃 Balkan Greek Night - Live Dinner Show - Balkan, Banff
21:00 🕺 Friday Night Dance Party - Dancing Sasquatch, Banff
22:00 🎧 Live DJ & Happy Hour - High Rollers, Banff
22:00 🎸 Wild T & The Spirit - Live Rock - Rose & Crown, Banff
Sat, 17th May
TBA 🎿 SlushShine Rail Jam - Sunshine Village, Banff
09:30 🧒 Super Saturdays: For Kids K-4 - Banff Library, Banff
10:00 🧺 Unity in Nature Day Picnic - Cascade Ponds, Banff
15:00 🎶 Live Music Afternoon Session - Three Bears, Banff
18:00 🕵️♂️ Youth Mystery Night - Banff Library, Banff
19:30 💃 Balkan Greek Night - Balkan, Banff
21:00 🎉 Dance Party: Saturdays at Sas! - Dancing Sasquatch, Banff
22:00 🎧 DJ Set - DJ Palf - High Rollers, Banff
22:00 🎸 Live Rock Music - Wild T & The Spirit - Rose & Crown, Banff
Sun, 18th May
TBA 🏂 Ski Event: Watergate Banked Slalom - Sunshine Village, Banff
21:00 🎉 Sunday Funday Party - Dancing Sasquatch, Banff
21:00 🎧 DJs LT & Raven - Sunday Funday - High Rollers, Banff
22:00 🎸 Live Music - Brent Lee - Rose & Crown, Banff
Future Events
🎉 Want to see what’s coming up? Our events page has a growing list of future happenings, complete with descriptions and links!
🐎 Banff: Wagon Ride with Cowboy Cookout BBQ Enjoy a scenic wagon ride along the Bow River to 3 Mile Cabin for a hearty cowboy BBQ. Savour steak, baked beans, and dessert, then play horseshoes or practice your roping by the fire. Find Out More
🍺 Happy Hours & Food Specials 🍽️
Below are brief details of all the happy hours we could find in Banff. For more information, visit our dedicated Happy Hour Page.
🍻 Banff Ave Brewing Co (21:00+)
🎖️ Banff Legion (15:00-17:00, Wed-Sat & 15:00-close, Sun)
🫕 Bluebird (16:00-17:00 Sat-Thu, 15:00-17:00 Fri)
🎤 Hello Sunshine (16:30-17:30 Sun, Fri & 16:00-17:00 Sat)
🎳 High Rollers (15:00-17:00 & 22:00-Close)
🌮 Magpie & Stump & El Patio (15:00-17:00 & 22:00+)
🥩 Melissa’s MisSteak (15:00-18:00 Daily; Sun-Thurs, 15:00-18:00 & 22:00-02:00)
🍸 Park Distillery (15:00-17:00 Daily)
🍔 The Eddie Burger + Bar (22:00-Close, Fri-Wed: All Day Thurs)
🍷 The Fat Ox (14:00-18:00 Daily)
🍝 The Old Spaghetti Factory (14:00-17:00 Daily)
🐻 Three Bears Brewery (15:00-17:00 Daily)
⏰ Tommy’s (15:00-18:00 & 22:00-Close)
👋 That’s All For Now 🎬
Another week of mountain magic awaits! Jill & Kevin | Editor | What’s On Banff |  |
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