Hi Everyone! Here's What’s Happening This Week!

Getting to Banff by air is measurably more expensive than it was in January. Calgary return flights have risen from $212 to $361 since the start of the year - a 70% increase, according to new Kayak data. Vancouver is up 116%. Anyone who booked early or decided to drive is probably feeling quite reasonable about that decision right now.

On the ground, the Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival opens this week and runs through September - over 100 events at 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive, with a good portion free to attend. It has been running since 1950, which puts it comfortably ahead of most of the ski resorts this valley is known for.

A riverfront property two blocks from Banff Avenue has landed on Vrbo's 2026 Vacation Rentals of the Year - the only Alberta entry on a list spanning eight countries, ahead of properties in the US, Mexico, and Europe. More than 60 guests gave it a perfect 10. The full story is inside.

For anyone whose travel plans now involve driving rather than flying, the Banff Cowboy Cookout is one way to spend the money you saved - a wagon ride along the Bow River, steak cooked to order at a backcountry stop, and lassoing lessons if the afternoon allows.

There is plenty happening this week. Dive into the event listings below, or check out the detailed events page on our website.

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This is a great way to experience a little of Banff’s ranching history while enjoying a BBQ steak lunch in the mountains. Instead of the usual sightseeing tour, you’ll travel by horse-drawn wagon along trails beside the Bow River and beneath Sulphur Mountain, with wide views of the surrounding mountains.

About halfway through the ride, the wagon stops at a backcountry cookout spot where your steak is cooked to order and served with roasted potatoes, cowboy baked beans, coleslaw, buns, and dessert.

Afterwards, you can relax by the fire, try a little lassoing, or play horseshoes before settling back in for the scenic ride through forest and meadow on the way back to the stables.

Reserve now to enjoy a wagon ride and cowboy cookout

🌨️ A slushy stretch ahead, but nothing the Rockies can't shrug off. Wednesday brings periods of rain or snow with a high of 3°C. Thursday offers a chance of flurries but nudges up to 4°C. Friday stays cloudy at 3°C - cold, grey, and consistent. Full Forecast Here

🎵 Banff's Longest Arts Festival Returns. The Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival runs May through September - over 100 events across the campus at 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive, with a significant portion free to attend. It has been running since 1950, predating most of the ski resorts this region is known for.

✈️ Canadian Airfares Up 70% This Year. Calgary flights have risen from $212 to $361 return since January, according to new data from Kayak - Vancouver is up 116%. Anyone who decided to drive to Banff this summer is looking pretty smart right now.

🏡 Banff Rental Makes the Global Cut. A riverfront property two blocks from Banff Avenue is the only Alberta entry on Vrbo's 2026 Vacation Rentals of the Year - a list spanning eight countries. It has collected more than 60 perfect 10-out-of-10 guest scores.

🎸 The Beatles, Live in Canmore. Carter-Ryan Theatre's Here Comes the Sun traces the band's full arc - from early club pop to Let It Be - with live musicians performing every instrument on stage. Runs Tuesdays to Saturdays until May 31.

🚶 Golden's Trail Gets a Story Layer. The Rotary Trail in Golden now has 23 QR-coded video stops sharing local history, Indigenous perspectives, and community stories - developed with the Ktunaxa Nation, Shuswap Band, and Métis Nation as part of the Golden Stroll.

For anyone already thinking about summer access, the hop-on, hop-off bus covers Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake with guaranteed seating and no parking headaches - which, given how quickly those car parks fill, is worth booking ahead.

Banff hotel prices have a way of convincing people that a bag of crisps from a vending machine counts as dinner. These three properties give you a kitchen - or at least a kitchenette - so you can eat like a human being without it costing as much as a second holiday.

🏙️ Basecamp Suites Banff - Right in the centre of Banff town, so you're walking to everything while other guests are still hunting for parking. Apartment-style suites with proper kitchen facilities mean you can do a supermarket run and actually cook - a radical concept at these prices. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔️ Blackstone Mountain Lodge - Based in Canmore, which puts you 20 minutes from Banff, a quiet base after a day in the park. Full kitchen suites, more space than you'd expect for the money, and a town with its own decent restaurants if you decide cooking is someone else's job tonight. Read The Reviews And Book

🌲 Lake Louise Inn - One of the few mid-range options that actually puts you in Lake Louise rather than on a bus to it. Kitchenette rooms available, which matters when the nearest grocery run is a serious commitment. Good base for Moraine Lake shuttles and the Icefields Parkway without paying Chateau prices for the privilege. Read The Reviews And Book

🤠 Banff Cowboy Cookout - A wagon ride along the Bow River, a stop at a backcountry cabin, steak cooked to order on an open grill, and lassoing lessons thrown in for good measure. This three-hour cowboy cookout from Warner Stables is a genuinely different way to spend a Banff afternoon.

🦌 Canmore Evening Wildlife Tour - Timed for golden hour when the valley's elk, deer, and occasional bears start moving. This small-group evening wildlife tour from Canmore covers quieter backcountry roads away from the day-trip crowds - binoculars provided, layers essential.

💧 Banff Thermal Waters and Hidden Waterfall Walk - A three-hour guided walk from the Cave and Basin into Sundance Canyon, taking in geothermal history, marshland wildlife, and waterfalls most visitors never find. Book this guided nature walk in Banff and wear sturdy shoes - the trail can be uneven and damp near the falls.

🎟️ Do I need to book anything in advance for a July trip to Banff? Yes - popular sites and activities fill up weeks ahead in peak season. Sorting key bookings early saves a lot of frustration once you arrive.

🚌 Can you get to Lake Louise without a car? Yes - shuttles, hop-on hop-off buses, guided tours, and public transit all get you to Lake Louise without needing to drive or park.

🌊 How long is the Bow Falls walk, and is it suitable for beginners? It is a short, easy riverside trail that most visitors complete in under an hour - perfect for families and first-timers of any fitness level. Check out our video before you go.

Yesterday’s Question: Which landmark is shown in this photo, created by the force of the Kicking Horse River?

🟩 Answer: 1) Natural Bridge: 50% Correct

Natural Bridge is one of several dramatic water-carved landmarks in the Rockies. For a great experience even closer to Banff, check out the Johnston Canyon Trail.

For many visitors, seeing Moraine Lake means juggling shuttle bookings and tight time windows. Staying at Moraine Lake Lodge removes that altogether. Guests are able to drive directly to the lake, which makes arrival simpler and gives you far more flexibility during your stay.

Book now for a calmer visit to Moraine Lake

📅 Today’s Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.

BANFF EVENTS | CANMORE EVENTS | JASPER EVENTS | BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS |

📅 Submit Here (8 days before event date)
Complete starred sections. For a FREE LISTING, check the box on the promotions page.

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Find your next adventure

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