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

Alberta's proposed permanent daylight time would put Banff's winter sunrise at 9:43 a.m. - which sounds like a minor adjustment until you realise it means ski lifts waiting on the sun while guests sit in lobbies. Aspen sees sunrise at 7:23 a.m. on the same December morning.

Closures are a theme this week. Bears feeding on fish carcasses at Vermilion Lakes have prompted nightly access restrictions: Vermilion Lakes Road, the shoreline, and the Legacy Trail west of the road are off-limits from 8 pm to 8 am through April 29. West of Jasper, a rockslide has taken out both lanes of Highway 16 between the town and the West Gate; there is no confirmed reopening date. Rockslides operate on their own schedule.

If the week has you looking for somewhere that is reliably open, the Fairmont Banff Springs food tour takes small groups behind the scenes of the castle - five tastings, the wine cellar, and a cooking demonstration across three hours. The building has been open since 1888 and shows no signs of changing that.

Finally. No clinical trials yet - but household testing consistently shows that The Banff Guide YouTube channel playing on TV speeds up chores, makes food taste better, and does something to teenagers that child psychologists are still working to explain. Subscribe, and set the videos playing. Your household may thank you.

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

Canmore Easy Hikes | Bow River Loop | Quarry Lake | Three Sisters | Policeman’s Creek | Larch Island

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This small-group experience offers a chance to go behind the scenes of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. You’ll explore different dining areas inside the historic building while enjoying a series of tastings featuring locally sourced ingredients from Alberta farms.

Along the way, you’ll meet chefs, watch a cooking demonstration, and learn about the hotel’s history as you wander its grand hallways. With food, drinks, and storytelling throughout the evening, it’s a great way to experience the Banff Springs from a different perspective.

Reserve now to enjoy a guided food experience inside the Banff Springs.

🌤️ Spring is playing both sides this week - sun and cloud for Sunday and Monday, then a 30% chance of showers sneaks in on Tuesday. Sunday stays cool at 1°C, Monday warms things up to 8°C, and Tuesday edges up to 9°C with that slight chance of showers. Layers recommended. Full Forecast Here

⏰ Alberta's Clock Change Hits the Slopes. Proposed permanent daylight time would push Banff's winter sunrise past 9:43 a.m. - leaving Christmas visitors waiting in hotel lobbies while lifts stay closed. On the same December morning, Aspen's sun is up by 7:23 a.m.

🐻 Bears Close Vermilion Lakes Overnight. Vermilion Lakes Road, the shoreline, and the Legacy Trail west of the road are closed 8 pm-8 am through 29 April. Bears have been feeding on fish carcasses in the area.

🪨 Not Snow This Time. A rockslide has closed Highway 16 west of Jasper between the town and the West Gate - both lanes, no confirmed reopening. Rockslides don't get shovelled.

🏔️ Kananaskis Gets a New Land Plan. Alberta is redrawing the rules for 7,000 square kilometres of Ghost-Kananaskis country - five million visitors a year, critical wildlife corridors, and southern Alberta's drinking water all in scope. Public consultation is open until June 5.

🎵 Pink Martini Comes to the Belzberg. Thomas Lauderdale's Pink Martini All Stars play the Jenny Belzberg Theatre on June 27, blending global sounds and vintage pop across a $65-$110 ticket range. A weekend package pairs the show with IN A LANDSCAPE - classical music performed live in the wilderness.

🎟️ Highland Games Return to Canmore. Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Canmore Highland Games, running September 4-6 at Centennial Park. Kilts and bagpipes, with a mountain backdrop.

🏰 Stay in a real Rocky Mountain castle. The Fairmont Banff Springs has welcomed guests for over a century, perched above the Bow River with mountain views in every direction - close to town, but worlds away. Explore the Fairmont Banff Springs.

🍽️ Eat the Castle, Banff Springs - Part hotel history tour, part food and drink crawl - this three-hour culinary experience inside the Fairmont Banff Springs takes you through five pairings across different venues, including the wine cellar. Smart-casual dress, no children under 14.

🥾 Banff Premium Private Hiking Tour - Choose your route - Bow Glacier Falls, Boom Lake, Emerald Basin, or Stanley Glacier - and a certified guide tailors the day to your group. This premium private hiking experience in the Banff region suits groups of up to ten and goes well beyond what you'd get on a standard tour.

🚣 Jasper Family Rafting - The Athabasca runs cold and fast, but this family-friendly rafting trip through Jasper National Park keeps things at Class 2 - splashy and fun without being intense. Kids from five up. Wetsuits provided, which you'll need.

Keeping a family happy in Banff is one part logistics puzzle and one part budget negotiation with yourself. These three hotels take a fair amount of the pain out of both.

🏘️ Hidden Ridge Resort - Spacious condo-style suites with full kitchens mean you're not eating every meal in a restaurant, which in Banff is the difference between a holiday and a financial emergency. Tucked on the hill above town, it's quiet enough for kids to sleep but still walking distance to Banff Avenue. Read The Reviews And Book

🏰 Fairmont Banff Springs - Yes, it's expensive, and yes, the kids will absolutely lose their minds about the castle. But the pool complex is genuinely one of the best in the Rockies, and having everything - food, activities, a base - under one enormous roof is worth something when you're managing small people. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔️ Lake Louise Inn - The sensible family choice for anyone planning to spend serious time at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. The rooms are straightforward and functional - exactly what tired families need at the end of a big mountain day. Read The Reviews And Book

🦌 What wildlife can you expect to see in Banff in September? September is one of the most active months for wildlife - elk rut fills valleys with bugling, while bears are in heavy foraging mode before winter.

🏰 Is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel worth the high price tag? For history, scenery, spa, and dining all under one roof, most visitors say yes.

⚠️ What is the difference in how you should respond to a grizzly attack versus a black bear attack? Play dead during a grizzly attack and fight back against a black bear - getting this distinction right could be the most important thing you know before hiking here.

Yesterday’s Question: Roughly how far is Lake Louise from the town of Banff by road?

✅Answer: 3) About 60 km - 31% Correct

Lake Louise is about a 45-minute drive from Banff. See the different transport options in our How to Get to Lake Louise Guide.

When travellers on TripAdvisor rank a hotel as the number one rated place to stay in Banff, it’s usually worth a closer look. In this case, a big part of the appeal is location. Peaks Hotel & Suites is less than a minute from Banff Avenue, so you’re right in the centre of town, with restaurants, cafés, and shops all within easy walking distance.

Check it out for yourself here

📅 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 |

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