- What's On Banff
- Posts
- Banff’s Best Eats & Surprise Arrests
Banff’s Best Eats & Surprise Arrests
🌟 What's On Banff - Events, Activities, Live Music & Good News! 😊
Kevin J
August 31, 2025
Hey Banff! Here's What's Happening This Week!
It's a wild mix of flavour, fire, and festivities in Banff this week! From luxurious food tours at the Fairmont and cowboy cookouts, to a hands-on gin workshop and an upcoming Pride Punk Night that’ll shake the mountains - there's no shortage of bold bites and good vibes.
Nature's showing off too. With a wetter summer than usual, Banff's trails are bursting with mushrooms - but be warned, picking them could get you in hot water. And if you're thinking ahead to ski season, the Sunshine Mountain Lodge is offering up to 40% off - but only until August 31!
Catch live music, DJ sets, and local events all week long. And if you're still wondering which gondola to ride or how to reach Lake Louise, we've got guides for that too.
Explore the full lineup below and make your week unforgettable.
🌤️ Weather Watch – Weekly Outlook ( Sat 6 pm)
🛫 Your Questions Answered!🏞️
Which gondola should I go on? It depends. We discuss your options here.
How do I get to Lake Louise? Check our complete guide here.
What park passes will I need? Probably a National Park Pass and possibly a Kanansakis Park pass. We explain here.
I’m excited to see a bear. Are there any I should look out for? Banff’s most famous bears are probably The Boss and Split Lip. We have posts on both of them.
Will I have Cell service on hikes and road trips? No! Download AllTrails and Google Maps FOR OFFLINE USE before you arrive.
🏔️ Banff in Brief - Headlines this Week
🍽️ Banff’s Food Scene Becomes a Destination in Itself
Known for its iconic views and adventure, Banff is now gaining recognition for its food and drink experiences. Fine dining at the Fairmont Banff Springs continues to impress, and the hotel’s Eat the Castle tour offers a guided tasting through five venues paired with history, wine, and chef-led insights.
For something more rustic, Banff Trail Riders host scenic covered wagon rides ending in a fireside cookout with steak, beans, and cowboy games. Meanwhile, Park Distillery offers a behind-the-scenes distillery tour with spirit tastings, as well as a hands-on Blend Your Own Gin workshop, complete with custom botanicals.
Foodies can also explore Banff on foot with Nibble Tours, which offers four guided experiences. Morning Glory is a breakfast bites tour featuring local favourites. Take a Bite of Banff focuses on Canadian classics like poutine and fudge. Sips & Sweets offers cocktails and desserts after dark, while A Taste of Banff showcases global flavours from around the world. All tours are small-group, led by local guides, and packed with storytelling and flavour. Banff is now serving up as much taste as it is scenery. Find out more.
⚖️ Slip-and-fall lawsuit against Banff Springs tossed from Ontario court
The Ontario Superior Court has ruled it has no jurisdiction over a $2 million lawsuit involving a U.S. tourist who slipped at the Fairmont Banff Springs. The case will have to proceed in Alberta, where the fall occurred and where all witnesses are located. Read more
🎿 Final chance to save up to 40% at Sunshine Mountain Lodge
Looking ahead to ski season? This is your last chance to score big savings at Banff's only ski-in/ski-out hotel. Book by August 31, directly using promo code WINTER40 to save up to 40% on your stay for the 2025-26 winter season. Not sure? Check it out first.
🎸 Banff Punk Night goes all-out for Pride on Oct 7
A high-energy lineup of LGBTQ+ punk and metal bands is crashing into Banff during Pride week - get ready to hit the (pride) pit! More info
🗺️ Tour Highlights: Your mountain-top moment awaits. Book your ride today! |  |
🐾 Grizzlies forage in Jasper burn zone following wildfire
Bears in Jasper National Park are adapting to a changing landscape, foraging both inside and outside of the recent wildfire burn areas. With berries and roots still recovering, many are turning to alternative food sources, such as elk calves, squirrels, and bumblebee larvae. Full story
🍄 Rainy summer sparks mushrooms and arrests.
Thanks to consistent rainfall, the Banff National Park has become a paradise for fungi, with mushrooms popping up earlier and lasting longer than usual. Naturalists say now is the perfect time to slow down and appreciate the diverse species thriving across the province. Tempted to grab a few for dinner? DON’T you may get arrested.
🎶 Jim Cuddy shares his soulful connection to Lake Louise
Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy reflects on his early days living in Banff and Lake Louise, where he first began writing and performing music. He describes the Rockies as a place that still stirs his senses and inspires reflection. Read the story
🎫 Canada Strong Parks Pass wraps up after a summer of backlash
The nationwide program offering free Parks Canada admission and discounted camping ends on Tuesday, following significant pushback from Banff locals over concerns about overcrowding and environmental strain. Annual pass holders get a bonus three months added to their passes automatically. Learn more.
🔥 Yoho National Park's prescribed burn could start soon
Parks Canada is preparing a 3,300-hectare prescribed fire in Porcupine Valley to restore whitebark pine, reduce wildfire risk, and support grizzly bear habitat. The burn will only proceed if weather conditions are right, and visitors should expect closures and delays on the Trans-Canada Highway. Full details
🗺️ Tour Highlights: 🏔️ Moraine Lake (seasonal) • 💧 Lake Louise • 🌲 Emerald Lake • 🌉 Natural Bridge • 🌊 Johnston Canyon • 🛍️ Banff Town |  |
🏡 Banff sells 100 more rooftop sprinkler kits in wildfire prevention push
Banff has distributed an additional 100 discounted rooftop sprinkler kits to residents who have completed a FireSmart home assessment. Locals are urged to install them now - crews will only activate them if evacuation orders are issued. Read more
🏗️ Banff reveals central redesign ideas for Fenlands rec centre
New features, including a bouldering wall, an expanded fitness room, and inclusive team spaces, are being considered as Banff prepares to gather final community feedback this fall. The upgrades aim to make the facility more accessible, multi-use, and welcoming throughout the year. More info
🚨 Banff residents urged to register for local emergency alerts
The Town of Banff is reminding residents and visitors to sign up for its Voyent Alert system, which sends emergency and non-emergency notifications by app, text, email, or phone. Registration is free, anonymous, and allows users to pin specific locations, such as home, work, or school, to receive location-based updates. Sign up here
Readers' Choice: Most Visited Links from the Last Issue
🗺️ Highlights: Book now for a serene start to your day! |  |
🎟️Events, Activities & Live Music 🎸
📅 Our events calendar is now fully live.
It's your go-to source for local music, festivals, and everything happening around town. CHECK IT OUT HERE
Got a local event to share?
Use the link below to submit it.
Enter your email address and use the code we send you to log in.
Only the sections marked with a star MUST be filled in; the rest are optional.
For a free event listing, check the box at the bottom of the promotions page.
Please submit at least 4 days before the event date.
Mon, 1st September
18:00 🌇 Banff Gondola Sunset Event - Banff Gondola
20:00 ❓ Monday Trivia - High Rollers
21:00 🎤 Open Mike Night - The Beaver
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - Three Bears
22:00 🎧 DJ Set: Tunes with Tenax - High Rollers
Tue, 2nd September
12:00 ⛸️ Public Skating - Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre
21:00 🎸 Banff Punk Night - The Pump & Tap Tavern
22:00 🎤 Karaoke Night at Mels - Melissa's Missteak
22:00 🎧 DJ Styler Nazo - High Rollers
23:00 🎤 Last Call Leonard - Rose & Crown
🍺 Happy Hours & Food Specials 🍽️
Our Happy Hours listings have moved. To view a complete list of this week's happy hours in Banff, visit our Happy Hour Page.
This week’s featured Happy Hour.
🍸 Brazen Happy Hour
Daily from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Brazen (inside the Historic Mount Royal Hotel) serves up a standout Happy Hour. Food plates are $8 each or 5 for $35, featuring flavour-packed options such as pork belly with guava glaze, ginger beef, kimchi meatballs, polenta fries, and vegan cauliflower.
Drinks are all $8 too, including cocktails like the Rhubarb Rose Spritz, Peach Mule, and a spicy Grapefruit Margarita. Beer and wine lovers can grab a 16-oz Folding Mt. Lager or a 5-oz glass of the current featured red, white, or rosé.
Brazen has a direct entrance from Banff Avenue and a back entrance at Beaver and Caribou streets. Parking can be tricky in town, so plan or walk if you're nearby.
👋 That’s All For Now 🎬
Another week of mountain magic awaits! Jill & Kevin | Editor | What’s On Banff |  |
Want to get in touch?
For feedback, local stories, or questions, reply to this email. We'd love to hear from you!
How did you like this issue of What's On Banff? |
💡 Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this email are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission, which helps keep this newsletter free for readers like you!