This Price Change Affects Visitors. Cost up 70%.

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

Winter is settling in across the Bow Valley, and this week’s newsletter mixes seasonal cheer with a few important updates worth knowing before you head out. From travel changes to festive fun, we’ve pulled together what’s happening so you can plan ahead and make the most of your time here.

One of the biggest talking points right now is a steep new increase in peak-season parking charges in Banff. The hike represents a more than 70 percent jump, and not everyone is convinced it’s just about managing congestion. Some are already labelling it a cash grab, making this a change visitors will definitely want to understand before arriving.

There’s also a temporary Highway 1 closure near Field coming up, due to avalanche control work in Yoho National Park. Closures are expected to be brief, but they could impact travel timing for those heading through the area.

If you’d rather avoid driving altogether, Roam Transit continues to be an easy and reliable way to get around. The service connects Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, and key attractions, taking the stress out of parking and winter road conditions.

On the festive side, In Search of Christmas Spirit is heading into its final weeks. With limited dates remaining and newly released tickets, now is the time to plan a visit if it’s on your holiday list.

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

• Banff in January: Is it the best month to visit?

• Banff in December: What to Expect in the Heart of Winter!

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🌤️ Today’s Weather

Banff: Mainly sunny, high -3 °C and low -13 °C.
Canmore: Mainly sunny, high -3 °C and low -11 °C.
Jasper: Mostly cloudy with snow, high -11 °C and low -20 °C.

👉 For a complete up-to-date forecast for the week ahead, visit our Weather Page.

🏔️ Plan Your Trip

Getting Around Banff Without a Car: Roam Transit

If the idea of driving, parking, and navigating busy mountain roads doesn’t appeal, Roam Transit is an easy alternative. The bus network connects Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, and many popular sights, making it possible to explore the Bow Valley without a car. The buses are comfortable, easy to use, and take a lot of the stress out of getting around.

One of the biggest draws is the $30 Super Pass, which lets you visit both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on the same day. It covers your Roam trip from Banff to Lake Louise, the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle up to Moraine Lake, and unlimited local Roam travel for the rest of the day. With private vehicles banned from Moraine Lake Road, this has become one of the most straightforward options for visitors.

If you want to see more and worry less about logistics, Roam Transit makes planning much simpler.

Step Back in Time at the Bankhead Ghost Town

If you’re looking for an easy walk that feels a little different from the usual Banff hikes, Bankhead Ghost Town is a great choice. Just off the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, this short trail takes you through the remains of a once-busy coal mining town that quietly disappeared in the early 1900s. Today, it’s a relaxed stroll with a strong sense of history and plenty to look at along the way.

The Lower Bankhead interpretive trail is only about 1 km long and suitable for all ages. Along the loop, you’ll pass old foundations, mining equipment, the preserved lamp house, and large machinery that hints at how important this place once was. Interpretive signs do a good job of explaining what you’re seeing, making it easy to imagine what life here was like when nearly 1,000 people called Bankhead home. Views of Mount Rundle add a classic Banff backdrop to the experience.

It’s an easy add to a Lake Minnewanka outing and a fun way to mix a bit of local history into your Banff trip.

🏕️ Quiz

Yesterday’s Question

🟩 Answer: 1) Natural Bridge - 59% Correct

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

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

🅿️ $12 an hour to park in Banff? Yep, it’s happening. Council has signed off on a steep peak-season parking increase aimed squarely at summer crowds, congestion, and vehicle overload. Driving into town just got a lot more expensive.

🚗 Avalanche control to impact Highway 1 travel near Field. Parks Canada says explosives and helicopter work will be used during a planned avalanche control operation on Friday, requiring a brief closure of Highway 1 east of Field in Yoho National Park.

🔥 Banff marks the solstice with a lantern-lit community skate. The Winter Solstice Lantern Skate returns Sunday night. It invites locals to skate together by lantern light, enjoy live music, and warm up by the fire as winter officially turns the corner.

🎄 Final weeks for Banff’s In Search of Christmas Spirit. The festive, interactive holiday story is heading into its last stretch, and more free tickets have just been released. Availability is limited, with only a handful of remaining dates before it wraps up for the season.

❄️ SnowDays Festival transforms Banff into a winter playground. Snow sculptures, Ice Magic at Lake Louise, skijoring thrills, SnowNights, and buzzing street hubs take over town for weeks of frosty fun. This is Banff winter at full volume - 👉 lock in your SnowDays plans now

⚠️ Planning a Banff trip? Upper Hot Springs won’t reopen until 2026. Parks Canada has confirmed the popular soak spot remains closed as crews tackle additional structural work uncovered during upgrades. It’s a longer pause than hoped, but the goal is a safer, refreshed return when doors reopen.

❄️ High avalanche danger continues in Banff and Canmore. Officials warn that unstable snow conditions persist following recent storms, with large natural and controlled avalanches still occurring. Backcountry users are being advised to stick to low-risk terrain or postpone trips.

🧊 Guided winter canyon walks run in Jasper National Park. Visitors can take guided tours through Pleckaitis Canyon, walking on ice at the base of one of the park’s deepest accessible canyons. The tours highlight winter conditions and terrain that are otherwise difficult to reach safely.

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

💥 Canmore’s early morning explosions were part of planned avalanche control. While the blasts can sound dramatic, they are carefully timed and monitored. Video footage provides a clear look at how avalanche control works and why it’s used throughout Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise each winter.

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

📅 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 |

Friday, December 19

14:00 | A Christmas Carol | Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel | Banff

17:00 | Ted Woodhouse | Canmore Brewing Company | Canmore

17:30 | Family Film: A Christmas Carol | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

19:00 | Hockey: Canmore Eagles | Canmore Recreation Centre | Canmore

19:00 | Go Amy: Live | Mineshaft Tavern | Canmore

19:30 | ABBA-SOLUTELY Fabulous Show | Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel | Banff

19:30 | Cabaret: Joy to the World | Carter-Ryan Gallery and Theatre | Canmore

20:00 | Live Music Night | St. James Gate | Banff

21:00 | Dr Z.Duo: Live | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

21:00 | Open Mic Night | The Stand Easy | Jasper

22:00 | Friday Night Live DJ LT | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | Rock Bottom: Live | Rose & Crown | Banff

22:00 | DJ Tenax | Rose & Crown Restaurant & Pub | Canmore

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