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

Parks Canada is warning of heavy traffic, full parking lots, and crowded trails across Banff National Park this Victoria Day long weekend. Higher-elevation trails are still snow-covered, and campsite reservations are strongly recommended - many sites are already full. If you are heading in, plan accordingly. If you were thinking of leaving it to chance, now is a good time to reconsider.

On a lighter note, Sunshine Village wraps up its season on 18 May with the 96th Slush Cup - over 100 costumed skiers and snowboarders attempting to skim across a 110-foot meltwater pool at the base of the mountain. It is exactly what it sounds like, and it is worth watching.

If you need somewhere to stay while the town fills up, the Kenrick Hotel Banff landed on Travel + Leisure's Best New Hotels of 2026 list - genuine editorial recognition, no sponsorship involved. It is one of a handful of Canadian properties to make the cut.

And if you want to get out of the car and into something more worthwhile, the guided Bow River horseback ride runs beside the river near Cave and Basin - an hour, no experience required, and easy to fit around whatever else you have planned.

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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For a classic Banff experience, this guided horseback ride is hard to beat. Over the course of an hour, you’ll ride beside the Bow River and through a beautiful part of the valley near Cave and Basin, with mountain views all around you.

It works well for first-time riders and anyone looking to add something memorable to their trip. We often recommend it to visiting friends and family; and because it only takes an hour, it’s easy to fit into a Banff visit.

Reserve now to enjoy a scenic horseback ride in Banff

🏨 Banff Hotel Makes the It List. The Kenrick Hotel Banff has landed on Travel + Leisure's Best New Hotels of 2026 - one of a handful of Canadian properties to make the cut. The It List carries genuine editorial weight: no sponsorship, no algorithm.
Check out the Kenrick Hotel here.

🎿 Sunshine Village's 96th Slush Cup Arrives. On 18 May, over 100 costumed skiers and snowboarders will attempt to skim - or swim - across a 110-foot meltwater pool at Sunshine Village.

🎸 Alberta's Longest Folk Festival Returns. The Canmore Folk Music Festival - running since 1978 - is the subject of a new video covering 750 volunteers, Centennial Park, and the Stan Rogers stage, beside which Rogers gave an informal performance in 1982.

🛍️ Canmore's Market Hits Its 26th Year. The Canmore Mountain Market returns to Elevation Place on Railway Avenue every Thursday from 21 May through 1 October - produce, baked goods, meat, jewellery, and crafts. Free to attend. Running since 2001.

♨️ Miette Hot Springs Opens Today. Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park is now open for the 2026 season. Entry is first-come, first-served - tickets are cash or card at the gate, no online sales.

🚗 Busy Weekend Ahead for Banff. Parks Canada is warning of heavy traffic, full parking lots, and crowded trails across Banff National Park this Victoria Day long weekend. Higher-elevation trails remain snow-covered. Campsite reservations are strongly recommended - many sites are already full.

🤿 Volunteer Diver to Search Johnston Canyon. A California recovery diver is set to fly to Banff this weekend to search Johnston Canyon for the body of Pavlo Shemchuk, who drowned on 1 May. Parks Canada suspended its search after two days. Juan Heredia, who funds his own recovery dives across North America, has recovered 13 bodies in two years - several within minutes of arriving.

🦌 Banff Park Museum Back for Summer. The Banff Park Museum reopens Thursday to Monday, 9:30 am to 5 pm, with its 5,000-plus natural history specimens on display.

❄️ Snow today gives way to a promising spring stretch. Saturday is buried under heavy snow at a chilly 2°C - think twice before packing away the winter gear. Sunday, the clouds part for a mix of sun and clouds and a much more respectable 10°C. Monday delivers the goods - sunny skies and 12°C. Full Forecast Here

Split Lip was spotted in the Sunshine Village car park ahead of this weekend's Slush Cup - which is either a coincidence or a bear who knows the events calendar. He usually favours Lake Louise, but Sunshine is the only resort still open, so here we are.

🍂 Larch Valley Guided Hike - The larches turn gold for a few weeks each autumn, and this is one of the better ways to see them. Guided return trip from Banff or Canmore with lunch included - 8.8km, 565m of elevation gain, and transport sorts the Moraine Lake parking headache.

🌊 Kananaskis River Rafting - Class II and III rapids on a dam-controlled river, which keeps water levels consistent and makes it a solid family rafting option from age five up. About four hours in total, 45 minutes from Banff or Calgary.

🌅 Moraine Lake Sunrise or Sunset Tour - Direct transport from Banff or Canmore, timed to avoid the daytime crowds. Sunrise gets you on the Rockpile before first light - the sunset option adds stargazing. Either way, layers are non-negotiable.

Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper are genuinely world-class destinations - the sort of places that can feel like they're designed to overwhelm you before you've even unpacked. These three properties don't just offer a bed; they put you at the heart of the very thing you came to see, which changes the entire calculus of a mountain holiday.

🌲 Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Spread across 700 acres of lakeside wilderness, the Lodge operates less like a hotel and more like its own small national park. Rooms and heritage cabins are scattered around Lac Beauvert, connected by walking paths - golf carts will shuttle you if your cabin turns out to be further than expected. The 2024 Jasper wildfires left their mark on the town, but the main lodge was spared, and renovations are ongoing; some dining venues have changed, so check ahead. Worth it for the combination of remote-feeling serenity and full-service resort facilities in one place. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔️ Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - The Chateau has the most straightforward value proposition in the Rockies: you are staying on the shore of Lake Louise itself, while everyone else is getting up at 5 am and fighting for parking 5 km away. The lake is right there when you wake up and still there when everyone else has gone home. There is no town to walk to - the Chateau is the destination - so come prepared to use the on-site restaurants and enjoy the lake on your own terms. Read The Reviews And Book

🏰 Fairmont Banff Springs - Built in 1888 as Canada's "Castle in the Rockies," it sits just outside town along the Spray and Bow Rivers - about a 20-minute walk to Banff Avenue, or a quick hop on the hotel shuttle or ROAM transit. The sheer scale of the place (724 rooms, 12 restaurants and bars, a bowling alley, a spa, and a golf course that strong-arms grown adults into taking up the game) means you could spend a full day without leaving the building. Read The Reviews And Book

🥾 How long and difficult is the Three Sisters Viewpoint Trail in Canmore? It's a short, easy walk suitable for most fitness levels - just over a kilometre round trip with a rewarding mountain viewpoint at the end.

📅 Does Roam Transit run year-round? Some routes run all year while others are seasonal - checking what is running before you visit is worth doing when planning your trip.

🏨 Do you need to be a hotel guest to use the spa? Not always - many Banff hotel spas accept day visitors, though booking ahead is strongly recommended.

Yesterday’s Question: Which national park is home to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake?

✅ Answer: B) Banff National Park - 84% Correct

If you like the idea of a luxury mountain hotel but don’t love Banff prices, The Malcolm Hotel in Canmore is well worth considering. One of the highlights is the outdoor heated pool and hot tubs overlooking the Three Sisters. After a day hiking, sightseeing, or skiing in the Bow Valley, it’s a great place to relax and take in the views.

Reserve now to enjoy a luxury stay in the heart of Canmore

📅 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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