Hi Everyone! Here's Whatโ€™s Happening This Week!

A proposal to build 74 canvas-tent units on the Staircase Lands above Quarry Lake has collected around 2,500 signatures from residents who'd rather it didn't. The site sits inside an elk and bear corridor with a single access road.

On a warmer note, two orphaned grizzly cubs - Turner and Fitz, both rescued from the wild last September - are nearly ready for their public debut in Wild Canada at the Calgary Zoo. Sometime next week, if you want to plan around it.

The Banff Springs Golf Club has opened for the season, with both a 9-hole and 18-hole course now running inside the national park. If a round of golf inside Banff National Park sounds like your kind of afternoon, now is the time.

If you're spending time at the Fairmont Banff Springs and want to do something more interesting than the buffet, the behind-the-scenes food tour takes small groups through the hotel's dining areas with tastings and a bit of the building's history thrown in. Worth knowing about.

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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Our favourite thing about this place is its setting right beside the mighty Athabasca River. Adirondack chairs line the riverbank, so you can sit with a coffee and watch the powerful current rush past while taking in the surrounding mountains.

The chalets are also a great choice for families. The grounds have lots of open space, with grassy areas and picnic tables, so thereโ€™s plenty of room for kids to run around and play. After a day exploring Jasper National Park, you can relax by the river while the kids burn off the last of their energy.

๐Ÿ”๏ธ Fresh from the Rockies

๐Ÿป Grizzly Cubs Nearly Ready for Debut. Two grizzly bear cubs, Turner and Fitz, are set to make their public debut in Wild Canada at the Calgary Zoo sometime next week. Both were orphaned in the wild last September.

๐Ÿ•๏ธ Canmore Glamping Plan Meets Petition. Trailhaus is proposing 74 canvas-tent units on the Staircase Lands above Quarry Lake - an elk and bear corridor with one access road in and out. Around 2,500 residents have signed against it. The land has been sitting idle since the coal mine closed in 1916.

โ™จ๏ธ Hot Springs Prices and Hours Have Changed. The Banff Upper Hot Springs are open daily 1-10 pm following structural renovations, with adult admission at $19.75. Parking near Sulphur Mountain now costs $17.50 per day. The Roam Route 1 bus from downtown is $2. Find out how to visit.

โ›ณ Banff Springs Golf Now Open. The Banff Springs Golf Club has opened for the season, with both a 9-hole and 18-hole course available inside Banff National Park.

๐ŸงŠ Meltdown Opens at the Icefield Centre. A new glacier photography exhibit, Meltdown: A Drop in Time, is now open daily at the Columbia Icefield Centre on the Icefields Parkway. Admission is included with a Parks Canada pass.

๐ŸŽฟ Nakiska Adding Coaster and Bike Trails. Nakiska Ski Resort will open for summer operations in 2027, adding lift-serviced mountain biking - the only such offering in Alberta - and a 970-metre mountain coaster. Construction begins this summer.

โ„๏ธ Winter's not done with Banff just yet - but the sun is on its way. Sunday brings a messy mix of flurries and rain showers, 7ยฐC. Monday reaches a much more respectable 13ยฐC, but still with a chance of showers. Tuesday hedges its bets with sun, cloud, and a 40% chance of showers at 11ยฐC. Full Forecast Here

โญ Most Popular Last Issue

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.

โ“Your Questions Answered

๐Ÿ‘ป Does Banff have a haunted history? Surprisingly, yes - the Rockies have a rich history of ghost stories and local legends stretching back over a century.

๐Ÿšก Which gondola is best for a first visit to Banff? It depends on what you want - views, wildlife, altitude, or a quieter ride. Each option has a distinct character worth considering before you book.

๐ŸŒ„ What do you actually see at Grassi Lakes? The payoff is two vivid turquoise lakes set beneath limestone cliffs, with sweeping views over the Bow Valley on the way up.

๐ŸšฃActivities You Might Enjoy

๐ŸงŠ Columbia Icefield & Glacier Skywalk - Six-wheeled vehicle onto the Athabasca Glacier, then a glass-bottomed walkway 280 metres above the valley. About three hours in total - bring a windproof layer, the glacier is significantly colder than the car park.

๐Ÿšข Maligne Lake Cruise & Wildlife Tour - Six hours into Jasper's Maligne Valley, including a 90-minute boat cruise to Spirit Island. Wildlife along the way is a genuine highlight - elk, moose, and bears are all possible on the Maligne Lake Road.

๐Ÿšด E-Bike & Hike - Johnston Canyon - 26km on e-bikes along the Bow Valley Parkway, then a short hike into the canyon to the Lower Falls. A practical way to cover both without arriving exhausted - shuttle back to Banff included.

๐Ÿ…ฟ๏ธ Skip the Parking Shuffle: Hotels With Free Parking in Banff

Finding a space in Banff in peak season is less a question of luck and more a question of how early you're willing to set an alarm. These three hotels include free underground parking, which means you arrive, you park, and you don't think about your car again until it's time to leave.

๐ŸซŽ Moose Hotel & Suites - A minute's walk from the centre of town, with two rooftop hot pools, an indoor pool, a full spa, and an Italian restaurant on site - so leaving is entirely optional once you've checked in. Complimentary underground parking and a free ROAM bus pass are both included, which covers most of the logistical headaches in one go. Read The Reviews And Book

๐Ÿ”๏ธ Ptarmigan Inn - Sits on Banff Avenue, one block from downtown, with a heated underground parkade and two hot tubs on site. Parking is first-come, first-served, but they'll sort you out with street parking nearby if the garage is full - which is still better than circling town hoping for a miracle. Read The Reviews And Book

๐ŸฆŠ Fox Hotel & Suites - A short walk from downtown, with a Cave and Basin-inspired indoor hot pool, kitchenette suites, and free underground parking included in the rate, along with Wi-Fi and a ROAM bus pass. The parking stalls are tight, worth knowing if you're arriving in something wide. Read The Reviews And Book

๐Ÿ•๏ธ Quiz

Which river is shown in this photo of Canmore (the same river flows through Banff)?

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Yesterdayโ€™s Question: What is a standard safety precaution for hikers in bear country in the Canadian Rockies?

โœ… Answer: C) Carrying bear spray and making noise while hiking - 92% Correct

If you didn't get this question correct, read this post as a matter of urgency.

This small-group experience takes you behind the scenes of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel as you visit several dining areas inside the historic building. Youโ€™ll enjoy a series of tastings made with locally sourced Alberta ingredients, meet members of the culinary team, and hear stories about the hotelโ€™s history as you explore its grand hallways.

๐ŸŽธEvents, Activities & Live Music

๐Ÿ“… Todayโ€™s Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.

Sunday, May 17

14:00 | Rooftop Apres Skrew | Rose & Crown | Banff

15:00 | Live Music Afternoon | Three Bears | Banff

15:00 | Here Comes the Sun: The Beatles | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore

17:00 | Dinner Show: Mister Bird | The Drake | Canmore

19:30 | Balkan Greek Night: Dinner Show | The Balkan | Banff

20:00 | Jesse Peters: Piano Party | St James Gate | Banff

21:00 | Sunday Funday: Party | High Rollers | Banff

21:30 | Locals Night with DJ Palf | Melissa's Missteak | Banff

22:00 | Brent Lee: Live | Rose & Crown | Banff

22:00 | DJ TENAX | Rose & Crown | Canmore

Monday, May 18

12:00 | Sunshine Village's Slush Cup!! | Sunshine Village Ski Resort | Banff

18:30 | 2026 Winter Yin Yoga | Bighorn Library | Exshaw

20:00 | Live Music Night | Three Bears | Banff

20:00 | Monday Trivia | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | DJ Set: With Tenax | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | Karaoke Night | The Drake | Canmore

22:00 | Brent Lee: Live | Rose & Crown | Banff

Tuesday, May 19

17:00 | Dinner Show: Mister Bird | The Drake | Canmore

19:00 | Trivia Tuesday | Rose & Crown | Canmore

19:00 | Film: Power to the People | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

19:30 | Here Comes the Sun: The Beatles | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore

20:30 | Bobbi Bazini: Live | Communitea Cafe | Canmore

21:00 | DJ Styler Nazo | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | Jesse Peters: Live | Rose & Crown | Banff

๐Ÿ‘‹ Thatโ€™s All For Now ๐ŸŽฌ

Another week of mountain magic awaits!
We're so glad you're here for the ride.
Keep exploring and sharing, and we'll see you in the next issue with another full lineup of Banff happenings.

Jill & Kevin | Editor | Whatโ€™s On Banff

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