Hi Everyone! Here's What’s Happening This Week!
You can start planning a Christmas evening in Banff with a free ticket. In Search of Christmas Spirit has released reservations for selected evenings from 12 November to 6 December. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the illuminated wildlife and story through Cascade of Time Garden, then wander back across the bridge for dinner.
If you're making a few days of it, Canmore may already be on your accommodation shortlist. It's certainly appearing in more searches: holiday-rental interest rose 55% year on year, earning the town a place on Vrbo's 2027 trending list, alongside Winnipeg as the two Canadian entries.
And if your trip falls after Christmas, there's still plenty to plan around. Banff SnowDays runs from 21 January to 7 February, with snow sculptures and winter games. Families might aim for 29 to 31 January, when free entertainment and hands-on activities come to Bear Street.
Between the lights, sculptures and time in town, a 40-minute sleigh ride through Banff's meadows gives you a chance to sit back and enjoy the mountains. Hot drinks are included, with a campfire afterwards when weather permits. We've left the walking for further down the newsletter.
📰 Banff Life
🎄 Banff Christmas light walk tickets available. Free tickets are now available for Banff's Christmas light walk from 12 November to 6 December. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for illuminated wildlife and a story through Cascade of Time Garden.
🏔️ Canmore makes Vrbo's trending list. Holiday-rental searches rose 55% year on year, putting Canmore on Vrbo's 2027 trending list. It's one of just two Canadian destinations among the 13 picks, alongside Winnipeg.
❄️ Banff SnowDays returns in January. Snow sculptures and winter games return from 21 January to 7 February 2027. For a family visit, the SnowDays programme includes free Bear Street entertainment and hands-on activities from 29 to 31 January.
🐺 Nine wolves killed on Yoho highway. Vehicles have killed nine wolves in five years on an unfenced stretch west of Lake O'Hara. Plans to widen the highway and add wildlife fencing and crossings remain without federal funding.
🚧 Grassi Lakes winter trail closure. The Interpretive Trail is closed because of unsafe ice flows; Grassi Lakes Upper remains open with an ice warning. The updated Rockies closures roundup also covers Johnston Canyon construction and fireguard restrictions around Canmore.
🎿 Norquay opens for skiing on 6 November. The ski season gets underway with the Cascade chairlift and Sundance Magic Carpet, plus early-season ticket prices. Lifts run from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with a free shuttle from Banff.
♨️ Banff Upper Hot Springs reopens. You can put a soak back on your Banff itinerary: the Upper Hot Springs has reopened after its annual autumn maintenance closure. Parks Canada completed repairs and facility improvements during the shutdown.
🎬 Banff's film festival closing weekend. Leave time between screenings for the free Festival Marketplace from 6 to 8 November. The Kinnear Centre hosts outdoor gear, mountain books and artisan stalls, with free talks on the Rab Stage.
🎄 Jasper's Christmas programme begins. From 13 November, Christmas in Jasper brings pizza-making, craft workshops and festive drinks to town. The self-guided Mug Trail includes a locally designed mug and five drink vouchers, with a non-alcoholic option.
🚗 Icefields Parkway winter tyre requirement begins. Driving the Parkway? Winter tyres or chains are required from 1 November. Parks Canada also recommends carrying warm clothing, food, water, a shovel and booster cables, and checking Alberta 511 for road conditions.
🌦️ Banff has a few showers sandwiched between brighter days. Thursday offers a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 5°C. Keep a brolly handy on Friday, with a 40% chance of showers and a high of 7°C. Saturday brings back the sun-cloud mix and nudges up to 8°C. Full Forecast Here
⭐ Readers' Choice: Top Posts From Last Issue
🐻 Bear 142 and her cub are having a wrestle, and we've got the video. Filmed on the Bow Valley Parkway on 25 May.
🐺 Banff wolf pup euthanised. A wolf pup injured by an elk on 12 October couldn't survive its injuries and was euthanised.
🏞️ Banff faces warden cuts. CBC reports Banff will lose one warden as Parks Canada closes detachments and cuts staffing.
Photo Credit: Robert Massey/Banff Lake Louise Tourism
Settle into a horse-drawn sleigh for a 40-minute ride through Banff's snowy meadows, with mountain views and stories from your driver. Hot drinks are included, with a campfire back at the stables when weather permits. A relaxed winter outing for families, subject to snow and weather conditions.
☀️ Planning Next Summer?
🚤 Lake Minnewanka from the water. For a break between hikes, the one-hour Lake Minnewanka cruise combines mountain views with stories of the submerged settlement. Allow extra time for limited parking.
🧗 Climb above Banff. Norquay's guided via ferrata climb suits adventurous travellers comfortable with exposed heights, using fixed cables and metal rungs. The half-day Ridgewalker route requires ages 12+ and a weight of 40 to 120 kg.
🥃 Inside a Banff distillery. For adults interested in local spirits, the Park Distillery tour and tasting pairs a look at production with four samples. Allow about an hour; the tour isn't wheelchair accessible.
❓ Your Questions Answered
Is Banff a good winter destination if I don't ski?
Yes. You can easily build a three- or four-day trip around snowy scenery, winter activities and good food without setting foot on a ski slope.
Start with these:
Visit Lake Louise. Enjoy the snowy lakeshore, skate when the maintained rink is open, or take a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Our sleigh ride guide explains the differences between the Banff and Lake Louise outings.
Ride the Banff Gondola. You get mountain views without hiking uphill, with indoor exhibits and somewhere to warm up at the summit. Choose a clear day if possible. Our winter gondola guide covers what to expect.
Try a winter activity. Dog sledding near Canmore or Lake Louise makes a memorable half-day outing. A guided snowshoe trip is another option if you'd prefer to be active.
Leave time for town. Short walks beside the Bow River, cafés, shops, a spa visit and leisurely meals give you something to enjoy between outdoor outings.
For a first non-skiing winter trip, we'd favour January to March, when snow-based activities are more established than in November. March also gives you longer daylight hours.
Stay centrally in Banff for restaurants and transport, and plan one main outdoor activity each day. Warm boots, layers and ice cleats make a real difference. You'll enjoy the trip more with time to warm up than with every hour booked.
Explore Banff on a two-hour guided electric fat bike ride, with routes chosen to suit the day's weather and trail conditions. The electric assist helps with the hills, leaving more energy for the views. Bike hire and a helmet are included; you'll need to be comfortable riding a bicycle.
📝 New and updated on The Banff Guide
We've refreshed our Larch Island walking guide for a quiet woodland loop beside the Bow River in Canmore, with directions, parking advice and notes on uneven ground and winter footing.
Our updated Banff Mountain Film Festival guide covers tickets and transport for the closing weekend, plus online viewing from 12 to 22 November for readers in Canada and the US.
🥾 Out on the trails
Johnson Lake
Johnson Lake gives you forest, shoreline and views towards Cascade Mountain and Mount Rundle in one manageable loop. The 2.9 km circuit takes around an hour, with extra time for photographs and the uneven sections. It's a good choice when you'd like a mountain outing without a long climb.
Parks Canada's 4 November report lists thin snow cover with variable footing, including ice and slush. Wear sturdy footwear, allow longer if it's slippery and stay on the shoreline trail rather than venturing onto any lake ice.
🎸Events, Activities & Live Music
Here's what's happening today. Planning ahead? See our FULL EVENT CALENDAR for the rest of the week's events and beyond.
Thursday, November 5
All Day | Mountain Film & Book Festival 2026 | The Banff Centre | Banff
All Day | Taste for Adventure | Banff Town | Banff
17:00 | Chess Night | Canmore Public Library | Canmore
17:30 | Rocky Mountain Adaptive: Volunteer Social | Canmore Brewing Co | Canmore
18:30 | Wood Carving and Whittling | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore
19:00 | Trivia Night | The Drake | Canmore
19:00 | Poker Night | Canmore Legion | Canmore
19:00 | Mike Petroff Songs and Stories | Canmore Public Library | Canmore
19:30 | Radical Reels (Repeat) | artsPlace | Canmore
19:30 | Balkan Greek Dinner Show | Balkan Restaurant | Banff
21:00 | DJ Styler Nazo: Requests Night | High Rollers | Banff
22:00 | The Halo | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff
22:00 | Thirsty Thursday Party | Melissa's Missteak | Banff
📅 Got An Event To Share?
📅 👉 Submit Here (3 days before the event date) for a FREE LISTING
🏕️ Quiz
Which partially frozen waterfall is shown in this photo?
From our last issue: Which public transit service runs buses from Banff to Lake Louise?
✅Answer: 1) Roam Transit - 89% Correct
Roam Transit provides regular bus service between Banff and Lake Louise. Learn more in our How to Get to Lake Louise Guide.
👋 That’s All For Now 🎬
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 | What’s On Banff
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