banff-events-live-music-local-news-what-s-on-banff-oct-01-2026

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

The Banff Upper Hot Springs reopened on March 31 after a closure that started last autumn. It has now lasted six and a half months before needing another rest. The pool closes October 13 for annual maintenance and should reopen around early November, so if a soak was part of your October plans, bring it forward.

The Bow Valley Parkway changes hands next week too. The car-free season ends Tuesday, October 6, and the 17 km between Fireside and Johnston Canyon goes back to cars. Cyclists have until then, or after April 30.

Early Friday brings roughly a one-in-three chance of northern lights. Lake Minnewanka faces north, so it is a great place to go if you are hoping to get lucky.

With sunshine forecast through the weekend, it is a good few days for the Icefields Parkway. The Columbia Icefield tour takes you onto the Athabasca Glacier by Ice Explorer, then out to the Skywalk, a glass floor 280 metres above the valley. It needs a reservation.

Plan a visit to Moraine Lake | How to get to Moraine Lake | Book the Lake Louise / Moraine Lake shuttle (video)

Plan Your Visit To Banff For October | December

👉 Follow us on YouTube | Facebook for more updates!

🏔️ Feeling overwhelmed planning your Banff trip?

Ask Jill from What’s on Banff

Too many options, not enough time to sort through them all. I can help you figure out what actually matters for your trip.

Get some help

Driving the Icefields Parkway? This Part Needs a Reservation

Ride a massive all-terrain vehicle out onto the Athabasca Glacier, then walk out onto the Skywalk, a glass-floored platform suspended 280 metres above the valley below.

Book your time slot

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

Moraine Lake - Sept 21st 2026

♨️ Hot Springs Takes Another Break. The Banff Upper Hot Springs closes October 13 for annual maintenance, reopening around early November. The pool only reopened on March 31, after a closure that began last autumn.

🌌 Aurora Odds: One in Three. Solar activity could bring northern lights over Banff early Friday, with roughly a one-in-three chance of a visible show. Lake Minnewanka faces north, which is why everyone else will be there.

🚲 Parkway Bike Season Runs Out. The Bow Valley Parkway car-free season ends Tuesday, October 6, handing the 17 km between Fireside and Johnston Canyon back to cars. Cyclists who miss it can try again from April 30. Book your ride.

🏳️‍🌈 Banff Pride Stretches to Ten Days. The Banff Pride Festival returns October 2-12 with more than 30 events, from the march and flag raising to drag brunch and burlesque. It began 13 years ago as a single day.

🕯️ Ghost Stories at Jasper Park Lodge. Jasper Park Lodge marks Halloween from October 28 to November 2 with ghost tours, scavenger hunts and s'mores. The resident spirits, by Lodge tradition, are guests who liked it too much to leave.

🎭 Canmore Theatre Stages Backstage Musical. Canmore's Carter-Ryan Theatre is running a brand-new Canadian musical comedy until November 1, with tap dancing, vintage standards and a grandmother who turns away every man who auditions.

🦅 Kananaskis Eagle Rush Hour Approaches. The golden eagle migration peaks October 5-21, when Hay Meadow volunteers can count up to 300 birds a day. Visitors are welcome until November 15. Bring binoculars - most eagles are dots above the ridges.

☀️ Blue skies are settling in for a sunny stretch - Thursday kicks off sunny with a high of 13°C, and Friday brings a mix of sun and cloud at 13°C. The sunshine is back in full force on Saturday, warming up to 15°C, so it's a great weekend to hit the trails. Full Forecast Here

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

🦌 Elk Delivers Rut Advisory Personally. A bull elk in the Banff hospital parking lot rammed a parked Nissan with the driver inside; nobody appeared hurt.

🪨 Banff Graffiti May Be Fake. Photos of a boulder near Devil's Thumb covered in names prompted a Parks Canada investigation.

🚡 The View Without the Climb - Eight minutes in a four-person cabin gets you to 2,281 metres, then wander the boardwalk to the old weather observatory.

🚣Activities You Might Enjoy

🚲 E-Bike and Hike to Johnston Canyon - Let the motor handle the hills. A guide leads you past Vermilion Lakes and along the Bow Valley Parkway, 26km in all, then you trade wheels for boots and walk up to Johnston Canyon's Lower Falls.

🦌 Banff Wildlife Tour - Rather than guess where the elk are, ride with a local guide who builds the route around recent sightings. Stops usually include Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake, Surprise Corner and Bow Falls, with hotel pickup in Banff.

🐴 Horse Ride (1 Hr) - Never ridden before? After a quick lesson at the Sundance Road stables, you follow your guide along the Bow River and past the Cave and Basin, where Canada's national parks began, with mountain views the whole way.

❓Your Questions Answered

👀 Can visitors actually see The Boss? Sightings happen, mostly from roadsides like the Bow Valley Parkway, but treating any encounter with caution and distance is always the right approach.

🌊 How long is the Bow Falls walk and is it suitable for beginners? It is a short, easy riverside trail that most visitors complete in under an hour - perfect for families and first-timers of any fitness level.

💰 Is it cheaper to stay in Canmore than Banff? Generally yes - accommodation in Canmore tends to cost less, and that saving often goes straight into activities like guided hikes or canoe hire rather than sitting in your pocket.

❄️ Walk Johnston Canyon's Frozen Falls Under the Stars

Johnston Canyon feels like a different place after dark, and the crowds are long gone. Your guide leads the way, and gear is provided.

See the canyon after dark

🏕️ Quiz

Which lake is shown in the above photo, known for its bright turquoise colour and wolf-shaped outline?

From our last issue: What is the main reason Moraine Lake is closed to private vehicles?

✅Answer: 3) Limited parking and congestion issues - 83% Correct

The access road has very limited parking, and vehicle restrictions were introduced to manage traffic and reduce environmental impact. Find out how to get there.

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

Featured events are listed below. View the FULL EVENT CALENDAR for a complete list.

Thursday, October 1

Friday, October 2

Saturday, October 3

Sunday, October 4

👋 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

✉️ Not on our mailing list? 👉 Sign Up Here to receive “What’s On Banff” IT’S FREE!

💬 Want to get in touch? For feedback, local stories, or questions, reply to this email.

👉 Follow us on YouTube | Facebook for more updates!

💡 This email contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

➡️ As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Banff Hot Springs Closing Again