banff-events-live-music-local-news-what-s-on-banff-oct-22-2026

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

Banff's park boss won't face charges over his off-leash dog. Parks Canada has closed its investigation into Salman Rasheed, saying it was independent of local management but releasing no further details. We have an outcome, though the explanation remains brief.

Taste for Adventure starts today, with special menus across Banff and Lake Louise until 5 November. If there's a restaurant you've been meaning to try, check its festival menu before choosing your evening.

The Holiday Train's December stops are also in the diary: 15 December, with concerts at 6 pm in Canmore and 7:15 pm in Banff. Sam Roberts Band and Owen Riegling perform for free, with food bank donations encouraged.

For a winter evening away from town, the Johnston Canyon evening ice walk offers frozen falls by headlamp, with a guide, ice cleats and hot chocolate included. Plan for after the current construction closure, which is listed through 11 December.

Plan Your Visit To Banff For October | November | December | January | February

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🚡 Take the Ride of a Lifetime with the Banff Gondola

Always one of our top Banff recommendations. Mountain-top views for all ages and fitness levels, and open year-round.

Lock in your time slot

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

🐕 No charges for Banff superintendent. Parks Canada has finished its off-leash dog investigation into Salman Rasheed and won't lay charges. The agency says the investigation was independent of local management, but won't release further details.

✨ Banff's Christmas wildlife returns. In Search of Christmas Spirit brings illuminated animals and storytelling to Cascade of Time Garden from 12 November. It's free, but book ahead: the first general ticket release is 2 November at 10 am.

🚂 Holiday Train's boxcar stage returns. Catch free Holiday Train concerts with Sam Roberts Band and Owen Riegling on 15 December: Canmore at 6 pm, Banff at 7:15 pm. Wrap up warm and bring a food bank donation if you can.

🧳 Canadians book more small-group adventures. Intrepid reports a 48% September bookings increase among Canadians compared with last year. Trips within Canada are also drawing more interest, with domestic bookings up 10% so far in 2026.

🍽️ Banff's autumn dining deals. Been meaning to try somewhere new? Taste for Adventure brings special menus and dining deals to Banff and Lake Louise from 22 October to 5 November, with options from brunch to multi-course dinners.

🏨 Jasper's lost hotels set to return. Three in-town properties destroyed in the 2024 wildfire are expected to welcome guests again by spring 2027. Forest Park Hotel's next renovation phase is due to finish in mid-December.

🚌 Banff's buses had a busy September. Roam's Routes 1 and 2 carried 29% more riders in September than a year earlier, reaching nearly 246,000. The town estimates those journeys replaced more than 117,000 private vehicle trips.

🌨️ Banff is swapping sunglasses for snowflakes. Thursday brings mainly sunny skies and a high of 14°C. Friday drops to 4°C with periods of rain or snow, before Saturday brings periods of snow and a high of 1°C. Full Forecast Here

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

📍 Earthquake north of Canmore. Did you feel the magnitude 4.3 earthquake on 16 October? Earthquakes Canada recorded it at 4:46 a.m., 35 km north of Canmore.

🐕 Banff superintendent faces further investigation. Parks Canada is investigating Sal Rasheed's off-leash dog incident after previously saying the matter was addressed.

🌌 Banff's Night Sky Is Worth Staying Up For. Join a guided stargazing walk with night photography tips and a chance of aurora. Book here

🚣Activities You Might Enjoy

🛶 Bow River Kayaking Trip - Get on the water before the rental boats do. This small-group paddle from the Banff Canoe Club has the river to itself, with Mount Rundle as a backdrop and a chance of spotting Barry, the resident beaver.

📸 Banff Photoshoot Experience - Planning a proposal or just want photos with everyone in them? A licensed local photographer guides you to up to three spots in Banff National Park and delivers a professionally edited digital gallery to download and print.

🛷 Family-Friendly Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride - Wool blankets, sleigh bells and a hot drink by the fire make this 40-minute ride through the meadows below Rundle and Cascade Mountains an easy winter outing for the whole family, with elk and deer to watch for.

❓Your Questions Answered

⛷️ Is Banff worth visiting in winter? Absolutely - crowds thin out, scenery turns dramatic, and there are dozens of activities from skiing to wildlife safaris.

🚡 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.

🐱 Are lynx found in Banff National Park? Yes - Canada lynx live throughout the park's forested areas, though most visitors never see one due to their solitary, low-key habits.

❄️ 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

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

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

Thursday, October 22

Friday, October 23

Saturday, October 24

Sunday, October 25

📅 Got An Event To Share?

📅 👉 Submit Here (3 days before the event date) for a FREE LISTING

🏕️ Quiz

Which mountain is shown at the end of Banff Avenue in the above photo?

From our last issue: What is the name of the small group of lakes just west of Banff?

✅Answer: 1) Vermilion Lakes - 66% Correct

👋 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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Banff's Park Boss Faces No Charges