Festive Fun Begins: Banff’s Best Hotel, Christmas Market Dates & Pumpkin Walk

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

It's shaping up to be a picture-perfect weekend in Banff. 🎃 

The Pumpkin Walk and Community Fire take over Central Park today - a local favourite that never disappoints.

Over on Banff Avenue, Peaks Hotel and Suites continues to shine as TripAdvisor's top-rated spot.

And if you're already dreaming of holiday lights and mulled wine, mark your calendar: the Banff Christmas Market opens November 21. Keep reading for more local news, events, and mountain magic below.

• Banff in October: Read This Before You Visit!

• Banff in November: What You Need To Know!

• Banff in December: What to Expect in the Heart of Winter!

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🏕️ From Banff to Jasper - How Much Do You Know?

Yesterday’s answer.

Which national park is home to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake?
✅ Answer: B) Banff National Park (54 from 74 - 73% correct)

🌤️ Weather Watch (Thur 6 PM)

👉 For the detailed outlook and a year’s weather guide, visit our Weather Page.

🏞️ Your Questions Answered!

1. Where can I buy a park pass? There are plenty of options. We explain here.

2. Can non-guests visit the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel? The Fairmont Banff Springs is open to all - non-guests can wander the grounds, visit the spa, or stop in for afternoon tea.

3. Are there family-friendly Halloween events in Banff? From pumpkin walks to spooky campfire stories, there’s plenty for kids (and parents). Check out the family lineup

🏔️ Banff in Brief - Headlines this Week

🚴 Think locals know best? Think again. Whether you're born-and-raised or just passing through, Canmore's trails show no safety gap - locals and visitors act the same around wildlife. See the full research breakdown.

🍽️ Figuring out food in Banff? This tour takes you to the right places. If you're unsure about where to eat or what counts as Canadian cuisine, consider booking a tour to try local favourites such as poutine & caesars. Check it out

❄️ Avalanche risk already rising in Kananaskis. With winter rolling in, Alberta Parks warns that isolated avalanche problems are possible, even before heavy snowfall. Early-season explorers should pack safety gear, plan routes carefully, and check Avalanche Canada. See the safety advice here.

🏔️ TripAdvisor’s top pick in Banff. Peaks Hotel and Suites earns rave reviews for its warm service, stylish rooms, and unbeatable downtown spot. Discover Banff’s best-rated stay.

✨ Festive magic returns to the Banff Christmas Market. From Nov 21 - Dec 14, discover handmade treasures, mulled wine, and holiday cheer beneath the mountain peaks. Open Fri to Sun, 10:00 - 20:00. Plan your merry visit.

🎃 Great Pumpkin Walk and Community Fire is tomorrow. Stroll a glowing path of carved pumpkins from Central Park to the Recreation Grounds tomorrow, Friday, October 24, with live local music and hot chocolate by big fires. Open to all, pumpkin reg closed. Plan your stroll.

🏷️ Today’s Best Deals

🏔️ Banff Aspen Lodge is Right Where You Need to Be - Now Discounted. Just steps from downtown and close to the ski bus, this is an easy base for exploring Banff. Start with breakfast, end with the hot tubs, and skip the long walks in between - book direct to save.

🎿 Marmot Basin’s Escape Card brings half-price thrills. Grab the Marmot Escape Card for $109+GST and score 50% off lift tickets all season - no blackout dates! Plus, midweek rides are just $65, and you can bring a buddy for half price too. Ski more, spend less.

🏔️ 50 years of mountain magic in Banff. The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival returns Nov 1-9 with daring expeditions, breathtaking films, and trailblazing adventurers. Dive into the adventure.

🌙 Meet Jasper's nocturnal neighbours under the stars. Week 2 of the Jasper Dark Sky Festival invites you to Lake Annette, Oct 24-25, for an enchanting night of owls, bats, and stargazing magic - with free shuttles too! Catch the cosmic fun.

🎧 Pineo & Loeb return to Jasper for an epic night! On Friday, November 14, the duo headlines the first Astoria Hotel Takeover at De'd Dog Bar & Grill. All ticket sales support the Jasper Skatepark Committee - good vibes, good cause, great beats! Snag your party tickets before they sell out.

⭐ Readers’ Choice: Top Links from Last Issue

• 🍻 I love this festival - and it starts today!

• 🍽️ Taste for Adventure starts today in Banff

• 📸 A new view for Banff’s iconic sign!

🔔 Quick Reminders

📢 Extra time on your Parks Canada Pass - Discovery Passes are automatically extended by 3 months. No rush to renew, enjoy more time exploring Banff & beyond.

♨️ Banff Upper Hot Springs closed - Maintenance and upgrades continue until Dec 2025. Plan ahead and explore alternatives.

🚧 Highway 40 (Highwood Pass) - Seasonal Closure. Highway 40 from Peter Lougheed Park to Highwood House closes to vehicles Dec 1-June 20. More info

🐻 Bear season alert. October is still prime time for bear activity as they fuel up for hibernation. Stay alert, make noise, and keep bear spray handy.

🔧 Banff Gondola closure. The Banff Gondola is closed Nov 10-21, 2025, for annual maintenance, reopening Nov 22.

⚠️ Sundance Canyon Loop closed. Bridge repairs are underway, with an estimated reopening in mid-November 2025. The main Sundance Trail remains open.

🚫 Bow Glacier Falls Trail is closed. Access is restricted for safety, but you can still hike partway to view the falls from a distance. Closure in effect until further notice.

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

📅 Today’s Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.

BANFF EVENTS | CANMORE EVENTS | JASPER EVENTS

📅 To view all future events, visit our website.

BANFF EVENTS | CANMORE EVENTS | JASPER EVENTS

🍺 Happy Hours & Food Specials

Our Happy Hours listings have moved. To view a complete list of this week's happy hours, visit our Happy Hour pages.  BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS

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