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Compiled by the Highway Journey Alberta crew
Final up to date on November 19, 2022
With towering snow-capped mountain peaks, effervescent scorching springs, and idyllic winter scenes in all places you look, Banff Nationwide Park is a magical place to spend the vacations. Yearly, Banff townsite is remodeled right into a winter wonderland full with every kind of actions that the entire household can take pleasure in together with sleigh rides, Christmas markets, carol singers, Christmas crafts, and picture ops with Santa.
So why not mount these winter tires, head west, and uncover all that Christmas in Banff has to supply?
Celebrating Christmas in Banff Nationwide Park
Banff Nationwide Park is the crown jewel of the Canadian Rockies, and Banff at Christmas is a sight to behold. The ski resorts turn out to be nearly unrecognizable when the Christmas decorations come out, and there’s a ton of additional particular vacation magic in each Banff and the close by hamlet of Lake Louise all through the vacation season. How about taking a horse-drawn sleigh experience in each Banff and Lake Louise with that particular somebody?
Attempt ice skating and visiting the ice citadel on the enduring Lake Louise, or maybe wander round downtown Banff, admiring the colorful decorations that adorn Banff Ave. How about some winter mountaineering? Many hikes in Banff are much more stunning as soon as they’re coated in snow. And the proper method to finish the day? Take a soak in Banff Higher Scorching Springs, or sip on a scorching chocolate in entrance of a hearth discovered alongside the Banff festive scorching chocolate path.
No matter tickles your fancy, you gained’t be disenchanted if you happen to select to spend this Christmas in Banff.
Discovering the Greatest Christmas Lights in Banff Nationwide Park
Nothing screams Christmas extra loudly than twinkling lights. Banff’s Christmas lights will be loved at dozens of areas, however anybody visiting Banff at Christmas can inform you there are a couple of locations that stand among the many relaxation. Listed below are only a few the place locations you may take a look at stunning Christmas lights in Banff.
Cascade of Time Backyard
The Cascade of Time Backyard will be discovered alongside Cave Avenue in Banff city. In the course of the Christmas season, an interactive vacation expertise known as In Search of Christmas Spirit descends upon the backyard to inform a charming story of appreciation advised from the viewpoint of the wildlife that calls Banff Nationwide Park residence. Illuminated sculptures, rows of lights, and real looking sound results full the expertise. In Search of Christmas Spirit runs on choose days from November 23 till the tip of December, and tickets will be bought on-line. Gown heat, because the occasion is totally open air.
Downtown Banff
Because the outlets, eating places, and resorts that line the streets of downtown Banff mild up, so you’ll absolutely discover your festive spirit as you wander up and down the lanes and avenues. Sip on a scorching drink as you admire the twinkling lights, or munch on a Beaver Tail, a real Canadian basic. Banff Avenue is a superb place to begin.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Nothing screams Banff Christmas greater than the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, it lights up in and out in the course of the vacation season. On the garden, towering bushes sparkle in shades of blue, inexperienced, and pink. In the principle foyer, a big, absolutely decked-out Christmas tree sits beneath a shocking chandelier. Whereas spending the evening could be a bit costly, it prices nothing to go to the Chateau merely to admire the lights and it’s a surefire method to get into the Christmas spirit. Fairmont’s location proper on Lake Louise simply provides to its magnificence and surprise.
Fairmont Banff Springs Lodge
Much like the Fairmont Chateau, the Fairmont Banff Springs Lodge transforms into an enchanted Christmas citadel and encompasses a spectacular mild show in the course of the Christmas season. If staying on the lodge breaks the financial institution, you may nonetheless benefit from the lights on the lodge’s winter occasion, Christmas At The Citadel.
The CP Vacation Practice
Seeing the lit-up CP Vacation Practice is magical because it makes its approach throughout Canada. The practice departs Montreal on November 27 and heads west in the direction of Vancouver, making dozens of stops alongside the way in which. The decked-out practice strives to unfold consciousness and garner help for meals banks throughout Canada. For 2022, the practice stops in Banff on December thirteenth at 7:00pm on the Banff Practice Station. Don’t miss out on the free stay leisure from MacKenzie Porter and Virginia to Vegas.
Visiting the Banff Christmas Markets
There are fairly a couple of Banff Christmas markets to see in the course of the festive season! Should you’re planning to spend Christmas in Banff, you’ll find that good last-minute vacation present at any of those markets.
Banff Christmas Market
The Banff Christmas Market runs each weekend from November 18th till December 4th and is loaded with over 100 artisanal distributors, stay leisure, and loads of Christmas treats to eat and drink across the outside hearth pit. Tickets should be pre-purchased however are solely $10 per individual, and children underneath 10 years previous are free. The market grounds will be discovered at Warner Stables.
Bear Road Vacation Market
The Bear Road Vacation Market will be discovered proper within the coronary heart of Banff and is an important slice of a Banff Christmas. Flick thru the stalls and help native artisans and distributors to search out the proper items, pattern signature Banff treats, after which prime off your day by having fun with a scrumptious dinner at any of the eating places that dot Banff Avenue. The Bear Road Vacation Market runs from December 10 – 31 on choose dates, so test the hyperlink above!
Christmas Carols, Performs, and Live shows in Banff
Carols on the Park
There may be nothing like Christmas carols to get you within the vacation spirit, and this further particular Christmas live performance, held in Banff Avenue Sq. on a number of Saturday nights from November via to January (see the schedule right here) guarantees to not disappoint.
Nation Christmas Dinner
The Brewster Nation Christmas Dinner is a brilliant enjoyable method to expertise Christmas cheer and the country nation attraction Alberta is understood for. Visitors start on the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and climb aboard a horse-drawn sleigh for a magical experience to the barn the place you’ll be greeted by a stay band enjoying nation Christmas music. Deliver the entire household and revel in a home-cooked Christmas dinner, and possibly even discover ways to line dance. The dinner is being supplied on December 23, 28 and thirtieth. Get your tickets earlier than they promote out!
The place to Discover Santa in Banff
Santa has been identified to spend time at Lake Louise and Banff at Christmas. You’ll find him on the Banff Springs or the Chateau Lake Louise, however listed below are a couple of of his different favorite native hangouts the place you would possibly simply be fortunate sufficient to see him.
Atop Sulphur Mountain
How a couple of go to to Santa atop a mountain? Expertise a Mountaintop Christmas by taking the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain. A shocking hike in the course of the summer time months, the ascent is far simpler in the course of the cooler months because of the Banff Gondola. Take within the breathtaking surroundings as you experience the gondola to the mountain peak, the place you’ll find Santa’s Bakeshop, picture ops, and many extra for all ages to take pleasure in. The Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain runs on Saturdays and Sundays solely in the course of the month of November, however begins day by day runs on December nineteenth and goes till the thirtieth.
Tickets are beneficial prematurely and will be booked on-line.
Santa’s Home and Reindeer Stables
A photograph op with Santa is a kind of must-do Christmas actions, and households visiting Banff at Christmas time head to Santa’s Home and Reindeer Stables to do exactly that. You’ll find him at Warner Stables in the course of the Christmas Markets.
Santa Claus Parade
**Cancelled for 2022**
No Christmas in Banff Nationwide Park is full with out a go to to Banff city to see the Santa Clause Parade. Santa and his elves will probably be tossing sweet canes down Banff Ave from Elk Road to Buffalo Road. Children will even get the possibility to take their image with Santa and inform him all their Christmas needs. It’s a kind of good Banff Christmas actions.
Santa on the Slopes
Should you’re planning to hit up a ski resort throughout your Banff Christmas, you would possibly simply be fortunate sufficient to identify the Huge Man amongst lots of of different Santas hitting the slopes on the times main as much as Christmas Day, even on Christmas Eve. You additionally might catch him and Mrs. Claus gifting away sweet canes close to the chairlifts or all through the resorts.
Santa on the Slopes is a standard a part of a mountaintop Christmas, happening yearly at Sunshine Village.
Christmas Purchasing in Banff
It ought to be simple to search out that good present at Christmas at any of Banff’s picturesque vacation shops. Merely wander downtown and pop into all of the completely different outlets and markets.
Spirit of Christmas Retailer
Anybody looking for Christmas spirit and people good Christmas items can discover them at Banff’s well-known Christmas retailer, The Spirit of Christmas. Positioned on Banff Avenue, right here you’ll find these good festive dishes for Christmas dinner, cute trinkets that invite the vacation spirit into your property, and that particular present for the one you love to unwrap on Christmas Day.
Different in style outlets for Christmas procuring in Banff are:
- Cool as a Moose – They’re Canada’s #1 Memento retailer and have distinctive clothes and items for all ages.
- Branches – In search of the proper genuine handmade Banff memento? You’ll absolutely discover it right here. Branches have artwork, playing cards, stickers, mugs, present units, and the rest you’re in search of.
- Rocky Mountain Cleaning soap Firm – Strolling in you’ll love the scent. Right here you’ll discover pure soaps and different skincare merchandise made proper within the Canadian Rockies.
Different Christmas Occasions and Actions in Banff
There’s a lot to do in Banff in the course of the Christmas season. Make sure you take a look at these different strategies that may absolutely convey vacation cheer.
Sleigh Rides
A non-public horse-drawn sleigh experience with the one you love is the last word method to rejoice Christmas within the Canadian Rockies. Wrap your self in a heat blanket and take within the surroundings of the magical winter wonderland that’s on the Banff valley aspect throughout a 40-minute tour.
Cross Nation and Downhill Snowboarding
There are 3 essential ski resorts in Banff Nationwide Park that are a number of the finest for Alberta snowboarding and are famend around the globe. But additionally the cross nation snowboarding is a kind of Banff winter actions that simply don’t get sufficient credit score. What higher method to get your coronary heart fee up than admiring the great thing about your environment on a quiet forest path?
Skating
Do you know which you can ice skate on Lake Louise? Ice skating is the quintessential winter exercise, and in the course of the winter months, the enduring blue Lake Louise, simply exterior the Fairmont Chateau, freezes stable, permitting guests to spend Christmas day ice skating, surrounded by towering peaks. One other in style skating alternative is Lake Minnewanka or Spray Lakes Provincial Park (20 minutes from Canmore).
Hike Tunnel Mountain
There’s no scarcity of mountaineering trails within the Canadian Rockies, and mountaineering in the course of the winter provides a wholly new perspective on the great thing about Banff. Tunnel mountain is one in every of Banff’s hottest hikes, and is normally accessible in the course of the winter as nicely.
Canine Sledding
It’s exhilarating to be whisked via the snow and bushes being pulled by a crew of canine. Banff at Christmas is the proper alternative to provide canine sledding a attempt if you happen to’ve by no means accomplished it earlier than.
Scorching Chocolate Path
Talking of scorching chocolate, Banff and Lake Louise’s scorching chocolate path is an absolute must-do for anybody spending Christmas in Banff or Lake Louise. From November to January 1, Christmas-themed scorching chocolate treats will be discovered for a restricted time at over 20 eating places unfold out throughout Banff city and Lake Louise, together with a couple of ‘grownup’ boozy scorching chocolate decisions. Why not attempt all of them?!
Banff Higher Scorching Springs
Lastly, no go to to Banff Nationwide Park is full with out a soak within the world-famous Banff Higher Scorching Springs. Marvel on the surrounding surroundings and breathe within the crisp mountain air when you soak within the pure spring water.
In search of extra vacation cheer?
When you’re within the mountains having fun with all the vacation cheer, don’t neglect to eat nicely! Try our guides to brunch in Banff plus all one of the best Banff eating places for each meal.