Celebrate Christmas in Banff and Lake Louise
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When: November 14, 2024 to January 5, 2025
Every year, Banff and Lake Louise Tourism launch a plethora of holiday activities throughout the Rockies, and this year is no exception. Until January 5, head to the mountains for events like the Santa Claus Celebration of Lights, Banff Christmas Market, the Torchlight Parade and more.
Drink whisky and dine at The Maligne Range in Jasper
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The Maligne Range is a new distillery, blender and restaurant serving Canadian-inspired dishes in Jasper. Try dishes like the bison carpaccio, the Alberta beef brisket or a specialty dish like the bolognese alla tagliatelle with Alberta bison and beef. You can also purchase one of Maligne Range’s whisky creations here, with options like The Tekarra, which has fruit, candy and earthy notes, or The Amber Mountain whisky with notes of cracked pepper, cinnamon and green apple.
The Maligne Range, 604 Connaught Dr., Jasper, 825-422-5022, themalignerange.com
Enjoy Christmas at the Castle at Fairmont Banff Springs
When: November 17, 2024 to January 5, 2025
The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel has undergone its annual holiday makeover and will be hosting tons of festive events and winter activities over the coming weeks. Hotel guests can get cozy in front of numerous fire pits to roast marshmallows and make s’mores, go skating on the outdoor rink and more on the hotel grounds. Special events that are open to visitors include the hotel’s A Christmas Carol theatre production, which you can purchase tickets for online. And from December 15 to 17, Santa Claus will host immersive tours for Banff visitors and non-hotel guests of all ages ending at the floor-to-ceiling Christmas Tree in Mt. Stephen Hall with house-made treats and Santa photo ops. A full list of special events and activities offered during Christmas at the Castle, with additional details of what is available for hotel guests and visitors, is online.
Fairmont Banff Springs, 405 Spray Avenue, Banff, 403-762-2211, banff-springs-hotel.com
Try winter camping in a van
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If it seems like there are more northern lights than usual, you’re not wrong. According to NASA, the sun has reached its maximum phase in an 11-year solar cycle, which is known to cause an increase in solar activity, like the northern lights, in Earth’s skies. Winter camping in Banff National Park is already a popular activity and it might be one way to see this amazing phenomenon without the obstruction of city lights. Whether you catch a glimpse of the northern lights or not, you can still have a warm and cozy winter camping experience with Karma Campervans. The Calgary company’s campervans are equipped with essentials like dishware and cutlery, a propane stove, a cooler, table and chairs, a French press and more, plus essentials for winter camping like warm duvets and a built-in heater. Find more information online about rentals, recommendations on where to camp, and tips on how to winter camp in the Rockies.
Visit the Gingerbread Village at the Pomeroy Mountain Lodge
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When: December 1, 2024 to January 5, 2025
This year, the Pomeroy Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis is hosting a mix of family-friendly and adult-only holiday events like the Polar Express Train, cookie decorating, a winter cocktail-making class and more that are available to hotel guests. Plus, with the help of Park Production House, the Lodge will be decked out as a lifesize Gingerbread Village with immersive installations including a mailbox for letters to Santa and an eight-foot replica of the lodge made out of actual gingerbread. The Gingerbread Village is open to visitors/non-hotel guests to view. Check online for a full list of events and entry requirements (some events may be restricted to hotel guests only).
Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge, 1 Centennial Dr., Kananaskis, 403-591-7711, lodgeatkananaskis.com
Ride the New Super Angel LX Chairlift
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Ski and snowboarding enthusiasts will love this new addition to Banff Sunshine. The Super Angel LX Express Heated Bubble Chair is a six-seater lift with heated bucket seats, footrests and a yellow weather-protection bubble. The Super Angel replaces the Angel Express quad, and features technology that makes it faster and quieter than the previous model. It will carry passengers up a vertical gain of 1,244 feet (roughly the height of the Empire State Building) in just over five minutes and can carry 2,400 passengers an hour.
Banff Sunshine Village, 1 Sunshine Access Rd., Banff, 1-877-542-2633, skibanff.com