Celebrate Pride in Banff
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When: September 30 to October 10
The Banff Pride Festival is celebrating Pride all around Banff National Park, right into October. This 11-day festival is packed with events that include a drag show performance by Calgary’s very own Stephanie Prince from season two of Canada’s Drag Race, as well as live music, drag brunches and bingo, rock climbing activities, open mics, improv shows, yoga classes, markets and more. Full schedules and details can be found online.
Say Cheers to Oktoberfest in Fernie
When: October 8
The Griz Bar at Fernie Alpine Resort will host its third annual Oktoberfest celebration after a couple of years off during COVID. More details will be added closer to the day of the celebration, but you can be sure it will include German-inspired beer gardens, food stands and live music.
5339 Ski Hill Road, Fernie, skifernie.com
Run in the Canmore Grizzly Ultra
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When: October 8 to 9
Enjoy a mountain run before the winter snow at the Grizzly Ultra race in Canmore. Choose between the 50 km solo category or the two- or five-person relays that are hosted at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Besides the thrill of competition, each racer gets a custom-crafted finisher mug, a Grizzly Paw soda at the finish line and a long-sleeved hoodie or toque to keep warm. Kids 12 and under can join the free Grizzly Kids Run. To register and get full details and schedules for the races, visit the website.
Spend Thanksgiving in Lake Louise
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When: October 9
Tuck into a four-course Thanksgiving feast during your stay at The Post Hotel & Spa in Lake Louise. A member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux hotel group, The Post is known for its award-winning wine cellar (which houses more than 25,500 bottles) and an international culinary team led by executive chef Hans Sauter, who focuses on fresh, market ingredients and creative presentation. The Thanksgiving dinner features a harvest-themed menu but sticks to tradition with turkey as the main course. Available to hotel guests only, the meal is $118 per person, and reservations can be made by phone or online.
200 Pipestone Road, Lake Louise, 403-522-3989, posthotel.com
Listen to a Symphony Under the Stars in Jasper
When: October 14 to 16
The annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival runs from October 14 to 23 and lights the mountain town up with a host of activities and events, including this celestial celebration featuring a nighttime performance by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The event, which will be held at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, features two options: you can purchase tickets for just the concert, or you opt for a larger package that includes the concert as well as a three-course dinner and wine. More information on packages and availability can be found online.
Old Lodge Road, Jasper, 1-780-852-3301, jasper-park-lodge.com
Attend ᐸᐦᑭᓯᒧᐣ pahkisimon at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival
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When: October 22
This celebration of pahkisimon (Cree for “sunset”) starts just before sunset on the shores of Lake Annette, located off Old Lodge Road. After a ceremonial tipi raising, Warrior Women (a mother-daughter duo from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation) will lead the crowd in Indigenous teachings, hand-drumming and song. This will be followed by an Indigenous storytelling event hosted by interdisciplinary artist and actor Teneil Whiskeyjack, a Plains Cree woman from Saddle Lake First Nation. At sunset, Whiskeyjack will guide the audience in bidding goodnight to the sun and welcoming in the night. This event is free, but attendance is limited to the parking available on-site and guests must RSVP online in advance.
Camp in a yurt in Radium
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Find the yurt for you at this scenic, secluded site that consists of almost 1,000 acres of private wilderness. Radius Retreat offers 10 yurts that are hike-in only and sufficiently spaced apart so that each offers its own unique viewpoints and vibe. The Roost, for example, is a bright-blue yurt with a private meadow and front-facing patio that’s perfect for taking in the mountain vistas. Even your furry pals can enjoy this style of camping, as dogs stay for free and guests have access to 12 kilometres of hiking trails on the property.
Radius Retreat, 7058 HWY 95, Box 739, Radium Hot Springs, radiusretreat.com