By Andrew Cormier
Calgary has tons of festivals lined up this winter, but just a short drive away in the nearby Alberta Parks of Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise you’ll find a whole other roster of events. Here are just 6 you won’t want to miss this winter. [Photo credit: istockphoto.com/ca/portfolio/brytta]
You really can’t beat the view from the Banff Gondola. From the 360-degree rooftop deck, you’ll see six different stunning mountain ranges – made all the more beautiful with snow covering the mountaintops. During the Christmas season, Christmas at the Gondola makes the experience extra special, with treats for kids at the top of the ride and maybe even a visit from Santa. Inside, kids can decorate cookies, watch a movie and make a gift.
Calgary has Market Collective and the Commonwealth Collector’s Club, but the Town of Canmore has their very own artisan-focused market – the Mountain Made Christmas Market. Bringing together artisans from all over the Bow Valley region, you’re sure to find the perfect last-minute Christmas gift here, from jewellery and toques to pottery and paintings.
With one of the largest ski resorts in all of North America, Lake Louise is a popular destination for adventurers come winter. Some even like to spend Christmas at Lake Louise’s luxury hotels to get in as much skiing or snowboarding as possible. Thankfully, it’s a festive place to stay – especially due to the Christmas events scheduled at locations like Lake Louise Ski Resort. Whether you’re into sipping bubbly or going on a winter adventure, there’s a whole lineup of events scheduled in the mountain town.
The sight of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is impressive on a normal winter’s day, so the added glamour of the Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival is sure to make for a perfect weekend afternoon. Running Jan. 18 to 28, the festival brings together ice artists from all around the world as they get to work on their carved masterpieces.
Running at the same time as the Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival, Banff’s SnowDays festival is a free 11-day celebration of the beautiful mountain park. Enormous snow sculptures take over Banff’s scenic downtown while other popular attractions of the area – including sledding, tubing and skating – will provide entertainment during the festivities. It’s a great excuse to take the short trip out to one of Canada’s most popular and most beautiful parks.
The mountain town of Canmore is a popular spot to Calgarians to visit for a weekend, given its close proximity to the city. It’s an opportunity for city-folk to escape the hustle-and-bustle and live a rustic lifestyle for a change. That lifestyle will be celebrated during the Canmore Winter Festival, scheduled Feb. 1 to 11. Check out the ice carving competitions and make sure you don’t miss the ever-popular pooch parade.
Those are just a few of the events scheduled in the mountain parks near Calgary this winter. Of course, these festivals don’t even scratch the surface of what you could do in Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise, from skiing and snowboarding to going on a beautiful hike. Get out there!
