Holiday Fun in the Mountains - Best Ways to Spend the Festive Season in Banff
Young Nikki Tate frolicking in Banff.
Back when I was a kid and lived in the Harmon Residence up on St. Julien Road (check it out, it’s a sweet place!!), there was no fancy plaque outside, no garage down by the road, and I had no idea who had built the house and lived there before me. Hey, I was 12 and living in the centre of my own little universe. The Christmas we were in the house (we only lived there for about 18 months) my mom looked out of the big living room windows at the Bow Valley spread before us, freshly fallen snow on the mountains and said, “It’s like living in a Christmas card.”
Yep. So. True.
Christmas in the mountains is special. Make some memories of your own by partaking in some of these seasonal activities.
CAROLS IN THE PARK
December 21 at 4 pm and 7 pm
Deck the Halls with boughs of holly…. Get your dose of fa-la-la-la-la by heading down the Banff Avenue square on December 21 for the last of the carol-singing sessions for this year. Bundle up, gather round the fire, sing along, and roast marshmallows - a perfect family event and totally free.
AFTERNOON TEA AT THE CASTLE - HOLIDAY STYLE
Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Banff Springs might not be something you do every day, but if you are going to indulge yourself then take advantage of the special festive menu on offer during the holiday season. Yes, you’ll still have your fill of delicate pastries, fine loose leaf teas, and wee sandwiches, but you’ll also find turkey and roast beef (with bannock, for a distinctly Canadian flair) on offer. Finish up with spiced pumpkin tart with molasses cream or a ginger molasses cookie. Oh. So. Yummy!
CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE
December 14 - 25, 2019
2:00 pm - December 14, 15, 21, 22, 24 & 25
8:00 pm - December 11, 12, 14, 15, 19-28
Can you think of a more Christmassy tradition than taking in a live performance of holiday classic, A Christmas Carol? Where better to experience the magic of this ghostly tale of redemption than at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel? This terrific show includes music, puppets and magic. Hotel guests receive 50% off the ticket price.
CHRISTMAS BRUNCH OR DINNER BUFFETS AT THE JUNIPER BISTRO
December 25th
On Christmas Day, indulge your whole family and enjoy one of two feasts being offered by the Juniper Bistro. The brunch serves up a classic Christmas carvery with all the trimmings, grazing bites plus all the Juniper breakfast favourites you’ve come to love. You’ve got lots of time to enjoy the spread - brunch is scheduled between 9 am and 3 pm.
If you prefer to have your main meal in the evening (more time for playing with your new toys!!), a full dinner buffet will be served between 5 pm and 8 pm. There’s something for everyone at the table - from the hearty game chili in the soup kettle (duck, lamb, boar) to a range of delicious options on the grazing table (salads, charcuterie, smoked salmon, dips and breads) to sumptuous selections from the carvery (including roasted root vegetables, turkey, beef, ham, cauliflower rice, brussels and speck). One thing is certain - you aren’t going to leave hungry!
Reservations are highly recommended. https://thejuniper.com/dining/
COUNTRY CHRISTMAS DINNER
When: December 23, 26, 28 & 30, 2019
I can’t remember exactly how this came to pass (it was a long time ago), but I do remember bundling up in a bright red wooden blanket and taking a sleigh ride courtesy of the Brewsters. Turns out, the Brewsters are still offering sleigh rides and, even better, after Jack Frost has nipped at your nose you’ll be dropped off at a cozy barn just in time for Christmas dinner and an evening of live country music, line dancing, good old-fashioned western hospitality. Feast on salad, baked beans, baked potatoes, and roast beef with all the fixings but be sure to leave a little room for a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie! (The sleigh leaves from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - book now because the available spots are filling fast!)
PEAK EXPERIENCE
December 22 - 30, 2019
When I was a kid, it was such a treat to ride the gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain. That’s still true today, even more so since the renovation of the summit amenities. How about starting a new family tradition and dining at the Sky Bistro for your Christmas meal? Choose from menu items like venison with apple and pear purée, sage & thyme polenta with foraged BC mushrooms and sherry-roasted heirloom tomato, or Canmore Brewing Mineside Stout-braised Alberta AAA Angus short rib with roasted brussel sprouts and wild BC mushrooms. Oh. Yum! And, no dishes to wash!
On your way to or from dinner, spend some time exploring the Elk Interpretive Centre and snap a holiday-themed selfie! (Don’t forget to tag us! @TasteBanff)
HIT THE SLOPES IN STYLE AND SKI FREE
Halloween isn’t the only day of the year where getting dressed up has its perks. Banff Sunshine Village is gifting a day of free skiing and snowboarding to anyone who shows up in costume to ski on Christmas Day. Yep - grab that Santa suit and hit the slopes!
We’d love to hear about your holiday highlights, especially if they involve food! What’s the one dish you absolutely MUST find on your seasonal dinner table? Which Banff restaurant does the best job of satisfying your holiday cravings?
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Join our Banff Dinner Club, follow us on Insta, & become a Menu Hunter by tagging @tastebanff in your stories and posts! Got tasty things to say? Join us as a contributing blogger!