Banff’s Winter Wonderland: A White Christmas in the Rockies
Whether it’s your first or hundredth time visiting the Rocky Mountains, there’s something magical about Banff in the Christmas season. Visiting Banff during November and December is like walking onto the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
As far as Banff is concerned, Christmas starts in November and lasts until the end of December. The winter thrill seekers flock to Sunshine Village, Mount Norquay and Lake Louise ski resorts. For the more low-key winter adventurers, the town of Banff offers everything you could want and more.
If you are considering starting a new winter tradition with your family, keep on reading to learn more about Banff’s tourist attractions during the Christmas season.
The Christmas Market
Let the scent of mulled cider, the sound of horses and the sight of twinkling lights draw you into Banff’s traditional European-style Christmas Market at the Warner Stables! Inspired by the Old World and influenced by the New, the Banff Christmas Market hosts the best artisanal vendors on this side of the Bow Valley! Nibble on warm pretzels and sip on hot cocoa while perusing over 100 vendors’ artisanal goods.
Take your kids to visit Santa’s House, greet his courageous steeds at the Reindeer Stables, and warm up in the outdoor fire lounge while enjoying the live music. After your first visit to Banff’s Christmas Market, it will soon become a tradition that your kids will look forward to all year long.
Banff’s Christmas Market is a major tourist attraction, so all tickets must be pre-purchased for specific time slots. You can catch the Christmas Market on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the last two weekends of November and the first weekend of December.
Sleigh Rides
Christmas magic comes to life in the middle of the Rockies with red noses, warm scarves, and mittened hands clasped around hot chocolate. Any visit to Banff’s Christmas market is incomplete without hopping on the horse-drawn sleigh ride.
The horse-drawn sleigh ride is a quintessentially Canadian memory that parents and kids will cherish for years to come. Don’t forget to visit the stables and pop by each stall to meet Santa’s reindeer-horses!
The Spirit of Christmas
If you love correcting Christmas ornaments, we have the store for you. With three floors of Christmas cheer spread over 5,000 square feet, the Spirit of Christmas is Canada’s largest year-round Christmas store! From handmade Canadiana creations to Department 56 Villages, you will surely find the perfect item to memorialize Christmas in Banff.
The Spirit of Christmas has been a staple of Banff, delighting locals and visitors alike since 1986! Add this to your to-do list because any visit to Banff in the winter is incomplete without purchasing at least one ornament from the Spirit of Christmas.
Get in Touch
Are you planning on visiting Banff during the winter months? The dedicated team at Banff Adventures is here to help you plan the perfect mountain getaway. Get in touch with our team to learn more about Christmas in Banff.
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