Christmas in the Rockies

Christmas celebrations start early in Banff on November 19th 2016 when from 10am to 4pm you can have your photo taken with Santa at Banff Train Station for a $10 donation.
The main event of the day is the Santa Claus Parade of Lights which starts at 6pm and runs from Elk St to Buffalo St via Banff Ave. The parade will include festive floats and Christmas lights and will no doubt be the highlight of the day for all the children.

The following weekend on November 26th-27th 2016 the Banff Christmas Market will take place at Warner Stables, and will include shopping, wagon rides and carol singing. The same weekend on Saturday Nov 26th there will be cookie decorating, games, crafts plus a Christmas treasure hunt at the top of Banff Gondola from 11am to 1.45pm.

On Saturday December 3 2016 from 10am-4pm there are free Holiday Wagon Rides along Banff Avenue, starting at the Banff Trail Riders Store.
Also on Dec 3 in the Bison Courtyard from 11.30am family festivities will include stories, puppet shows, and a good helping of Christmas spirit! From 2-4pm Santa will be visiting the Banff train station where kids can have their photo taken with Santa. Also from 1-4pm the Whyte Museum will be hosting A Whyte Christmas, featuring carols, crafts, cookies and hot chocolate.

If you would like to combine your Christmas in the Rockies weekend with some skiing or snowboarding, you should check out the Banff ski packages which combine hotels in Banff with lift tickets at a discounted rate.