Banff Springs at Christmas

For anyone lucky enough to be staying at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel during the Christmas or New Year period, there is no end of fantastic activities and wonderful dining experiences to be enjoyed. From Christmas Parades to Carol Singing, from Snowshoeing to a Gingerbread House Workshop, their Christmas at the Castle brochure is jam packed full of special holiday events right through the month of December.
Below, the team at Banff.mobi has highlighted some their favorite activities and the main dining options for the Christmas period December 24th to 26th 2009.
Christmas is a very busy time at the Banff Springs and it is strongly recommended that you make reservations for any events and all dining before you arrive at the hotel.

Christmas Eve Activities

Christmas Day will no doubt involve indulging in some terrific food, so why not get out for some exercise on Christmas Eve by joining the Winter Wonderland Wilderness Walk from noon to 1pm. Christmas Cookie Decorating looks like a fun event for the family and takes place from 1-3pm and costs $25 (all inclusive) per family tray. Santa’s Workshop (3-5pm) is sure to get the kids excited for the big day, and the Great Santa Send-Off (5-5.30pm) is a fun and lively event with hot chocolate and carols. The Traditional Christmas Sing Along (9.30-10.30pm) has taken place at the Banff Springs for years and is a wonderful opportunity to sing and hear all your favorite carols in a very festive atmosphere.

Christmas Eve Dining, December 24

Alhambra Dining Room
5 course table d’hote dinner with live entertainment and dancing.
Seating times from 6.30 to 8.30pm
Adults $120 (incl. service charge and GST)

Bow Valley Grill
A Taste of the Castle International Dinner Buffet
6-9pm
Adults $82 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $41

Christmas Day Activities

After a morning of swapping Christmas presents, you might feel like some fresh air, so why not join the Christmas Day Skating Party with Frosty at 1pm on the Waldhaus rink, where there will also be a fire and hot chocolate to warm you up! If you don’t have skates, they can be rented from the ski rental shop at the Conference Centre. If you want to stay indoors why not try your hand at Bowling, which is available at the Conference Centre from noon to 11pm, and to wind down after an action-packed day, the children may enjoy listening to Bedtime Stories from 8-8.30pm.

Christmas Day Dining, December 25

Christmas Day Brunch with Santa
Christmas style brunch buffet with Santa giving out treats to the kids.
9.30am-2pm
Mezzanine 2
Adults $67 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $33.50

Family Christmas Buffet with Children’s Entertainment
5.30-8pm
Alberta Room
Adults $80 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $40

Bow Valley Grill Yuletide Buffet
6-9pm
Bow Valley Grill
Adults $82 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $41

Alhambra Dining Room
Four course table d’hote dinner with live entertainment and dancing.
Seating times from 6.30 to 8.30pm
Adults $120 (incl. service charge and GST)

Boxing Day Activities

If you haven’t yet had your Heritage tour of the Castle, Boxing Day (4-5pm) could be a good opportunity to do so, while the Family Skating Party sounds like a fun outdoor event from 4-9pm. Bingo Night (7-8pm) is sure to provide some light-hearted fun for all, and a couple of drinks at the Live Entertainment in the Rundle Hall (8pm-12am) would be a great way for the adults to wind down on Boxing Day night.

Boxing Day Dining, December 26

Boxing Day Brunch - Bow Valley Grill
Amazing brunch buffet with spectacular views.
10am-2.30pm
Adults $67 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $33.50

Apart from our picks above, there are many other festive events happening at the Banff Springs throughout the Xmas period. For full information, see the Christmas at the Castle brochure at the Fairmont Banff Springs website.
While we have made every effort to provide accurate information, we recommend that you confirm all events and pricing directly with the hotel.

To make reservations for Christmas events and dining, call the hotel dining reservations directly at 403 762 6860.

For information about Banff Springs Christmas Packages click here.

Christmas in the Rockies

Christmas celebrations in Banff start on December 5th 2009 with an exciting range of family activities including cookie decorating, Christmas crafts, a Bow Valley Chorus performance, Christmas tree decorating competition, and photos with Santa, all taking place between 1-4pm in Cascade Plaza.
Also, outside along Banff Ave there will be an ice carving demonstration, carol singing performances, free wagon rides and a puppet show.

The main event of the day is the Santa Claus Parade of Lights which starts at 5.30pm 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.

To continue the celebrations, on December 6th, from 11am to 12pm A Mountaintop Christmas Sing-Along takes place at the Regal View Garden Restaurant at the top of the Banff Gondola. It promises to be a festive occasion with children’s entertainment and Christmas songs combined with some of the most impressive views in the Canadian Rockies.

New Year at the Banff Springs 2009

Following on from our post highlighting the best Christmas events at the Banff Springs Hotel, we have now put together a list of our favorite events taking place at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel during the 2009/10 New Year period.
New Year is busier than Christmas in Banff, and we strongly recommend that all the following events be booked before you arrive at the hotel.

New Year’s Eve Family Dinner Buffet

Family celebration with toys and kids’ food for the children and an elaborate international buffet for the adults.
Dec 31st, 6-9pm
Bow Valley Grill
Adults $82 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $41

Banffshire Club New Year’s Eve Dinner

Five course tasting menu with champagne and wine pairing in the hotel’s fine dining restaurant.
Dec 31st, 6-9.30pm
The Banffshire Club
Adults $399 (incl. service charge and GST)
*If you wish to continue the celebration and attend the New Year’s Eve Party described below, special priced tickets are available for an additional $90.

New Year’s Gala Evening

This is the Banff Springs’ biggest New Year party with a champagne reception, four course gala dinner with wine pairings, cocktails and live entertainment.
Dec 31st, 7.30pm-1am
Van Horne Ballroom
Adults $285 (all inclusive)
Children 12-17 $175 (not recommended for 12yrs and under)
*Also open to guests staying at other Banff hotels

New Year’s Eve Party

If you don’t wish to attend the whole gala evening described above, you can join the party after dinner at 10pm, with cocktails and live entertainment.
Dec 31st, 10pm-1am
Van Horne Ballroom
Adults $125 (all inclusive)
Children 12-17 $50 (not recommended for 12yrs and under)
*Also open to guests staying at other Banff hotels

Other New Year’s Dining Options

The events described above are specially organized for New Year’s Eve, however the other hotel restaurants are also open for business as usual, including the Waldhaus, Samurai and Castello, all of which require reservations. Grapes Wine Bar and the Rundle Lounge will also be serving food on New Year’s Eve on a first come first served basis (reservations not accepted). There will also be live entertainment in the Rundle Hall.

New Year’s Day Dinner Buffet

Make your first dinner of 2010 a memorable one with the best dinner buffet in Banff.
Jan 1st, 6-9pm
Bow Valley Grill
Adults $80 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $40

Apart from our picks above, there are many other festive events happening at the Banff Springs throughout the Xmas and New Year period. For full information, see the Christmas at the Castle brochure at the Fairmont Banff Springs website.
While we have made every effort to provide accurate information, we recommend that you confirm all events and pricing directly with the hotel.

To make reservations for New Year events and dining, call Banff Springs dining reservations at 403 762 6860.

For information about New Year’s Eve Packages at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel click here.