Banff, Alberta (PRWEB) January 06, 2015
SnowDays is coming and visitors to Banff National Park are in for a real Rocky Mountain treat. The annual celebration of all things winter, now in its fourth year, features an entire month of mid-week and weekend events that combine history, culture and cutting edge winter action that can’t be found anywhere else. Fuelled by non-stop fun, SnowDays has something for everyone – from adrenaline-pumping activities to family friendly winter entertainment.
Opening Weekend Kick-Off Street Party: SnowDays will open in style on January 10 with a Kick-Off Street Party on Banff Avenue featuring a White Winter Long Table Picnic, live entertainment, ice carving demonstrations and a whole lot more. Visitors are encouraged to dress in white to complement the beautiful snow-capped surroundings, enjoy some delicious Alberta BBQ, cosy up by the fire pits for marshmallow roasting and more! Rounding out the first weekend are many of the exhilarating outdoor activities that have become a tradition during SnowDays including an ice playground, a 40ft ice climbing wall in downtown Banff and, new for 2015, human curling.
Ice Magic: An iconic SnowDays favourite, the International Ice Carving Competition brings world class talent to Lake Louise on January 16-18, as ice carvers delicately balance grueling physical labour with precision artistry in a 34 hour ice carving competition. This year’s ‘Wonders of the World’ theme promises to be the most spectacular yet! Meanwhile Little Chippers Weekend on January 24- 25 is full of activities for the young and young at heart. Tickets are selling out fast and can be purchased online.* There’s also whole range of free programming including ice carving demonstrations, a one-hour, one-block carving competition and the Little Chippers Ice Zone.
Pinty’s All-Star Curling Skins Game: TSN’s signature curling event returns to the The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre from January 16-18, 2015, bringing the biggest and brightest stars in curling to town, headlined by Sochi 2014 Olympic Gold Medallists Brad Jacobs and Jennifer Jones. This year the exciting event will see the addition of a women’s competition for the first time since 2003.
MEC Ice Climbing Festival: Returning to Banff for its second year, the Canadian Rockies become a mecca for ice climbers as the MEC Ice Climbing Festival celebrates the sport from January 30-February 1. With the spectacular 40ft Banff Avenue Ice Wall as the centerpiece of activities, the weekend will feature something for spectators and avid climbers alike, including beginners lessons, avalanche awareness clinics, gear demos and friendly competitions.
Banff’s Big Taste: The Bow Valley’s exciting new wine and food event, Banff’s Big Taste, is back for its second year on January 29, 2015. The Maple Leaf Grill & Lounge will host seven of Banff’s top chef’s as they prepare unique samples and compete for the coveted Taster’s Choice Award. Guests will also be able to savour exclusive Canadian and international wines, try the newest craft beers, and get a taste of Banff’s most talked about new restaurant and bar Park Distillery - opening in summer 2015. For tickets and more information visit http://www.banffmapleleaf.com.
The Big Bear: Bigger and better for its second year, on February 6 rail jam meets street party on Bear Street in this one of a kind event. Watch pro ski and snowboarders stomp out their tricks on custom designed ramps and rails - all to the sounds of local and Red Bull DJs. The fun continues all weekend with adrenaline-fuelled on-hill events and off-hill parties to see SnowDays out with a bang!
And so much more! These weekend events are just the tip of the iceberg. From skating and geocaching to hot chocolate history lessons, Ski Banff Lake Louise Sunshine’s Slide & Ride to the Patagonia Speaker Series, it’s all happening during the month-long SnowDays festival. Also, don’t forget the wealth of winter wonderland activities on offer all season long in the Banff National Park – including dog-sledding, ice-walking, snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding.
So go on, take a SnowDay. You’ve earned it.
For more information about the activities taking place during SnowDays in Banff National Park, please visit http://www.BanffLakeLouise.com/SnowDays, follow @Banff_Squirrel on Twitter, Banff Lake Louise Tourism on Facebook, and @Banff_LakeLouise on Instagram. Visit Banff Lake Louise Tourism on Youtube for SnowDays video footage! #MyBanff.
Media Contacts:
Banff Lake Louise Tourism Media Team
Kymberley Hill or Helena Cox
KHill(at)BanffLakeLouise(dot)com; 403-762-0290
HCox(at)BanffLakeLouise(dot)com; 403-762-0276
The SnowDays festival was developed in partnership with Parks Canada, the Town of Banff, Banff Heritage Tourism, Banff Lake Louise Tourism and numerous community businesses in Banff and Lake Louise.
*Due to the overwhelming success of the Ice Magic Festival over past years, ticketed viewing time-slots have been introduced for the carving site at peak times, to manage crowds and ensure guests have the best possible experience during their visit. Access to the carving site is free on weekdays and on weekends before 9am and after 5.30pm. Visitors who are staying overnight in a Lake Louise hotel also gain free access to the carving site. More information about tickets for Ice Magic can be found here.
About Banff Lake Louise Tourism - Banff Lake Louise Tourism is a destination marketing organization for the Town of Banff, Community of Lake Louise and Banff National Park. Supporting over 800 businesses, our mission is to engage visitors in unrivalled, remarkable experiences with our membership. http://www.banfflakelouise.com
About Parks Canada - Parks Canada manages a Canada-wide family of 44 national parks, 4 national marine conservation areas and 167 national historic sites on behalf of Canadians. Parks Canada offers Canadians a myriad of opportunities to discover, enjoy and learn about Canada’s natural wonders and about the places, persons and events that left their mark on our country’s landscape, architecture, culture, economy, population and lifestyle. http://www.pc.gc.ca/banff
About Banff Heritage Tourism - The purpose of the Heritage Tourism Strategy is to preserve and celebrate Banff’s unique mountain culture and environment. By connecting with tourists, businesses and locals, BHT can continue to advance important heritage tourism elements and make a tangible difference to the visitor experience in BNP. http://www.banfflakelouise.com/banff-heritage-tourism
About Town of Banff - The Town of Banff is located in the heart of Banff National Park and part of the Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Incorporated in 1990, the Town of Banff one of only two municipalities within a national park and provides infrastructure, community and visitor services to more than 8,200 permanent residents and to more than 3.3 million visitors from around the world.
