The opening weekend of Banff's popular SnowDays festival brought a massive influx of visitors to the mountain town, with traffic backing up as thousands descended to celebrate the start of the four-week winter event.
Record Crowds and Economic Boost
Kristina Macdonald, the Director of Experience and Development for Banff and Lake Louise, reported that Saturday alone likely saw well over 10,000 people in town. The significant crowd sizes, particularly for the unique Skijoring event, translated into a direct economic windfall for local businesses.
"Our hotels were full or close to it over the weekend, and businesses put in extra staff," Macdonald said. She noted that servers reported receiving some of their best tips ever, highlighting the festival's critical role in supporting the community during the winter season.
Traffic and Parking Challenges in a Popular Destination
Despite advance messaging warning visitors about limited parking, the sheer volume of attendees led to traffic congestion, especially later in the day. Macdonald expressed gratitude that many heeded the advice to plan ahead.
She acknowledged that traffic and parking are ongoing challenges for the small mountain town, not unique to the SnowDays weekend but also common during summer peaks and holidays like Canada Day.
Festival Highlights and Future Weekends
The festival's first weekend was headlined by the increasingly popular Skijoring event, where horses pull skiers down a course. Macdonald praised the respectful and positive atmosphere created by visitors, many of whom traveled from Calgary and beyond.
With three more weekends of festivities planned, organizers encourage those who missed the opening to attend upcoming events. Highlights include the Tribute to Craft Food and Cocktail Festival and a new Art of Ice: Ice Sculpting Competition scheduled for the last weekend of February.
The successful opening underscores SnowDays' growing popularity as a cornerstone winter event for Banff, successfully drawing crowds and vital revenue to the region's restaurants, shops, and hospitality sector.
