Where better to celebrate Canada’s birthday than the birthplace of Canada’s national park system.
The Town of Banff’s Canada Day celebrations on Tuesday, July 1 will be better than ever. The day kicks off with The Stampede pancake breakfast hosted by Melissa’s and the Banff Park Lodge, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Lynx Street between the Homestead Inn and the Lodge.
The main stage at Central Park will offer music and dancing all afternoon, along with food and artisan markets and the traditional birthday cake at 2 p.m. In the evening, groove to the sounds of Souls in Rhythm, followed by local musician Alysse Ernewein and rock band TR3.
This year, the Family Fun Zone at the Banff High School grounds has been expanded, and features old-fashioned egg and spoon races, sack races, bouncy castles, magicians and more from noon to 4 p.m.
The annual Canada Day Parade starts at Fox Street and winds its way down Banff Avenue to Buffalo Street from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The Stampede float, always the parade highlight, along with six marching bands from across Alberta, join clowns, horses and dignitaries. The voice of Mountain FM morning radio, Rob Murray, is host of the parade and all the Central Park celebrations.
The day ends with fireworks at 11 p.m. with the best views from Central Park. Find the full schedule at banff.ca/canadaday, along with road closure information.
It will be busy, so visitors and residents are urged to plan ahead, and walk, cycle or take public transit to work, play and Canada Day fun. Banff Avenue will be closed from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., along with the Norquay off ramp. Buffalo Street from Banff Avenue to Bear Street will be closed from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
There will be no parking at Central Park or Banff Museum parking lot, and no parking on Cougar Street, from Marmot Crescent to Marmot Place, on Fox Street from Banff Avenue to Whiskey Creek, and on Elk Street from Big Horn to Railway Avenue, to facilitate parade staging. Get more parking information on banffparking.ca.