Celebrations At The Castle
11 Incredible Ways To Celebrate Missed Moments in Banff
In a truth that is universally acknowledged, people love to celebrate life’s moments. Anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and more – pop the champagne, shimmy into your Sunday best because another truth that’s universally acknowledged is that life is too short not to celebrate.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that it’s important to take the time to stop and mark those milestones in life, especially with the ones you love. Here in Banff, we’re no strangers to good times. With the Castle as our backdrop and the Canadian Rocky Mountains as far as the eye can see, having a good time and showing our guests a good time is in our nature.
For generations, we’ve been home to extravagant weddings, visits from royals & celebrities alike, intimate family affairs and more. We’ve been lucky to play host to these milestones, these celebrations, these moments that create lifelong memories. In a time when waiting has been the name of the game, we’re here to tell you that we’re happy to help you craft celebrations that’ll have been worth the wait. We promise.
We set out on a quest to find the top 11 incredible ways you can celebrate – be it a birthday, friends reuniting, graduations etc. – in Banff. So, take a look at the list, bookmark the ones that draw you in and don’t wait any longer to have a good time!
Our List
1. Celebrate with a Good Steep
We can’t think of a better place to start our list than with our very own Afternoon Tea. This is a long-serving tradition here at the hotel and one that has roots dating back to 1840 in England. What started as an afternoon snack for a peckish duchess turned into high-fashion events and parties throughout the UK. With its celebratory traditions in hand, Afternoon Tea migrated west to Banff National Park, where it continued at Canada’s Castle in the Rockies.
What makes Afternoon Tea the perfect experience to celebrate life’s moments is that it’s a 133-year old perfected tradition at the hotel. Delicate finger sandwiches, scones and pastries are paired perfectly with the finest loose leaf teas from the world’s most renowned producers. Framed perfectly by the large windows of the hotel overlooking Banff, this experience alone is enough to give you chills but pair it with a group of your best girlfriends; well, it’ll create a memory that will last a lifetime.
2. Celebrate with an Exclusive Experience
Eager to uphold the same set of celebratory standards as her sister offering, Afternoon Tea, our 360° Dome is the newest and most intimate way to gather with the ones you love.
Overlooking the Bow River and the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, the 360° Dome offers an exclusive experience you won’t find anywhere else in the Canadian Rockies. Serving everything from a sunrise breakfast to late-night cocktails and snacks, this spot boasts romantic views and is perfect for intimate gatherings, like a date night or an anniversary dinner.
3. Celebrate with the Perfect Spa Escape
When you close your eyes and imagine your perfect spa escape, who is accompanying you? Is it your closest friends or your partner? Or perhaps it’s a parent or sibling? Whoever the guest of honour is in your perfect spa getaway, we’re here to tell you that the wait to pamper yourself is over.
Our renowned Fairmont Spa is home to impressive offerings like an unparalleled level of service, an indulgent treatment list, mineral pools, steam rooms, a quiet meditation lounge and more. These offerings, of course, allow you to celebrate the simple joys of rest and relaxation and should you choose to enjoy it with your best pal or your hubby, we’ll leave that part up to you to decide!
4. Celebrate with a Class
Now we can say with some degree of certainty that this is one class you and your friends won’t want to skip. This new offering to the hotel is quickly becoming a fan favourite – so bring your impressive cocktail drinking skills, and we’ll bring the knowledge and what you’ll get is the recipe for top grades in class.
Hosted in our famed Rundle Bar – our mixologists have worked hard to bring the taste of the Canadian Rockies to you and your crew in a fun and interactive cocktail class. Learn about flavour notes, how to prepare the perfect cocktail at home and more. Oh, and did we mention? You get extra marks for participation!
5. Celebrate with Louise & Moraine
Crystal blue lakes nestled amongst the giant peaks, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise have been on travellers’ bucket lists for decades. Their pristine wilderness settings are cause enough for celebration, and if you’ve been waiting to lay your eyes on these Canadian landmarks – the wait would have been worth it with our Private Experience – Moraine Lake & Lake Louise Tour.
This tour offers you the chance to witness two incredible destinations with an accredited guide, who can fill you in on the history of the land. Adding yet another layer to this fabulous tour is the gourmet STOCK Food & Drink breakfast we provide!
6. Celebrate with the Sunrise
The Private Sunrise Hike for two offers a peaceful and quiet escape from everyday life. You and your loved one will have ample opportunity to mark a special occasion along your hike to the top of Tunnel Mountain to catch the sunrise. So even if you just wanted to feel the fresh alpine air and see the sunrise amongst the mountains of Banff National Park and really don’t have much to celebrate other than a gorgeous moment, this experience is for you.
What makes this experience even better is the gourmet picnic you’ll enjoy at the end of your hike. Sip coffee and indulge in a good meal as the sun rises over the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course and surrounding mountain ranges.
7. Celebrate Suitely
Oh la la, your celebration begins the moment you decide that the Suite Life Offer is for you. Every detail from start to finish is perfectly personalized when you stay in one of Fairmont Banff Springs’ one-bedroom, two-bedroom, terrace & Signature Collection Suites.
What makes the Suite Life Offer even sweeter is the access to your own personal planner, reducing the stress of planning a trip, complimentary breakfast at either The Vermillion Room or STOCK Food & Drink, additional space, and so much more. Furthermore, our suites provide the perfect opportunity to host that long-awaited family reunion or gathering with friends!
8. Celebrate on the Fairways
As you drive up to tee of any one of the 27 holes we have, take out your driver and make your way to the tee box, you are struck by a sense of awe. You see, in any direction you look giant mountains stand above you, what you hear is the rushing Bow River and what you know is that you’re playing on one of Canada’s most renowned and celebrated golf courses. Frankly, this is what makes playing a round of golf here so special – knowing that you’re stepping onto a course drenched in history and built to be captivating and challenging.
With two stunning courses in the heart of Banff, The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course will leave you looking for any kind of milestone to mark. Whether you’re first trying out the game with friends or are a seasoned pro eager to hit the links, we have it all!
9. Celebrate the Tidings of the Season
If you’ve never experienced our Christmas at the Castle celebration, indulge us as we paint a scene for you.
It’s a cold crisp winter evening in Banff National Park; as night falls, a fresh layer of snow does as well. You walk up the path to the hotel’s entrance, push the rotating doors and are overcome with warmth, light and the smells of the holiday season. In Mt. Stephen Hall sits a larger-than-life Christmas tree with Santa greeting our littlest guests; in our venues, generations of families sit at a table enjoying a festive dinner, happy to be in each other’s company again, holiday crafts take place in the North Pole and outside, on the Upper Garden Terrace, an evening skate has commenced at our outdoor skating rink.
Our annual month-long Christmas at the Castle celebration felt a little different last year, and now it’s time for a do-over. With new holiday experiences for the family, returning familiar faces (Santa & Mrs. Claus), feasts in our restaurants, the Christmas at the Castle festivities are roaring back into town, and you won’t want to miss it.
10. Celebrate with Cuisine
Our home base in Alberta, Canada, means we are no strangers when it comes to using the finest beef, and we have the perfect place to mark any occasion – 1888 Chop House. From the moment you arrive and the champagne cart is wheeled over to you, the tone for outstanding cuisine and ambiance has been set. Our talented culinary team then takes centre stage. Preparing only the finest beef and dishes and presenting a modern twist on the authentic chop house.
11. Celebrate with a Surprise
Let’s face it – as much as you would like to be part of every moment, celebration, party etc. sometimes, it’s just not possible – so our lovely amenity guide offers you the chance to send someone a little surprise to their room to let them know you are thinking about them.
