Festival Central

Every year, Canmore hosts a varied smorgasbord of festivals, including a Winter Festival, a Rocky Mountain Ski Marathon, a Children’s Festival in May, a summer Folk Music Festival, and mid-October’s Festival of Eagles, when spectators turn their eyes to the skies as the annual golden eagle migration passes overhead.

Three Sisters Mountain Village extends this festival tradition with Mozart on the Mountain. Each September, over 7,000 people gather on Stewart Creek Golf Course for an outdoor concert by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to the epic musical entertainment, there are roving entertainers and events for the kids.

Canmore Winter Festival (January)
This 10-day festival celebrates all the wonders of a Rocky Mountain winter. Events include the Rocky Mountain Ski Marathon, the Alberta International Sled Dog Classic, and concerts, art exhibits, slide shows, ice sculptures, curling and skating.

Canmore International Ice Climbing Festival (February)
This event attracts some of the best ice climbers in the world. As part of the event, organizers construct a massive ice wall where participants can test their skills, whether experienced or not.

Canmore Children’s Festival (May)
This two-day event treats children of all ages are to fun times with magic, storytellers, comedy, theatre, puppets, crafts and games.

Canada Day Parade and Celebration (July)
Canmore’s Canada Day celebrations include a pancake breakfast, a parade down Main Street, lively afternoon events, and finally a spectacular fireworks display at dusk.

Canmore Miners’ Day (July)
Celebrating the earlier days of the town, this event is held on the Saturday closest to the final day of mining in Canmore, July 13, 1979. Activity includes a Main Street parade and a ceremony to honour the town’s remaining miners.

24 Hours of Adrenaline (July)
Also known as the “Woodstock of Mountain Biking,” this event draws hundreds of mountain bike racers every year to camp and ride through the night at the Canmore Nordic Centre.

Canmore Folk Music Festival (August)
This renowned event is a three-day music festival celebrating folk, country, bluegrass, blues and world music performers. The event is hosted at the Stan Rogers Memorial Stage and attracts some of the best in the business.

Festival of Eagles (October)
Each year thousands of eagles fly over Canmore, and during the two days of this event, naturalists interpret the event through interesting presentations, guided hikes and exhibits, displays and guest speakers, and assisted viewings.

The Vic Lewis Band Festival (November)
Vic Lewis was a bandleader who filled the Bow Valley with song for many years, starting in the 1940s. This festival attracts more than 800 young musicians to compete in his honour.

Canmore Artists & Artisans Guild Christmas Show & Sale (November)
Just in time for the upcoming holidays, the Canmore Artists and Artisans Guild has their show and sale in November. This is a prime opportunity to view the work of Canmore’s strong community of artists, photographers and sculptors.

Light up Canmore (November)
This event officially launches the Christmas festivities with the lighting of the Northwest Mounted Police Barracks. Choirs entertain, while participants can warm up with hot chocolate. Prize draws add to the attraction.

Community Party on the Pond (December)
Every December 31, the town hosts an end of the year party for families with sleigh rides, skating, bonfires, hot chocolate, hot dogs and fireworks.

Canmore Highland Games (Summer)
Celebrating the Scottish connection in the naming of Canmore, the Highland Games attracts the strongest competitors from across the country and is the largest Highland Games in Western Canada. Events include stone and hammer throwing, tossing the caber, piping and dancing, along with running and jumping events.