> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thebanffguide.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Banff SnowDays: What's On and How to Plan Your Visit - URL: https://thebanffguide.com/banff-snowdays/ - Published: 2026-11-03T23:13:24.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T23:15:38.000Z - Description: Pick your SnowDays dates around downtown snow sculptures, family activities and live ice carving, with a guide to booking Ice Magic at Lake Louise. - Author: Kev - Tags: Things to Do, Events In January, most of us are trying to get snow off the car. In downtown Banff, teams of sculptors are trying to turn it into something you'll cross the street to look at. Banff SnowDays runs from 21 January to 7 February 2027, with snow sculptures, outdoor games and ice art in Banff and Lake Louise. You can see the snow sculptures on an ordinary afternoon in town, spend a weekend taking the kids to activities or time your trip to watch ice carvers at work. If Ice Magic at Lake Louise is your reason for coming, sort out tickets before booking a room. Tickets come through participating properties, guided tours that include admission or the local-resident allocation. ## Which Banff SnowDays dates should you choose? For ice art, choose the final weekend. Art of Ice runs from 5 to 7 February on Bear Street, and Ice Magic at Lake Louise runs from 3 to 7 February. The dates overlap, so you can spread the two events across the weekend. For a family weekend, choose 29 to 31 January. Weekend of Wonder takes place on Bear Street, and the Play Zone is open all three days. Visiting Monday to Wednesday? The Play Zone and Bear Street Hub are closed, but the snow sculptures are still on display. See what else is on in the [official SnowDays programme](https://www.banfflakelouise.com/events/snowdays?ref=thebanffguide.com). ### Skijoring has ended Banff's skijoring event ended after 2026\. If a video of skiers being pulled down the street by horses is what first put SnowDays on your list, plan your visit around the sculpture displays, family weekend or live ice carving instead. ## What's on throughout the festival ### Snow sculptures in downtown Banff The snow sculptures are free throughout SnowDays, with displays at several downtown locations. If you want to see the teams at work, check the carving times before choosing your day. Daylight is good for looking closely at what the artists have done. Come back after dark, when the sculptures are lit, and you'll see how much the lighting changes the shapes and shadows. If you're staying in town, try seeing one or two pieces both ways. Allow about an hour for a first look, then give yourself longer if you find a team at work. With children, you can make the sculptures a series of short stops between other activities. There's no need to turn a perfectly pleasant walk into an audit of every snowbank in Banff. ### SnowDays Play Zone in Central Park The free Play Zone is at Banff Central Park, with fat biking, curling and other winter games. It's the stop for children who've had enough of looking at things and would like a go themselves. It's open to adults too. The Play Zone opens Thursday and Friday from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 7:30 pm. It's closed Monday to Wednesday, and weather can affect the hours. ### Bear Street Hub and SnowNights Bear Street Hub hosts free live music and entertainment from Thursday to Sunday. It's an easy stop between the sculptures and dinner. The [SnowNights programme](https://www.banfflakelouise.com/events/snowdays/snownights?ref=thebanffguide.com) brings together evening activities and dining offers across Banff and Lake Louise. ### Hot Chocolate Trail The Hot Chocolate Trail starts on 12 November 2026 and runs through Christmas and SnowDays, ending on 7 February 2027\. Pick a participating business in Banff or Lake Louise and buy whichever drink takes your fancy. It's possibly the only trail where one stop counts as a successful outing. The [Hot Chocolate Trail menu](https://www.banfflakelouise.com/events/christmas/hot-chocolate-trail?ref=thebanffguide.com) lists participating cafés and restaurants. Some drinks contain alcohol, so read the ingredients before ordering for children or anyone with dietary restrictions. ## The special weekends on Bear Street ### Weekend of Wonder Weekend of Wonder is a free, three-day event on Bear Street with hands-on activities and family entertainment during the day and evening. It's on the same weekend as the Play Zone, so you can give the kids time for both. ### TRIBUTE TRIBUTE is a ticketed food and drink tasting event on Bear Street. The Juniper Hotel & Bistro lists it for 29 and 30 January 2027 and says its chef is preparing dishes to pair with local drinks, including mocktails. ### Art of Ice Art of Ice is the free live ice-carving competition on Bear Street. There's a pleasure in seeing the first cuts go into a block and trying to work out what the carver has in mind. Carving times are still to come. If you can, drop by while a piece is taking shape and come back later to see how it's changed. ## Ice Magic at Lake Louise ![Ice sculpture of a cyclist at Lake Louise with snowy mountains behind it](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a0/ea/a0ea59ec-2cdb-41f0-a847-04d7917f92a9/content/images/2026/08/lake-louise-ice-festival-2.jpg) An ice sculpture from an earlier Ice Magic at Lake Louise. Ice Magic displays finished sculptures on the grounds of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. To watch the carving, go to Art of Ice on Bear Street. Allow one to two hours for Ice Magic itself, plus shuttle time. ### Ice Magic tickets You need a ticket through a participating property, a guided tour that includes admission or the local-resident allocation. Guests at participating properties can request complimentary tickets directly from their accommodation. The participating properties are Baker Creek by Basecamp, Emerald Lake Lodge, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise Inn, Mountaineer Lodge, Paradise Lodge & Bungalows, and Storm Mountain Lodge & Cabins. The organiser separately lists 2 and 7 February for eligible residents from Mînî Thnî to Field. Those tickets are complimentary and due to become available in late December. All ticket holders must use the shuttle provided. There's no parking at the event site. See the [Ice Magic ticket options and shuttle details](https://www.banfflakelouise.com/events/snowdays/ice-magic?ref=thebanffguide.com). ## Practical Information ### Getting there from Canmore and parking [Roam Route 3](https://roamtransit.com/schedules-routes/canmore-banff-regional-route-3/?ref=thebanffguide.com) runs daily between downtown Canmore and downtown Banff. If you're driving, the Town of Banff lists free parking for up to nine hours at the Train Station, about a ten-minute walk from downtown. Most parking in the centre is paid. Bear Street Parkade has accessible stalls near the entrance. ### Park admission National park admission is separate from festival events. The [Parks Canada fee page](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/tarifs-fees?ref=thebanffguide.com) lists daily Banff admission at $12.25 for adults, $10.75 for seniors and $24.50 per family or group. Admission is free for youth aged 17 and under. ### Time to allow A half-day gives you room for the sculptures, one other downtown activity and a break indoors. Banff to Lake Louise is [about 45 minutes by car](https://www.banfflakelouise.com/getting-here?ref=thebanffguide.com) each way in good conditions. If you're seeing both ice events on the same day, allow for the drive and build the Lake Louise part around your Ice Magic ticket and shuttle times. ### Clothing and accessibility Dress for the time you'll spend standing still. Wear insulated boots and warm mittens. With younger children, plan an indoor break before anyone needs one urgently. If you need step-free access, accessible toilets or a shuttle that can take a mobility aid, ask the organiser or ticket provider about the specific event. Snow and ice can also change how manageable a short route is on the day. Give yourself time to see one thing properly. ## FAQs: Banff SnowDays #### When is Banff SnowDays 2027? It runs from 21 January to 7 February 2027\. Individual events have their own dates and hours. #### Which Banff SnowDays events are free? The snow sculptures, Play Zone, Bear Street Hub, Weekend of Wonder and Art of Ice are listed as free. TRIBUTE is ticketed. Park admission and food are separate costs. #### Which Banff SnowDays weekend is best for families? 29 to 31 January, when Weekend of Wonder runs on Bear Street and the Play Zone is open all three days. #### Can I turn up at Ice Magic without a ticket? No. You'll need a ticket through a participating property, a guided tour that includes admission or the local-resident allocation. All ticket holders must use the shuttle provided. #### Is skijoring part of the 2027 festival? No. [Banff & Lake Louise Tourism](https://www.banfflakelouise.com/events/snowdays/skijoring?ref=thebanffguide.com) has confirmed that the Banff skijoring event ended after 2026.