Ultimate Guide for Banff Pride

Around the world, Pride celebrations happen in all sorts of venues, from street festivals to local bars. Banff Pride definitely takes the cake as having one of the most picturesque locations for Pride with the Canadian Rockies as its backdrop. For 11 days this year, attendees can experience the ultimate celebration of diversity in the great outdoors in the Town of Banff, located right in the heart of Banff National Park, Canada’s first and most popular national park.

This year, the 9th Annual Banff Pride Festival begins September 30th and runs through October 10th. That’s 11 consecutive days of entertaining events and activities, including drag shows featuring recent stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race, art markets, comedy shows, and even the Gender Free Haircut Club, where Beatnik Salon will provide free gender-affirming haircuts to members of the LBGTQIA+ community. This year’s Festival is shaping up to be one of the more unique Pride events because of its out-of-the-box programming, and there will be more than enough to do whether you’re coming just for a day, the weekend, or for the entire celebration.  Here’s the ultimate guide to help you plan your time in Banff!

Where to Stay

To truly enjoy the mountaineer experience, you can take your pick of any one of the charming lodging options just minutes away from all the Pride events. If you are looking for something right in town on the main shopping street, check out Mount Royal Hotel or the Elk + Avenue Hotel.  If you are looking to be pampered, check out The Rimrock Resort Hotel, a AAA/CAA Four Diamond hotel with a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains.  If you are looking to live your fairytale fantasy, you have to stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs, Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies.”  The best part about most of the lodging options in Banff is that they offer discounts for those attending Pride.

Live Entertainment (Drag Shows Galore!)

No Pride celebration is complete without a multitude of drag shows, and this group of performances might be some of the most exciting of the year. The festivities kick off on September 30 with a crowd-pleasing Banff Pride Hoe Down and the party vibes continue throughout the week with the Hot Mess dance party on October 1st and the Rose & Crown, and the Corey Hotline performance on October 2nd at Bowl Valley. 

“Country music and Pride events go hand in hand because a lot of people in Alberta came from rural backgrounds and as much as their backgrounds maybe didn’t make them feel welcome, there is an instinctual bond about that genre of music,” said Robert Adam, Calgary’s Rhinestone Cowboy. “We have just as much ties and feelings for the quiet countryside as anyone else, and I’ll sing about that for a VERY long time!”

This year’s legendary headlining performers are RuPaul’s Drag Race Superstars Kendall Gender, Synthia Kiss, and Stephanie Prince, as well as Canada’s Drag Race star, Plastique Tiara. You can catch these star-powered queens at a few different events, but the big performances to look out for are the main Pride Party on October 8th and the Drag Brunch on October 9th. In addition, The Mountain Top Indigiqueer Drag Show is taking on new heights with a unique-to-Banff experience – guests will enjoy a fabulous drag show surrounded by six mountain ranges and a view of the Bow Valley below. What’s more breathtaking – the backdrop or the queens?  

There’s plenty of time for comedy as well, with the award-winning Ryan and Amy Show duo taking the stage at Melissa’s MisSteak on October 6th. Expect music, roaring laughter, and a “confident woman with a naturally thick beard.” Sounds intriguing, to say the least!

Outdoor Activities

This is the Canadian Rockies after all, and eventgoers would be remiss not to take advantage of the special outdoor activities hosted by Banff Pride OUTdoors! Guests can enjoy an afternoon of guided hikes and learn about symbiotic nature relationships. If hiking isn’t your thing, you can get your exercise on at the introduction to rock-climbing course or a private group yoga class at Flow State Yoga Studio.

These activities require advance registration, so definitely don’t wait to reserve your spot. With mountain views and extraordinary wildlife, photo ops at all of these events are sure to be next level!

Speaker Series

This lineup of speaking engagements features amazing LGBTQ2S+ leaders in a variety of industries. The highlight of this series will be an engaging conversation between the first Two-Spirit team to compete on Amazing Race Canada, Anthony Johnson and Dr. James Makokis on October 8th.

Another not-to-be-missed event of the Speaker Series is “Safe Sex 101,” a fun and interactive workshop led by Safe Link Alberta on October 7th. Attendees will leave with enhanced confidence in their safer sex tools and practices. There will also be sessions on authenticity in the workplace and a discussion on trans issues, which are sure to be enlightening experiences for both LGBT members and allies.

Pride Market

Dozens of local artists will also be in attendance at the Pride Market on both weekends, so it’s a perfect way to support 2SLGBTQ+ artists of the Bow Valley. During the festival, the Banff Pride House (located in historic Mason Hall) is home to the Market, where many community activities will take place. The town’s commitment to and support of their local LGBTQ+ community is inspiring – they represent true leadership in this space. 

“The rainbows you see in the storefronts and around town, plus the dynamic calendar of events during Pride Week, demonstrate Banff’s goal to welcome folks of all backgrounds and identities from around the world. It also embodies our sincere year-round efforts to make this special place one of acceptance, unity, and hope for those who are visiting and for those who call Banff home,” said Corrie DiManno, Mayor of Banff and founding member of Banff Pride.

Banff’s unique Pride celebration is going to be a blast! Chock-full of amazing performers, inspiring speakers, and a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy, this celebration will be one of the best of the season, and without a doubt, with the best views! For more information and to book your tickets, be sure to visit https://banffpride.ca.