Banff rolls out welcome mat to culture-packed weekend
by
Shari Bishop Bowes
It would take more than a single weekend to fully discover the rich culture and heritage of the town of Banff. It is, after all, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If all you have is a weekend, however, you might want to mark August 11 and 12 on your summer “to do” list, and head out to Canada’s best know mountain town. The fourth annual Banff Culture Weekend will be packed with activities that highlight the rich history of Canada’s oldest national park, and its present day vibrancy as a cultural destination.
“Banff Culture Weekend is intended to celebrate Banff’s rich cultural heritage,” said Grant Canning, Executive Director of Banff Heritage Tourism, one of the partners hosting the event. “It’s through initiatives like this that we’re able to showcase Banff’s unique connection with culture and the arts.”
The weekend has two parts that complement each other nicely, and will keep you busy for many enjoyable hours: The Banff Culture Walk on Saturday, August 11 that takes in everything from galleries and live outdoor performances to heritage sites and museums; and “Doors Open Banff” on Sunday, August 12, which provides the rare experience of touring Banff’s oldest and finest heritage homes and buildings.
Headstones for some of Banff’s earliest residents can be found in the Old Banff Cemetary on Buffalo St. The cemetery is on the tour of heritage sites and historic residences open the August 11-12 weekend.
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The Old Crag Cabin on Bear Street was the first home for the town’s original newspaper, The Banff Crag & Canyon, which continues to publish today after more than a century.
Saturday’s activities include special art exhibitions at private galleries; art demonstrations at Canada House Gallery; tours at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the Whyte Museum, the Luxton Museum, and Canada Place; artists working en plein air by the Whyte; and performances by Mamaya, a West African percussion ensemble, and the comedy improv troupe, Flukes of Nature.
On Sunday, Doors Open Banff will provide the opportunity to step back in time while taking a peek into Banff’s most interesting heritage homes and buildings. For one afternoon only, experience the cultural, social, environmental, and spiritual evolution of Banff by taking a self-guided walking tour of 19 featured properties.
“Doors Open Banff showcases the importance of built heritage in Banff,” said Steve Malins of the Banff Heritage Corporation. “It promotes greater understanding and appreciation for the people, places and events that have shaped this community for over 100 years.”
Banff Culture Weekend is open to everyone and most events are free to the public. A complete schedule is available online at www.banffculturewalk.com. Everyone is encouraged to explore Banff on foot, bike or bus, as Banff Public Transit is free on both days for those who show a copy of the brochure to the driver. Brochures will be available at the Banff Information Centre, Banff Town Hall, and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. An information centre will also be set up at Bison Courtyard on both days of Banff Culture Weekend.
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