Residents and visitors can enjoy the luxury of cross-country skiing along Main Street in Canmore once again when Snow Tracks returns in February.
The snow will go onto the road on the afternoon of Feb. 5, followed by four days of programming and events.
Canmore Business and Tourism President and CEO Andrew Nickerson said Snow Tracks has become part of the annual calendar and he looks to pair it with events in the community like the Alberta Winter Games, which is set to start on Feb. 6.
“We look at it as a fixture in the calendar and where possible we will align it with major events,” Nickerson said. “This is definitely something people come out for – we know it is not just locals that are participating, people are coming out from Calgary specifically for this and it really has become a draw on the calendar and one we would look to see grow and develop as we move forward.”
The Winter Games torch relay will begin on the Snow Track as well and go to Banff Avenue, where opening ceremonies take place.
While the snow will only last a few days, CBT has other events in store for Canmore for the month of February’s Winter Carnival.
Nickerson said they are re-creating the athlete’s village that was part of the Nordic Festival in 2012 in front of the Civic Centre during the Olympics.
“We are looking at doing this for the duration of the Olympics,” he said. “We want to create a hub for locals and visitors to be able to come here, join the festivities, watch events and we are planning on setting up food vendors – it is all part of Winter Carnival.”
The Olympic viewing area includes a beer garden for the afternoons and evenings and, given the time difference between Sochi and the valley, Nickerson said if enough people are keen to watch big events at 5 a.m., they will be shown.
“We want to give locals a gathering place to feel they can come down and watch local athletes and watch the events,” he said.
