Banff’s newest winter warmup event is being planned so locals can share their excitement about the season to come while reconnecting after the hectic summer and fall tourist seasons.
It also promises to be a high-energy event that celebrates the vibrant culture of the Canadian Rockies.
Created by Crowfoot Media, Banff’s publishing house dedicated to showcasing the Rockies’ unique culture, the event will feature a mountain trade show, swag bags, cash bar, prizes and the best of local ski and snowboard film showings.
“Crowfoot Media wanted to create a fun event that would get people excited about the winter season to come,” said Crowfoot co-founder Meghan Ward. “We also wanted to give the local community a chance to gather after the summer and fall seasons when the town is busy and people seem to disappear for a while.”
While the event is billed as a locals’ gathering, Ward emphasized the evening is open to all, adding it will provided an excellent opportunity for newcomers to Banff and the Bow Valley to become acquainted with the local scene. All audience members will take home a swag bag from The North Face outdoor shop, she added.
The ski and snowboard portion of the event is certain to be a highlight, particularly with local snowboard personality Andrew Hardingham entertaining the crowd as MC. Paring down the 35 submissions to 10 finalists that will comprise the lineup was a challenging, yet thoroughly fun task, Ward said.
“We opened up the film submissions to anyone who wanted to enter their ski and snowboard footage,” Ward said. “Then our team sat down and chose the best lineup, which became the ski and snowboard content for the night. Bringing in well-known Banffite Andrew Hardingham as MC was a no-brainer, and our trade show is a gathering of diverse companies who have awesome products or winter offerings that’ll get people stoked for the first snowfall.”
In creating this event, which Crowfoot hopes to host annually, organizers are aiming to leave attendees highly enthusiastic about the upcoming season, and the outstanding outdoor playground that is the Canadian Rockies.
“We hope people have a great time at the event, and walk away feeling enthusiastic about where we live and the amazing outdoor playground we have here,” Ward said. “We hope people create great connections with local and national companies that support our winter passions.”
And, she added, Crowfoot Media is aiming to become better-known among the local community while garnering excitement about their print magazine, the Canadian Rockies Annual, due out next spring.
Winterstoke takes place on Oct. 22 at The North Face store in Banff, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door and are available online at bit.ly/winterstoketix
Visit http://crowfootmedia.com/winterstoke to learn more.
