Editor:
Following last week’s letters commending the Town of Banff’s creative outdoor event “In Search of the Spirit of Christmas” and “Thank you” from Grassroots Gratitude author Lorraine Widmer-Carson, I would like to add my gratitude for the amazing live festive activities in our community this season. Here’s a few highlights:
The Rotary Club of Canmore’s Festival of Trees multi-event celebration is Dec 3-31. People can wander through the forest of Christmas trees and view gingerbread houses inside the Malcolm, enjoy magic of Candy Cane Lane outside Malcolm, the reserve breakfast with Santa Dec 19, or try your luck with 50/50 tickets or Wine Draw.
The Magic of live theatre via A Christmas Carol in the stunning theatre of the Banff Springs Conference Centre. With the amazing set design, costumes and multi-talented performances of their five-member cast, I was quickly transported back to the era of Charles Dickens.
A shout out to the Bow Valley’s Carter-Ryan Theatre Productions as they once again share their creative, ambitious and artistic production of this immortal story of finding the spirit of Christmas.
Canmore’s artsPlace festivities include Friday Comedy Night, Indigenous: A Stoney Christmas performance on Dec 18-19, special screening of The Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker and numerous artist exhibitions.
Banff Gondola’s Nightrise light show is a multimedia, immersive music light video experience honouring the magic of these sacred mountains.
This year I felt COVID-19 safe as vaccine passports were screened at events, patrons compliantly were face masked and surprisingly, a majority of theatre seats were vacant.
People can also spread some Christmas joy and treat yourself to one or more of these live festive events. Apologies to those I’ve missed. What a truly incredible community I am so grateful to belong to.
Carol Poland,
Canmore
