Canada’s Highest Elevation Pride Takes LGBTQ Travel in Banff to New Heights

Most 2SLGBTQIA+ productions are constantly seeking venues that welcome their talent and artistry. (2S stands for Two-Spirit, a term used to describe Indigenous people who identify as having both masculine and feminine traits.) I come from that world, so recognizing that Banff’s Sizzlers opened its doors to a stellar performance by Pythia from season two of Canada’s Drag Race solidified a sense of pride for me.

Kicking things off with a casual photo-op meet and greet, enigmatic Pythia completely transformed Banff’s Sizzlers by the end of the night, with two fiery acts that included back-to-back outfit changes. After the curtains fell and Pythia walked off stage, the party had only just begun. The lingering of the show’s excitement, coupled with the house music spun by DJ Prince Morbucks that continued to bump throughout the night, checked off all the boxes for me — it was a proper way to pop the first Pride celebration of the weekend.

@matadornetwork Love, diversity, and celebration in the Rockies! ️‍Banff Pride is the perfect time to come together, embrace community, and enjoy the outdoor adventures this place has to offer. #MyBanff #BanffPride #Sponsored #Banff #CanadianRockies #CelebratePride @Banff & Lake Louise @BanffPride ♬ original sound – Matador | Travel + Adventure

Canada is considered the first country in the Americas and the fourth country in the world to accept same-sex marriage. Its steps toward a more progressive way of life go way back, to May 1969 to be exact, when Canada officially recognized same-sex consensual acts — exactly one month before the Stonewall Riots took place in New York City. This means that Canadians understood the importance of having the right to choose who and how they love for quite some time.

It’s crazy to think that feelings of love could ever be illegal, especially when same-sex practices have been a part of human instinct since before the law as we know it existed. To say that same-sex sexual consent, partnerships, or marriage have been decriminalized within the last 20th century baffles me. I look at it not as legalizing LGBTQIA+ rights but rather as unraveling the layers of a transgressive movement.

In the pursuit of reverting back to humankind’s natural order, like being able to love freely, LGBTQ rights have birthed and reshaped themselves, throughout the years giving us many creative outlets including fashion, music, film, dance, drag, and performance. That list goes on — it’s an entire subculture, really. Without these magical elements of self-expression, we wouldn’t have a way or a reason to celebrate. That’s why, the next time you’re looking to travel with purpose to a 2SLGBTQIA+ destination, you should visit the Canadian mountain town of Banff.

How an iconic mountain town became a Pride season staple

@matadornetwork How to spend the perfect day in Banff ⬇️ Wake up at Hotel Canoe & Suites. Have breakfast at Bluebird Woodfired Steakhouse. Go up the Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain⁣. Head to Lake Louise for a canoe ride. Grab dinner at Block Kitchen + Bar. @Banff & Lake Louise #MyBanff #Sponsored  #Banff #CanadianRockies #HotelCanoeandSuites #BanffGondola #BanffBlock #LakeLouise #CanoeRide ♬ original sound – Matador | Travel + Adventure

In 2022, Banff won the Gay Travel Awards category of best mountain destination because there’s no other place where you can go to a drag brunch in the morning, followed by a cave-climbing excursion or canoe ride in the Canadian Rockies.

This is a big part its beauty as an LGBTQ travel destination. Says Jeffery Carpenter, President of the Banff Pride Society, “Banff welcomes the world, sharing the magic of the Canadian Rockies. As a community, we recognize the importance of attracting those who share our values of diversity and inclusivity. Throughout the year, from baristas to outdoor guides, the entire community is committed to welcoming the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and ready to share the great outdoors for all to enjoy.”

Part of what Carpenter’s words speak to is the fact that the true feeling of Pride is a part of everyday life in Banff, not just for a month or weekend. Over the years, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has intertwined and integrated itself, and that says a lot for a small town. This is the new normal in the modern age, as it should be. And because Banff is a close-knit village with year-round travel appeal, this sense of camaraderie is much stronger. From local restaurants to the farmer’s market and artisanal shops, supporting one another is key to keeping the community strong.

Banff Hospitality Collective provides one example of Banff’s inclusivity. The collective has many restaurants and venues throughout Banff — such as Blue Bird and Hello Sunshine – that have hosted year-round events, including Drag Bingo at High Rollers. Flow State Yoga is another example in its partnerships with a number of initiatives, including community yoga classes for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Meanwhile, Beatnik Salon, through the Dress Code Project, is committed to an inclusive experience and also hosts year-round events, including comedy nights, live music, and gender-free haircuts.

Pride events to remember in Banff

The official Banff Pride has been celebrated over the first two weeks of October since its first iteration in 2013. It’s a special time when the trees have just turned yellow and the town comes alive to host an array of carefully curated events and activities. Other events are hosted throughout the year, in partnership with the Banff Pride organization. These are some of the highlights.

Banff Pride Parade

The power of the mountains and the crisp, invigorating air make Banff’s Pride parade one of the most scenic and sensorial experiences to date. While many might be accustomed to Pride marches in major cities around the world, Banff’s parade is unique for being surrounded by the vast forces of nature, rather than tall skyscrapers.

The parade unfolds like a surreal moment out of The Wizard of Oz, only instead of the “Over The Rainbow” song, there’s an actual bridge — everyone gathers together in the center of town and walks across the “Pride pathway” (rainbow bridge) as a group, continuing down along the stunning Bow River Trail and back over a second charming bridge before landing in Central Park for the raising of the flag.

Gondola Experience

Just when you thought you couldn’t get enough of the mountains by strolling down Banff Avenue, the Banff Gondola ride takes the view to the next level — and creates a space to be proud at an altitude of almost 8,000 feet.

While the Banff Gondola experience runs all year round, Mountaintop Pride is an all-ages celebration that only happens once every October. Attendees can enjoy drag story time, themed cocktails, a Queer Market, and live music — all while soaking in 360-degree panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains.

A variety of other activities also await at the summit of Sulphur Mountain where the gondola stops. You can go on a small hike, learn about Canada’s first national park, or have dinner with a view at Sky Bistro or Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen. Just be prepared to stay a while — it’s tough to pull yourself away from the scenery.

Pride Ski Day

Just minutes from the town of Banff lies another breathtaking mountain peak among the whopping 146 impressive ranges that make up Banff National Park — Mount Norquay, which hosts an annual Pride Ski Day that takes place in late spring.

Mount Norquay Ski Resort welcomes skiers and snowboarders of all levels to take to the slopes in style. That means coming dressed to impress for the last licks of the winter season. There’s a literal drag race hosted by queens who will judge alpine performances where you can race against a professional ski racer in full garb and drag. Beyond racing, there are campfires, s’mores, and aprés ski tasting sessions.

To top it all off, the resort offers a free shuttle back to town in case one has too many drinks, making sure everyone gets back home safely — just another beautiful feature of a small town with a huge heart.

Banff’s year-round drag performances, LGBTQ-friendly nightlife, and more

The words “burlesque circus performance” will get anyone amped to create their own drag disguise and turn looks. At Melissa’s Missteak, whose business name seemed fitting for the occasion, the patrons clearly understood the assignment this past Pride. Host, ring leader, and famed drag comedian Karla Marx, who performs at many venues throughout the Alberta area, transported the audience this year while decked out in neo-noir cirque attire. The spectacle’s level of creativity, originality, and costuming was enough to burn the house down.

Another famed appearance came from well-known drag performer Scarlett BoBo from the first season of Canada’s Drag Race. Scarlett BoBo now lives in Los Angeles but makes it a point to visit Banff for special occasions.

All told, the “Under The Big Top” production at Melissa’s Missteak was considered one of Banff Pride’s biggest nightly events and celebrations. It was produced by The Cabaret Company, the largest cabaret entertainment group in western Canada, which helps provide vibrant communities with spaces to embrace cabaret performance art. The company is constantly keeping up with seasonal events and expanding and updating its roster of artists.

I had to pinch myself multiple times to remember that I wasn’t back in New York City. I was in a small town in the middle of the Canadian Rockies, experiencing theatrical queer performances where everyone around me was dressed to the nines. But these amazing acts of artistry and inclusivity aren’t just a once-yearly occurrence in Banff — they can be found year-round at select places and production houses.

Club Detour

Club Detour is an LGBTQIIA+ production entertainment group that hails from Calgary, Canada. It helps promote, push, and produce local talent, events, businesses, and artists within Calgary and neighboring towns like Banff and Canmore. Every year, the group curates and selects different venues — such as Banff Sizzlers or Rose & Crown, the oldest pub in Banff — to house and exhibit drag and burlesque shows during Pride. You can follow Club Detour on Instagram to keep up with its plethora of weekly events within the Alberta area.

Banff Sizzlers: 124 Banff Ave unit 103, Banff, AB T1L 1A7, Canada
Rose & Crown: 202 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1B5, Canada

Banff Ave Brewing Company

Banff Ave Brewing Company hosts a monthly “Beers for Queers” event in its taproom. While this event is geared toward locals, a lot of visitors have attended after learning about it online and seeking it out to connect with the local LGBTQ community.

Banff Ave Brewing Company: 110 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1A9, Canada

Moxy Banff

Moxy Banff is a recent addition to Banff’s hospitality scene and an LGBTQ-friendly hotel. Moxy Hotels is known for promoting drag brunches in most of its establishments around the world, featuring super high-energy performances, delicious food, and classic brunch cocktails. While the drag brunch at Moxy Banff might have been a special treat just for Pride season, it’s worth noting that the hotel has been welcoming a monthly line-up of drag burlesque and comedy shows in partnership with The Cabaret Company since opening its doors earlier this year. Seating is first-come, first-served, as is typical for drag performances, and just like any other drag show, don’t forget to bring cash.

Moxy Banff: 555 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1B5, Canada