The Banff Centre, St. Julien Road (tel. 800/413-8368 or 403/762-6300; www.banffcentre.ca), is a remarkable year-round institution devoted to the arts and entertainment in the widest sense. From June to August, the center hosts the Banff Summer Arts Festival, offering a stimulating mixture of drama, opera, jazz, ballet, classical, and pop music, and the visual arts. Highlights include the International String Quartet Competition, with 10 world-class quartets vying for a cash prize and a national tour, and the Digital Playgrounds series, which brings performance artists to the stage. Tickets for some of the events cost from pay-what-you-can to C$25; a great many are absolutely free. In November, the center is home to the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Find out what's currently on at the Banff Tourism Bureau or by checking out the Banff Centre's website.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
