Jasper Events and Festivals

(Jasper, Alberta - AB, Canada)

Although the Jasper townsite is relatively small, visitors to the area are well catered for and throughout the year, Jasper hosts a variety of local events, seasonal festivals and recreational activities. Each July in Jasper, Canada Day is one of the town's biggest events and a national holiday, with a range of festivities on offer both day and night.

Other popular local events and seasonal festivals here include the 'Jasper in January' winter festival, Marmot Basin's Teletri skiing event in March, the Jasper Festival of Music and Wine in April, the Heritage Folk and Rodeo Festivals each August, and the Jasper Root Romp in October.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Third Monday in February - Family Day (Alberta)
• Monday closest to 17th March - St. Patrick's Day (Newfoundland)
• March or April - Good Friday and Easter Monday
• Monday closest to 23rd April - St. George's Day (Newfoundland)
• Monday before 24th May - Victoria Day
• 24th June - Fete Nationale / St. Jean Baptiste Day (Quebec)
• 1st July - Canada Day (known as Memorial Day in Newfoundland)
• Monday closest to 13th July - Orangeman's Day (Newfoundland)
• First Monday in August - Civic Holiday
• Third Monday in August - Discovery Day (Yukon)
• First Monday in September - Labor Day
• Second Monday in October - Thanksgiving
• 11th November - Remembrance Day
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Jasper in January - last two weeks in January, this annual festival is popular with both tourists and locals, featuring snow-sculpture competitions, parades, hiking events and even pie throwing

February

• There are no significant festivals and events in the month of February in Jasper

March

• Jasper Teletri Festival - late March, featuring a range of skiing races, outdoor activities and concerts, at the Marmot Basin

April

• Jasper Artists Guild - mid-April, multimedia shows with a number of guest artists, held at 400 Pyramid Lake Road
• Jasper Festival of Music and Wine - mid-April, with a number of concerts around the area, including outdoor performances in the mountains

May

• Children's Festival - 3rd Saturday in May, offering a range of fun games, activities and entertainment aimed at families, held at the Jasper Activity Center
• Artists on Rails - mid-May to September, a train ride into the Rockies, with artists and musicians onboard, together with events at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Center
• Spring Run Off - 1st Sunday in May, 6 mile / 10 km race around various trails, finishing at Lake Annette's picnic spot

June

• Jasper Rotary Club Lobster Fest - first Saturday of June, a true seasonal feast of seafood and lobsters, at the Jasper Activity Center
• Banff Relay - early June, a 188-mile / 300-km race with more than 100 teams and large crowds

July

• Canada Day - July 1st, a national holiday throughout Canada, with pancake breakfasts leading to a large parade featuring marching bands, ending with a colorful fireworks display
• Take a Hike - Canada Parks Day - third weekend in July, with many family events, exhibitions and free guided hikes around the National Park

August

• Jasper Heritage Folk Festival - early August, attracting large numbers of folk performers, who arrive each year in Jasper to sing and perform at this two-day event
• Jasper Heritage Rodeo - mid-August, a four-day event held each year along Pyramid Avenue, with many professional rodeo activities and events, including calf roping, street wrestling, horseback riding displays, bull riding and lots of barbecues
• Jasper Lions Indoor Professional Rodeo - mid-August, with bull riding, barrel racing and demonstrations by experienced Canadian and American cowboys

September

• Artists in the Pines - late September / early October, three nights in the Rockies at Pine Bungalows, with music, workshops and photography

October

• Freewheel Biathlon - first Sunday of October, with a 19 mile / 30 km bicycle ride to the Athabasca Falls, combined with a 6 mile / 10 km run
• Jasper Root Romp - 3rd Saturday of October, annual 6 mile / 10 km run, with tough cross-country conditions and unforgettable scenery

November

• There are no significant festivals and events in the month of November in Jasper

December

• Jasper Welcomes Winter - early December, held over four days, with a host of family events, including ice skating, a Santa parade and the 'Festival of Trees'
• New Years Eve - December 31st, festivities and parties culminating in colorful fireworks displays