Banff Lake Louise Events Bulletin - Issue Two - August 27 to September 11

BANFF, AB, Aug. 23 /CNW/ - As we continue to celebrate summer, Banff National Park's 125th anniversary and the Summer Arts Festival at The Banff Centre we wanted to share with you some exciting events taking place over the next three weeks in Banff and Lake Louise.

Great Canadian Campout

August 27 to 29

We encourage all families and friends to visit any one of the 1,500 campsites located in Banff and Lake Louise. Look for live interpretative programs and fireside chats throughout the campgrounds and join an award-winning science journalist Peter McMahon at Tunnel Mountain Campground for two riveting sessions on wilderness astronomy. These evening sessions will focus on Canada's all-star stories - from superasteroids to where our solar system will be a century from now. A chance to use his high-powered scopes and uber-cool gadgets are part of this free tour of the night sky - for campers and non-campers.

Saturday, August 28, Wilderness Astronomy, 9:30pm

Sunday, August 29, My Space Tourism for Kids 9-99, 8:30pm

Each talk is approximately 30-40 minutes with a questions & answer period and stargazing demo.

Quartet in the Community: The Calliope Quartet

August 28

The Calliope Quartet is on a mission to take chamber music out of the concert hall and introduce it to new audiences in unexpected locations. Enjoy this one hour performance featuring the young talent of Julia Sophia Bellingrath, Timothy Kantor, Cynthia Black and Schuyler Slack. In celebration of Banff's 125th birthday, the quartet will be set against the historic Banff Park Museum. Performance is at 1 p.m.

Lake Louise Fall Festival

September 1 to 30

This new festival premiers during Banff National Park's 125th anniversary celebration. Unique to its natural environment, the Lake Louise Fall Festival highlights its outdoor heritage. The line-up includes:

Come celebrate the 125th anniversary of Canada's first national park as we highlight five of our best fall hikes for visitors. For your Parks Canada self-guided map and Banff125 Top Trails Guide visit the Parks Canada Information Centre.

Participate in guided hikes from one hour to a full day that are available at several locations around Lake Louise from Sept 1 - 30. Whether you are looking for the elevation advantage of a gondola or a small personalized experience, hiking is the original way to immerse yourself in autumn.

Parks Canada is offering entertaining interpretive programs by specialists with a variety of topics such as wildlife management, grizzly bears, and 125 years of National Parks. Visit the Parks Canada Visitor Information Centre for more information.

After its grand opening reception on Sept 3, the free exhibition - Swiss Guides - Shaping Mountain Culture in Western Canada - will captivate and enthrall visitors to Lake Louise from Sept 4 - 26.

Climb aboard a trusty steed and trail ride amongst the larches. From Sept 1 - 30 select a short foray or a full day trip and experience authentic mountain travel with a fall twist.

Find new ways to discover the mountains at this special time of year with cultural events featuring the unique art, literature and photography of the Lake Louise area.

Indulge in a variety of chef prepared, fresh, local fall seasonal fare presented to reward the insatiable appetite generated by the mountain air of Lake Louise. Selected dining experiences available from Sept 1 - 30 at several fine locations.

From Sept 1- 30 enjoy the serenity of self-guided hiking with a special fall reward of visiting two high elevation Tea Houses and experience a bygone age of alpine refinement.

Find new ways to step into the golden mountain landscape by propelling a canoe across a pristine lake or joining a guided bike ride along the Great Divide.

Tenth Banff International String Quartet Competition

August 30 to September 5

During the competition week at the Banff Centre, quartets present multiple recitals before a celebrated jury and audience as they compete for awards of more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, plus concert tours and extensive career development opportunities. With more than forty hours of concerts, multiple lectures and opportunities to explore Banff National Park, this week has become a destination of choice for savvy arts lovers.

Music About Banff

September 4, 5, and 6

Music About Banff, a truly unique event blending the grandeur of the mountains with inspiring music. Music lovers of all ages will enjoy this free three-day event beginning September 4 featuring musicians from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and The Banff Centre performing in outdoor venues throughout downtown Banff. Brass and string quartets will delight crowds with a program of family favourites, timeless classics and hits from the charts.

Retro Swim Event Banff Upper Hot Springs

September 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dress up in a vintage swim suit or retro swim cap and pose for the camera for a souvenir photo of the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Our on-site photographer will capture a great image of you and your clan. Historic rental swim suits (circa 1920s) and funny retro swim caps (free) available on site.

Subaru Banff International Triathlon

September 11

Another world-class event is coming to the world-class setting of Banff National Park. The Subaru Banff International Triathlon will take place September 11, 2010. The much anticipated event has already been recognized by one of the most-read triathlon magazines in the world - Triathlete Magazine. The Banff Triathlon has been awarded one of the "Top 10 Most Anticipated Races in the World for 2010", Feb. 2010.

The stunning course is expected to be a circuit highlight for racers. The race will begin with the swim at Two Jack Lake, followed by the cycle which wraps around the scenic Minnewanka Loop and in to the town of Banff. The run will take racers through town following the banks of the Bow River and the race will finish downtown on famous Banff Avenue with the iconic Cascade Mountain as the backdrop to the finish line.

Athletes will be coming from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand to take part in the triathlon and racers range from 19 to 68 years old, with 35 being the average age.

Visit www.banfflakelouise.com for additional information on hotels, activities, restaurants, events, and more.

About Banff Lake Louise Tourism

Banff Lake Louise Tourism is a destination marketing organization for the Town of Banff, Community of Lake Louise and Banff National Park. Supporting over 800 businesses, our mission is to engage visitors in unrivalled, remarkable experiences with our membership. General media inquiries, please contact Tulene Steiestol, Senior Manager, Travel Media Relations at 403.762.0290 or [email protected]. www.banfflakelouise.com.

For further information: Tulene Steiestol, Senior Manager, Travel Media Relations, Office: 403-762-0290