Banff National Park's SnowDays Festival Features Skijoring Demos – Time Out

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Check out horses pull skiers at high speeds while they perform stunts at Banff’s annual SnowDays Festival.
It’s not always that you get a chance to witness Skijoring, the winter sport in which someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog or other creature (from the Norwegian skikjøring, which means ski driving). At Banff National Park’s annual SnowDays Festival, you can see competitive Skijoring in Banff’s picturesque downtown, where members of 16 Skijor Canada teams get up to speeds of 31 mph while tugged by speedy horses.
You can watch on January 28 as the competitors showcase Roman riding, trick riding, and stunt skiing/boarding and even participate yourself, sort of: the inaugural SkijorStyle Fashion Show takes place this year with participants dressing in “ski meets cowpoke” style to win prizes. Skijoring was first displayed in Banff in 1917 at its first winter carnival. Tip for those attending: arrive early since it’s standing-room-only on Banff Avenue, or stay cozy with a drink and watch the livestream instead from select bars and restaurants.
Besides this dramatic demonstration, the festival runs from January 18 to 29 with plenty of other activities to celebrate the snow season. Teams of local and international artists will carve giant snow and ice sculptures representing “winter magic and mountain culture” as you watch their progress. After the sculptures are created, they’re illuminated at night with technicolor lights. There’s a play zone with sledding hills, inflatable curling rinks, a fat bike track, and the chance to watch roving entertainers on the $9.5 million renovated Bear Street as darkness falls.
Although the festival is free, you need to purchase your (Canadian) National Park Pass before arriving and have a strategy in mind for taking advantage of public transportation and shuttles. And once you’re there, you might as well stay a while in this gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site set in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and have a ski vacation at its three ski resorts. Or do a sleigh ride, or ice skate on frozen Lake Louise, or take a guided snowshoe tour or go dog-sledding in nearby Kananaskis—the list goes on!
Wondering where the best ski resorts in the US are? We know.
Any insider tips on getting into US national parks for free? Oh yeah. 
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