The Town of Banff is hosting a family-friendly New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31, 2025 at Sundance Park and Central Park, with daytime and early-evening activities aimed at kids and families and — the town stresses — no fireworks or pyrotechnics for this program.
The free program runs in two parts: complimentary hot chocolate and a family skate party from 1–3 p.m. at Sundance Park, then drop-in games, performances and live music at Central Park from about 4–8 p.m. The town’s event page lists activities such as kick sledding, broomball, a “Little Toot Train,” Indigenous performances and local bands, and specifically notes, “Please note: There will be no fireworks or pyrotechnics.” (Town of Banff event page)
Performers named on the schedule include Blackfoot Medicine Speaks, Arik Pipestem (hoop dancing), JG n’ the District, Beau Valley Circus and Miesha and the Spanks, alongside local recreation teams running family-friendly activities. The Town also points people toward walking, cycling or taking Roam Public Transit to get to the parks and notes that registered residents can use free transit to attend.
Banff’s decision to focus on an early-evening, family-centred program matters because the town has staged larger New Year’s events in the past that included late-night pyrotechnic displays under Parks Canada approvals. A Town news release from Dec. 29, 2022 described a low-altitude, low-noise midnight pyrotechnics display; the current event page’s explicit “no fireworks” line shows a clear difference in approach in 2025. Parks Canada rules prohibit fireworks and explosives in national parks; pyrotechnic displays are a restricted activity and are only conducted with Parks Canada permission. (Parks Canada regulations; Town of Banff 2022 news release)
The family program is separate from later-night, ticketed New Year’s Eve events run by local venues. The Banff Centre, for example, lists its own late-night New Year’s programming that requires tickets. Many local hotels, restaurants and tourism operators also run private or ticketed celebrations, so visitors should check listings to avoid confusion.
Town messaging emphasizes safety and reducing wildlife disturbance as reasons for focusing on daytime and early-evening programming. The programming aims to give residents and visitors a place to celebrate earlier in the evening while other providers offer later options for those who want them.
