Celebrate A Canadian Rocky Mountain Christmas In November (Ok, December Too) At Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Just like the ski season, Christmas in Jasper starts in November. On hold since the pandemic began, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge restarted its popular “Christmas in November” weekends this month. While November’s food and wine special events are over until next year, the winter wonderland decorations remain until January (and the snowy outdoor scenes won’t melt until spring). Now’s the time to book to celebrate the festive season at this luxury mountain resort and to be sure to get a reservation for next year’s merrymaking.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s Christmas in November

Christmas in November at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge—JPL for short—takes place over three food- and wine-filled weekends in November. The luxe mountain lodge turns into a winter wonderland starting November’s first weekend and the festivities continue all through the holidays.

JPL’s Christmas in November special event weekends are characterized by interactive classes, seminars and tastings; formal meals (often with live entertainment); dancing; photos with Santa; plus festive events including the Silly Christmas Sweater Reception. You’ll learn from local and national chefs, sommeliers and décor experts plus meet fellow guests chock-full of the Christmas spirit.

Staying at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

When guests arrive at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, something magical tends to happen. The cause might be turquoise Lac Beauvert and JPL’s 700-acre grounds framed by Jasper’s mountain vistas; knowing that bighorn sheep, deer, elk (and maybe bears) might be wandering nearby; the lack of city distractions plus Jasper’s status as the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve; the lodge’s storied past hosting stars and royalty; the casual luxury of its log cabins and famous Fairmont level of service; or perhaps it’s Fairmont canine ambassadors Calla and Stanley wagging their tails in the lobby.

Whatever it is, guests at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge are noticeably more friendly and relaxed than elsewhere and have a bit of child-like wonder in their eyes and sense of exploration in their hearts when they’re here. And that’s especially the case around Christmastime (and not just because of the silly Christmas sweaters either).

Stays are either in the lodge itself, in deluxe log cabins along the lake shore, or in restored vintage cabins that sleep two to 16 (perhaps also equipped with a stone fireplace, vast veranda, pool table, sauna, or jetted bathtub).

Even on non-special event weekends, days and evenings at JPL are quickly filled with hikes to admire the views, flora and fauna; winter skiing, boarding, snowshoeing, skating and tobogganing; summertime paddling and golf; mountain- and fat-tire biking; all-season swimming in the outdoor heated pool (don’t worry, there’s an indoor entrance); star gazing and shows at the on-site planetarium; scavenger hunts and board games; wellness and fitness classes and spa treatments; as well as champagne picnics and dining room feasts.

Special event weekends like Christmas in November have even more to tempt you.

Past Christmas in November Presenters

For a sense of who you’ll learn (and eat) from, previous Christmas in November special presenters include:

• Toronto chef Suser Lee, who currently oversees four restaurants in Canada’s biggest city—Lee, Luckee, Lee Kitchen, and Kid Lee—and one—TungLok Heen—in Singapore. Food & Wine named Lee one of the “Ten Chefs of the Millennium” and he’s appeared on Iron Chef America (where he tied with Bobby Flay for the “bacon battle”), Iron Chef Canada, Top Chef and several other culinary shows.
• Vikram Vij, cookbook author, TV personality and co-owner of several Vancouver-area restaurants that have received shout-outs from chefs like Anthony Bourdain and where celebrities from Tom Cruise to Robin Williams to Justin Trudeau have all waited in line to taste his famous Indian-fusion dishes.
• Anna and Michael Olsen, former pastry chef (Anna) and executive chef (Michael) at famed Niagara on the Lake restaurant Inn on the Twenty; the couple now has seven cookbooks (two together) and Anna hosts several popular cooking shows on the Food Network.

• Certified master chef Michael Allemeier, host of Cook Like a Chef, culinary arts instructor and former executive winery chef at one of Canada’s most prominent wineries, Mission Hill Family Estate.

You’ll have to wait and see which culinary celebrities will be at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s Christmas in November 2023 weekends.

Can’t wait that long? Upcoming special events at the lodge include the February 2023 Jasper Beer and Spirits Festival, March’s PJ Party, the Devour! Food and Wine Festival, Thanksgiving weekend (in Canada, it’s celebrated in mid-October), plus the Symphony Under the Sun and Symphony Under the Stars experiences.

And some availability remains for bookings for 2022’s Christmas season, and yes—you can get your room or log cabin decorated with a Christmas tree if you want too.