made with love banff food and cocktail festival

Banff’s hottest food and cocktail festival is back!

Made With Love Banff Food and Cocktail Festival returns April 22 – May 4, 2025, with 13 days of delicious pairings, a street festival and a cocktail competition showcasing the best of Banff’s culinary scene.

Photo Credit: Made With Love Banff Food and Cocktail Festival

Love is in the air

Banff’s increasingly popular culinary event, MADE WITH LOVE Banff Food and Cocktail Festival, will return to the iconic mountain town once again this spring from April 22 – May 4, 2025!

Now in its third year, the 13-day festival promises to captivate both locals and visitors with innovative food and drink pairings at Banff’s top bars and restaurants. Highlights include an outdoor street festival, a dazzling cocktail competition, and much more. Throughout the event, chefs and bartenders from over 16 local venues will craft unique pairings inspired by this year’s theme, “Changing Perspectives,” spotlighting local craft distilleries.

The festival’s opening weekend, April 25 and 26, will feature a ticketed outdoor event on Bear Street with tasting stations, live entertainment and music. Guests can explore various stations, enjoying mouth-watering food and cocktails from the festival’s participating bars and restaurants. This outdoor portion of the festival will also feature the spectacular MADE WITH LOVE Food and Cocktail Pairing Competition, where Banff’s top chefs and bartenders will compete for the chance to win two prizes — a trophy and $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Fairlee, and a trip for two to Italy sponsored by Prosecco DOC.

Banff’s culinary scene is thriving. This is a great chance to sample food and drink from several new restaurants participating this year, including Banff Social, The Fat Ox and Sudden Sally. Other participating venues include Anejo, Banff Ave Brew Co., Block Kitchen + Bar, Coyotes Southwestern Grill, Elk & Oarsman, Hello Sunshine, Maclab Bistro, Nourish Bistro, Park Distillery Restaurant + Bar, The Prow, Rose & Crown Banff, Shoku Izakaya, Tooloulou’s.

In 2024, the festival took steps towards a zero-waste event by introducing compostable plates, cups and cutlery for the first time, successfully diverting 91% of waste from landfill. This year, organizers are building on these efforts and aiming to divert even more waste.

Those interested in visiting Banff to take in the festivities can take advantage of hotel and travel packages through Banff Lodging Co. on the MADE WITH LOVE Banff website. To purchase tickets, book accommodations and learn more about the festival, please visit madewithlovebanff.com.