Banff Craft Beer Festival

Alberta Gaming Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) Maximum Sample Sizes:

• Beer, Cider, RTDs – 4 ounces
• Spirits – ½ ounce
• Sample tokens are $1.00 each
• Minimum of 2 tokens per sample

Important Reminders:

• All samples must be exchanged for sample tokens – no cash sales are permitted
• No minors allowed in the venue – this includes working at booths in any capacity!
• No consuming alcohol behind your booth for any reason.
• Products cannot be “pre-mixed” – all cocktail samples must be prepared on-site.
• Have a Spin Wheel? Remember that you can’t charge people for games/entertainment and prizes!
• Be sure to read and understand all information forwarded to you by AGLC regarding festival participation.

Proserve:

• All vendors serving alcohol must have Proserve
• All staff at beverage booths need to have their Proserve cards with them
• Vendor Check-In – All beverage vendor staff will need to show their Proserve at the entry point in order to receive their exhibitor wristbands and enter the venue.

*Restaurants are not permitted to serve or collect tokens for alcoholic samples at the festival

Alberta Health Services (AHS) Forms Due September 23rd, 2026:

Who NEEDS to complete the AHS Form?

• ALL Restaurant Vendors
• Beverage Vendors that are using garnishes with their samples (i.e. fresh fruit or vegetables)

Where do I find the AHS Form?

• Find a copy of the AHS form you can fill out online here
• Before you complete and submit, please review the Special Event Food Vendor Package
• AHS Form must be submitted by Wednesday September 23, 2026

Who does NOT have to complete AHS Form?

• Beverage Vendors that are strictly serving alcohol

Onsite:

• All vendors must have hand sanitizer at their booth!
• AHS will perform food booth inspections prior to doors opening (further info forthcoming)
• Please reference this AHS Inspection Checklist
• Plan to have your booth ready for AHS inspection please
• You do NOT have to wait for inspection before prepping food
• Food does NOT have to be ready until just before doors open
• If you have specific questions or comments, feel free to email or call us anytime.

What’s Included in The Registration Fee?

Beverage Vendors

• 8′ x 8′ booth space with pipe & black draping.
• 1 x 6′ table with white table coverings & black skirting.
• 4 x Exhibitor Passes per day – these will be emailed 1 week prior to the festival
• *Note – power is very limited at the venue and is available only for food vendors

Food Vendors

• 16′ x 8′ booth space with pipe & black draping.
• 2 x 6′ table with white table coverings & black skirting.
• 4 x Exhibitor Passes per day – these will be emailed 1 week prior to the festival
• AHS-Approved Hand Wash Station
• Power

• Restaurants can re-heat on site.
• Restaurants are not allowed to cook meat from raw due to the lack of ventilation at the booths.
• Deep Fryers are not allowed due to the fire hazard and lack of ventilation.

Beverage Vendors – Turning Beerfest Traffic Into Taproom Regulars

• Beerfest is your chance to turn tasters into taproom regulars—invite festival-goers to stop by your brewery before or after the event.
• Hand out brewery-exclusive coupons or taproom discount codes redeemable during Beerfest weekend or the following week.
• Include your brewery address, taproom hours, and location on all handouts so finding you is effortless.
• Use QR codes that link directly to your beer list, taproom hours, or Google Maps directions.
• Promote a next-day “Hair of the Dog” specials to capture weekend traffic.
• Encourage social follows at the festival with an instant taproom perk (bonus tasting pour, discounted flight, or entry into a brewery giveaway).

Food Vendors – Turning Tastes into Table Bookings

• Beerfest is your chance to turn tasters into restaurant regulars—invite festival-goers to stop by your place before or after the event.
• Hand out coupons or discount codes redeemable during Beerfest weekend or the following week.
• Create a Beerfest-only special (e.g., late-night menu, beer-pairing feature, or discounted appetizer) and promote it at your booth.
• Include your address, hours, and location on all handouts to make the visit effortless.
• Offer a “Show Your Beerfest Ticket” deal for post-festival dining or drinks.
• Use QR codes linking to your menu, reservations, or Google Maps directions.
• Promote a next-day brunch or recovery special to capture weekend traffic.
• Encourage social follows at the festival with an instant perk (free appetizer add-on, bonus discount, or entry to a draw).

Dates:

• October 22 – 24, 2026

Location:

• Cave & Basin – 311 Cave Avenue, Banff, AB

Times:

Thursday – October 22nd

• 5:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
• 9:00PM: No Entry
• 9:15PM: Sample Token Sales End
• 9:45PM: Last Pour for Alcohol
• 10:00PM: Event/Consumption Ends

Friday – October 23rd

• 5:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
• 9:00PM: No Entry
• 9:15PM: Sample Token Sales End
• 9:45PM: Last Pour for Alcohol
• 10:00PM: Event/Consumption Ends

Saturday Afternoon – October 24th

• 12:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
• 3:00PM: No Entry
• 3:15PM: Sample Token Sales End
• 3:45PM: Last Pour for Alcohol
• 4:00PM: Afternoon Session Ends

Saturday Evening – October 24th

• 5:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
• 8:00PM: No Entry
• 8:15PM: Sample Token Sales End
• 8:45PM: Last Pour for Alcohol
• 9:00PM: Event/Consumption Ends

I Need To Rent a Draft Unit – How Do I Do This?

• Contact Craig Sorrette with Everclear Draught Services at least two weeks prior to the event everclear@shaw.ca

• There will be ice available to order onsite at the festivals ($12 per large bag)
• Text 403-560-4266 while onsite

Set-Up

• The service road to the Cave & Basin is located behind the Information Building (there is a gate that you will have to buzz to get through) that will take you up to the Exhibitor Entrance so you can unload.
• During set-up – remove your product from your vehicle and immediately move your vehicle to the lower parking area so that others can unload.
• During the festival – NO vehicles allowed on the Service Road during the event.

Wednesday, October 21st

• 1:00PM – 5:00PM Set-up

Thursday, October 22nd

• 9:00AM – 3:00PM Set-up
• 4:00PM – 5:00PM Exhibitor Check-in

Friday, October 23rd

• 4:00PM – 5:00PM Exhibitor Check-in

Saturday, October 24th

• 11:00AM – 12:00PM Exhibitor Check-in
• 4:00PM – 5:00PM Exhibitor Check-in

Exhibitor Staff Arriving at the Festival

• All Staff Must wear an Exhibitor wristband to get into the event
• Exhibitor Entrance is located at the back of the building on the north side. Security will be there to scan and/or check wristbands
• For late arriving staff meet them at the Exhibitor Entrance to give them their passes, or email them in advance
• Please do NOT drink & drive – our shuttles are FREE to Exhibitors

Take-Down

Saturday, October 24th

• 9:00PM – 11:00PM *Please speak to Bill at the event to get a Move Out Pass/Time*
• All items must be removed from the venue immediately following the festival!
• Please review and reference the End of Evening Shut Down Instructions

Exhibitor Staff Departing the Festival

• All Staff Must wear an Exhibitor wristband to get in and out of the event
• Exhibitor Entrance is located at the back of the building on the north side. Security will be there to scan and/or check wristbands
• Move-Out Passes: to avoid a wait driving up to the venue after close on Saturday night, please obtain a Move Out Pass/Time from Bill Robinson
• Safety First: please do not block the block the shuttle buses with your vehicle on after close on Saturday night
• Please do NOT drink & drive – our shuttles are FREE to Exhibitors

Can I Sell Merchandise At The Festival?

• These are sampling festivals and selling product is not permitted

• Parking is FREE at the Cave & Basin!
• You are allowed to keep your vehicle there overnight in the parking lot at the base if needed.
• However we encourage you to leave your vehicle at your hotel and take the FREE shuttle from downtown during the event.

How Do Vendors Order Product?

• ABF is proud to partner with Townhouse Liquor again this year!
• Below is the Order Form for you to use when submitting your liquor order.
• All orders must be submitted and paid for Thursday, October 15th!
• Vendors who order will have their product delivered directly to the venue.
  • If you have product ordering questions please email townhouseliquor@gmail.com

*If you do not order through Townhouse Liquor, you are responsible for the delivery of your product to the venue

What Volume of Product Do Vendors Serve?

BEVERAGE – number of samples poured per session according to the 2025 festivals:

• Average Number of Samples Per Session = 250
• 1000 samples in total per festival
• Based on assumption that all samples were 2 sample tokens each

FOOD – number of samples poured per session according to the 2025 festivals:

• Average Number of Samples Per Session = 300
• 1200 samples in total per festival
• Based on assumption that all samples were 3 sample tokens each

*Note – the above is an average! Some vendors will serve more, and others will serve less. But all sessions will sell out!

CONFIRMATION

In order to ensure registration, please ensure that you have the following:

• Completed registration form
• Signed rules and policies form
• Final tally payment

Exhibitor registration will only be considered to be valid when it has been completed in full and processed by Alberta Beer Festivals Inc., including all monies to be received. ‘In Full’ means fully executed Exhibitor Registration Forms, and a signed & dated ‘Rules and Policies’ page.

INDEMNIFICATION

The Calgary International Beerfest, The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival, The Banff Craft Beer Festival, and Alberta Beer Festivals Inc., Sponsors, and/or the host facility shall not be responsible for injury, loss or damage to persons, goods, equipment or decoration which occurs during the transportation of goods and/or other cause beyond the control of the organizers, who shall be in no way whatsoever liable.

REFUNDS

There are NO refunds on cancellations

RESTRICTIONS

The event organizer reserves the right to modify the layout and exhibitor spaces should the need arise. Further, it is agreed that the exhibitor will not in any way sublet booth space without consent from event organizers. It is also understood that the event organizers reserve the right to restrict, prohibit or evict any exhibitor who in the opinion of the organizer is reflecting unfavourably against the character of the festival. Exhibitors may not tear down until show close. The registrant, by execution of this document by it’s authorized representative, accepts the terms and conditions as set out and agrees to ensure compliance by its employees, agents or representatives participating in the festival.

Any of the following represent an understanding and acceptance of these rules and policies:

• Submission of an Alberta Beer Festivals registration form
• Signed rules and policies form
• Paid registration
• Participation in the event or any other indication that the organizers deem to be acceptable.

The registrant further releases The Calgary International Beerfest, The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival, The Banff Craft Beer Festival, and Alberta Beer Festivals Inc., it’s sponsors, the organizers, the volunteers, or the venue from any and all liability arising out of the participation in the events The Calgary International Beerfest, The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival, The Banff Craft Beer Festival, and Alberta Beer Festivals Inc. and operation of the exhibitor of the registrant.

How Does Sampling Work?

• All samples must be exchanged for sample tokens and no cash sales are permitted.

Beverage Sample Sizes:

• Beer, Cider, RTDs – 4 ounces
• Spirits – ½ ounce
• Sample tokens are $1.00 each
• Minimum of 2 tokens per sample
• As mandated by the AGLC

Food Sample Sizes:

• Food vendors may charge any amount for food samples.

Sample Redemption:

• ABF will collect the sample tokens from ALL vendors at the end of each evening.
• You will receive $0.50 per sample token collected.
• A breakdown sheet of sample tokens collected per session and rebate cheques will be mailed to each sampling vendor no later than two weeks following the completion of both festivals.

• Get your followers excited about the biggest and the best #BanffBeerfest yet!
• Share what your team is doing at this year’s festival
• When sharing your story on social media, please feel free to use any of the images and videos available on the link below and tag us @apresfestivals
• Banff Beerfest Media Folder Link

• There will be an ABF Reefer Truck on site to keep your beer cold from Wednesday afternoon until Saturday Evening
• This is included with your registration!

If you want to set up a tent or canopy at your booth:

• ALL tents and canopies must be approved for indoor use by local Fire Departments
• ALL canopies must have a tag (attached to the canopy) clearly indicating that it is approved for indoor use and has a CAN/ULC-S109 or NFPA 705 rating
• Be sure to have this confirmed prior to bringing your canopies to the festivals!
• If you bring a tent – bring a smoke detector

I have more questions:

• Please email Mark Kondrat directly at m.kondrat@albertabeerfestivals.com