Banff Craft Beer Festival - Alberta Beer Festivals

Win an All-Inclusive Mexico Vacation - Enter Now!

Banff Craft Beer Festival

ALBERTA BEER FESTIVALS

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE STAND FOR

Alberta Beer Festivals creates the space for craft breweries and craft distilleries to share their stories, passions and products with consumers from Canada and around the world. We generate positive impacts on the craft beer and spirit industries, local charities, and within our community.

ABF DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

ALBERTA BEER FESTIVALS PRODUCTIONS

CALGARY INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL

The Calgary International Beerfest is not only Canada’s largest beer festival, it has grown to be one of the top 5 biggest and best beer festivals in the world. The CIBF brings together over 200 craft breweries and distilleries to showcase over 700 types of beers, spirits, ciders and meads. Hear great stories in the Brew Master Seminars, learn to cook and pair beer with food in the Cooking with Beer Seminars, explore the emerging craft distillery industry in the distillery district. Sample from 25+ amazing restaurants and eateries, enjoy the music & DJ stages, sports screens and other entertainment scattered throughout the festival. Most importantly, have an amazing time!

EDMONTON CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival has grown to be one of the biggest and best festivals in Canada, and is one of the fastest growing beer festivals in North America. The ECBF brings together over 150 craft breweries and distilleries to showcase over 400 types of beers, spirits, ciders and meads. Hear great stories in the Brew Master Seminars, learn to cook and pair beer with food in the Cooking with Beer Seminars, explore the emerging craft distillery industry in distillery district, sample from 15+ amazing restaurants and eateries, enjoy the stages, screens and other entertainment scattered throughout the festival, and most importantly, have an amazing time!

BANFF CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

The Banff Craft Beer Festival is the most beautiful beer festival in the world! This unique festival showcases the iconic town of Banff which is nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Sample amazing food from some of Banff’s world class restaurants and eateries, and taste the best Alberta’s craft breweries and distilleries have to offer.

Benefits of Participation in ABF Events:

  1. Generate positive brand assocaiton in integrating yourself into a community of over 250 local businesses in Alberta’s rapidly growing craft beer and spirit industries
  2. Customize your booth space to fit your marketing goals
  3. Take advantage of the extensive media and communications campaigns
  4. Gain brand exposure to 100,000+ people at our 6 annual festivals
  5. Heighten your visibility through positive brand exposure
  6. Differentiate yourself from your competitors by aligning yourself with a world class brand

People who attend ABF Festivals are:

  • Active in the community:
    • 91% of whom say that they go out once a month
    • 76% who say they go out once a week
    • 68% home owners
    • 32% renters
  • People that lead an active lifestyle:
    • 89% said that they exercised 2 or more times per week
  • People with money to spend:
    • 85% said that they had an annual average household income of $100,000+
  • Brand Aware:
    • An amazing 98% indicated that “YES”, they would be purchasing a product they had seen at the event

Important Dates & Times

Dates:
November 20 – 22, 2025

Location:
Cave & Basin

Festival Times:

Thursday
5:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
9:00PM: No Entry
9:15PM: Sample Token Sales End
9:30PM: Last Call for Alcohol
10:00PM: Event/Consumption Ends

Friday
5:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
9:00PM: No Entry
9:15PM: Sample Token Sales End
9:30PM: Last Call for Alcohol
10:00PM: Event/Consumption Ends

Saturday Afternoon
12:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
3:00PM: No Entry
3:15PM: Sample Token Sales End
3:30PM: Last Call for Alcohol
4:00PM: Afternoon Session Ends

Saturday Evening
5:00PM: Doors Open & Sampling Begins
8:00PM: No Entry
8:15PM: Sample Token Sales End
8:30PM: Last Call for Alcohol
9:00PM: Event/Consumption Ends

What’s Included in The Registration Fee?

Beverage Vendors
8′ x 8′ booth space with pipe & black draping.
1 x 8′ table with white table coverings & black skirting.
4 x Exhibitor Passes per day – these will be emailed 1 week prior to the festival.

Food Vendors
16′ x 8′ booth space with pipe & black draping.
2 x 8′ 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

How Does Sampling Redemption Work?

Sample tokens are sold to guests for $1 each.
Vendors will receive $0.50 for each token collected.
Alcohol Samples – minimum of 2 sample tokens – as mandated by the AGLC.
Food Samples – Food vendors may charge any amount for food samples.

Exhibitor Load & Strike Schedule

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. No vehicles allowed on the Service Road during the event.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
1:00PM – 5:00PM Set-up
Thursday, November 20, 2025
9:00AM – 3:00PM Set-up
4:00PM – 5:00PM Exhibitor Check-in
Friday, November 21, 2025
4:00PM – 5:00PM Exhibitor Check-in
Saturday, November 22, 2025
11:00AM – 12:00PM Exhibitor Check-in
4:00PM – 5:00PM Exhibitor Check-in
9:00PM – 11:00PM Tear Down

Exhibitor Staff Arriving/Departing 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
For Move-Out, to avoid a wait driving up to the venue after close on Saturday night, please obtain a Move Out Pass from Bill Robinson
For Safety Reasons, please do not block the block the shuttle buses with your vehicle on after close on Saturday night
Please do NOT drink & drive…take our shuttles instead, they are open to Exhibitors

AHS & Fire Department – Policies & Reminders

Be sure to read and understand all information forwarded to you by Alberta Health Services (AHS) and FIRE regarding festival participation.
All vendors must have hand sanitizer at their booth!
All canopies must be approved for indoor use.
– ALL canopies must have a tag (attached to the canopy) clearly indicating that it is approved for indoor use and has a “SC-109” rating.
– Be sure to have this confirmed prior to bringing your canopies to the festivals!
See Tag Example Here

Food Vendors
Must complete AHS forms a minimum of 4 weeks before the festival
Must always have a fire extinguisher at your booth
Beverage Vendors
If you are serving any garnishes, you must complete AHS forms for approval
Need an AHS form?
Please email Mark Kondrat directly at m.kondrat@albertabeerfestivals.com

AGLC – Policies & Reminders

Be sure to read and understand all information forwarded to you by AGLC regarding festival participation.
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.
All vendors serving alcohol must have Pro-Serve – and you must have proof
All samples must be exchanged for sample tokens – no cash sales are permitted
Maximum Sample Sizes:
– Beer, Cider, RTDs – 4 ounces
– Spirits – ½ ounce
Sample tokens are $1.00 each
Minimum of 2 tokens per sample

Additional FAQs

I need my product chilled – how do we do this?
There will be a reefer truck on site for the Banff Festival this year
There will also be HUGE bags of ice available to order ($10 per large bag)

Need to rent or purchase a draught unit?
Contact Craig Sorrette with Everclear Draught Services at least two weeks prior to the event everclear@shaw.ca

Are we allowed to sell merchandise at the festival?
These are sampling festivals and selling product is not permitted

I have more questions – who should I contact?
Please email Mark Kondrat directly at m.kondrat@albertabeerfestivals.com with any questions or comments!

A SIGNED CONTRACT/REGISTRATION FORM ACKNOWLEDGES THE BELOW BEER FESTIVAL RULES & POLICIES

  1. There is to be no over-serving of alcohol under any circumstances. If you have a problem with any patron, please inform Security or the Police on site.
  2. Absolutely no cash transactions for alcohol are permitted.
  3. No free sampling. Minimum two tokens per sample.
  4. All persons responsible for the serving or handling of alcohol for an exhibitor booth before, during or after the event must comply with all provincial legal certification requirements and laws. [4oz. samples is the law]. You must have valid ProServe or Servicing It Right Certification or to pour alcohol and you must have proof on you at all times during the festival to show to Alberta Gaming Liquor Cannabis (AGLC) or BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB).
  5. Serving either prior to or after the specified hours that the event is open to the public is in no way permitted.
  6. With the exception of exhibitor beer bottles which must be emptied into the plastic sampling cups by the exhibitors themselves, absolutely no glassware is permitted anywhere on site or under any circumstances. NO FULL BOTTLES. 4 oz. samples only, to a maximum of two samples per person.
  7. Each exhibitor will receive event exhibitor passes emailed to them in advance of the event which must be presented upon entry to the event. Upon presentation, exhibitors will be given a wristband that they must keep on for the duration of that session. No exceptions.
  8. No refunds for any vendors who register for the festival.
  9. Exhibitors may not share booth space without the express written consent of the show organizers.
  10. Food and eatery booths must obtain written permission from event organizers before distributing alcohol in any form, in compliance with the AGLC or LCRB. They must also comply with all AHS regulations and can be shut down without refund for non-compliance.
  11. Exhibitors must disclose any and all beverages/food that will be sampled by the public during the event.
  12. All exhibitors must abide by all local health, safety, alcohol, fire and all municipal, provincial and federal laws at their own cost.
  13. A minimum of two staff members must be present in each exhibitor booth at all times to ensure both safety and quality.
  14. All exhibitors must maintain their booths in a respectable order. This means that all exhibitors are responsible for bagging their own trash and that all recyclables/empties are neatly bagged or re-boxed. At the end of each evening, all garbage and recyclables/empties must be placed in front of your booth for pick up.
  15. Booths must be fully operational throughout all posted hours of the event. Any exhibitor that tears down earlier than posted event times indicated on the contract will be assessed a non- negotiable $250/hour charge.
  16. The organizer’s posted load in, set up, and strike load out times must be adhered to without exception. Special arrangements must be adhered to without exception. Special arrangements must be made well in advance of the event – minimum of one week from set up date. All additional charges for electricians, forklifts etc. will be charged back to that exhibitor.
  17. All exhibitors must have proper liability insurance in the amount of $3,000,000 (three million dollars) for participation in Alberta Beer Festivals events, and must name ‘Alberta Beer Festivals Inc.’ as additionally insured.
  18. Do have fun. Do NOT drink & drive!
  19. Non-compliance with any of these rules and policies will result in immediate fines.

All Beverage Registration

(Breweries, Distilleries, Ciders, Meads, etc.)

Restaurant
Registration

need space