"Banffchella" at the Fairmont Banff Springs

BANFFCHELLA has just launched at the Fairmont Banff Springs for the 2022 summer season. Get your very first look at this colourful pool party!

If you’ve ever stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs, then you likely fell in love with the “Castle in the Rockies”. During any season, it’s a magical place filled with history and grandeur. A place where you can bring your family to create lasting memories or a place to check-in for your honeymoon stay. Nestled in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, it’s an iconic landmark in Alberta.

This summer, the hotel pool area is looking a little different… with the introduction of “BANFFCHELLA”. You’re right, it’s a play on words, combining the town of Banff and the widely-known music festival Coachella. I was invited to the launch party last week and I’m excited to show you a sneak peek!

What is Banffchella?

Banffchella is a temporary art installation surrounding the indoor and outdoor pool areas at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada. It will be here all summer long in 2022! The hotel is known for a very classy, traditional vibe so this mini-makeover is a fun splash of colour. The outdoor pool deck now displays a colourfully painted walkway, surrounded by summer-themed 3D sculptures. The indoor pool archways have also been vibrantly but tastefully painted. You know I love an Instagrammable spot and this is definitely it! It is only available to hotel guests so you won’t be able to access the area without an active keycard. The aquatic centre is open daily from 6:00 am – 10:00 pm but head down early to get your photos without too many guests in view.

Make a Splash with Colour

Make sure to pack your camera to get photos of the 3D sculptures: an ice cream cone, melting popsicle, and Veuve Cliquot photo box. There are even giant lawn games like Connect-4 and Jenga. Personally, my favourite part is the painted archways in the indoor aquatic facility. The pool has always been a beautiful spot to swim or lounge on one of the many pool deck couches. The white archways have been transformed with colour-blocked reds, pinks, blues, and yellows. It’s stunning! The artists responsible for this colour makeover are Claire Ouchi and Rachel Rivera, co-founders of WKNDRS. They both studied locally at the Alberta University of Arts so it’s great that the Fairmont chose local talent to transform the space.