For the past decade I’ve spent roughly a third of November in Jasper for Christmas in November at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. It’s one of the highlights of my year: equal parts indulgent, cozy and endlessly fun. Imagine a grown-up sleepover camp with gorgeous cedar cabins, ironed sheets, and nonstop food, wine and cocktails. Over ten days I swear I consume a worrying portion of my annual calories, but what’s a trip like that without a little decadence?
Even if it’s a little early to be thinking about the holidays, I like to share details now so people don’t miss their chance to join. Jasper is stunning year-round, and Christmas in November (now in its 26th year) is the lodge’s top event, bringing together a lively mix of presenters, chefs, designers and craftspeople. The layout of the lodge helps make the event special: more than 200 cedar cabins are spread across 700 acres, so you have a private, cozy space but never feel isolated. Days are spent moving between sessions, meals, swims, spa treatments and dance parties, with Lac Beauvert nearby to stroll around or sit beside. When the lake freezes the sound of rocks skittering across the ice is something I haven’t heard anywhere else—oddly musical, almost like laser sounds—and it’s a simple joy to bundle up, toss a few stones and come back inside for some of the best hot chocolate around.
The scenery is gorgeous even when it’s not snowy, and the chipmunks are endlessly entertaining. The weekend follows a familiar rhythm: guests arrive and settle into their cabins, then the festivities kick off with an enormous welcome reception and creative buffets. This year’s theme was ugly Christmas sweaters, which set a playful tone from the start.
Attendees choose from sessions led by Food Network and local celebrity chefs, decorators, bakers and mixologists, and between sessions we enjoy generous breakfasts, lunches and dinners in the great hall. Afternoons often wind down with wine tastings or cocktail demonstrations, which adds to the festive atmosphere. Over the years familiar faces such as Bob Blumer, Lynn Crawford and Michael Smith have presented, and recent lineups have included outstanding local talents and bakers from across the region.
The event feels like a reunion each year, with old friends and newcomers mingling. I reconnect with people like Michael and Anna Olson, decorators such as Karl Lohnes, and flair mixologist Micah Dew. It’s a wonderfully indulgent week where you rarely need to do anything but enjoy—no cooking, no cleaning, just skiing from the pool to the lounge, spotting elk wandering past your cabin, and listening to a soundtrack of Bing Crosby while you relax.
The lodge has a heated pool that’s fun to use while snow falls, a renovated spa for pampering, and countless fireplaces for curling up beside. Cabins and public spaces are decorated for the season, creating the kind of Christmas atmosphere people dream about amid the chaos of their real lives.
Groups often come with friends or family—mothers, sisters, or a circle of pals—and everyone enjoys the nonstop fun and the variety of activities available. If you want to explore beyond the lodge, the nearby Maligne Canyon hike offers dramatic scenery. The drive from Calgary along Icefields Parkway is spectacular as well, a scenic route through glaciers, frozen waterfalls and emerald lakes that’s part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The whole trip feels like a reset; I always remember how hard it is to return to routine after being spoiled with room service and not lifting a finger to make breakfast.
After a whirlwind six-city book tour to launch Home Cooking by the Best of Bridge, I’m looking forward to Christmas in November as my next big trip. It’s hard to believe November arrives so quickly each year, but planning ahead makes it easier to secure a spot at this much-loved event.
I’m also remembering the cinnamon bun crunch icebox cookies from my first cookbook—these were the first recipe I demoed at my debut Christmas in November appearance 14 years ago. They’re simple to make and rewarding to have on hand: logs of dough wrapped in parchment chill in the fridge or freezer, ready to be sliced and baked whenever you want a fresh batch. They fill the house with a cozy cinnamon aroma and are perfect for welcoming guests or warming up kids after a cold day. Because they freeze well, you can start holiday baking early and build a stash of ready-to-bake cookies—ideal whether you’re an early planner or a last-minute baker.
Whether you come for the food, the friends, the presenters, or simply the chance to be pampered in an extraordinary setting, Christmas in November at Jasper Park Lodge is a memorable way to start the holiday season. If you’ve never been, it’s well worth experiencing at least once.