Banff, Alberta (March 30, 2015) – As the days get longer and springtime breathes new life into the mountain landscape, Banff National Park is preparing to leap into the new season with springstART, an annual festival that celebrates the vibrant cultural, historic and artistic scenes of Banff and Lake Louise.

Brand new for this year's festival is the not-to-be-missed 'Concert at the Cave' – a one-off evening of Canadian music filling the atmospheric Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the very birthplace of Banff National Park.  Featured artists include Steven Page, former Barenaked Ladies lead singer, and Craig Northey, singer for the Odds. This unique event will be held on April 25, 2015, including family-friendly festivities, a delicious BBQ and beverages* at the Cave & Basin Café. The concert is free of charge to the first 400 participants, but space is limited so guests should be sure to arrive early!

Banff National Park has a rich history of inspiring artists of every kind, who since the Park's inception in 1885 to the present day have been drawn to the spectacular landscapes of the Canadian Rockies. Continuing that tradition, springstART will offer a unique range of artistic workshops, from acrylic painting with contemporary Calgary artist Sheila Kernan to bringing bears to life on canvas with Alice Helwig, soapstone carving with stone artist Allan Waidman to Banff sunrise photography with Mark Unrau.

Amongst the series of events that are as diverse as they are educational and inspiring, highlights include a performance from Ballet Kelowna on April 11, 2015, heritage home tours to introduce visitors to characters from the past, pop-up art shows and live music performances. Film screenings will bring the area's unique mountain culture to life, while behind the scenes tours will demonstrate why the legendary Banff Centre is a hub for world-class creativity.

To find out more about the programming taking place during springstART in Banff National Park, please visit www.BanffLakeLouise.com/springstART, follow @Banff_Squirrel on Twitter, Banff Lake Louise Tourism on Facebook, and @Banff_LakeLouise on Instagram. #MyBanff. For tickets to Banff Centre events please visit http://www.banffcentre.ca/events/box_office/

The springstART festival is a celebration between Banff Heritage Tourism, Parks Canada, The Town of Banff, The Banff Centre, Banff Lake Louise Tourism and many local partners, and is made possible in part due to contributions from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

To plan your visit to Banff National Park, including tips and suggestions on what to see, do and experience, and to book your trip with our lodging 'Best Rate Guarantee', visit BanffLakeLouise.com