Sunshine Prepares to Host Hollywood Stars

Sunshine Village is preparing to host Hollywood stars to raise funds for an organization dedicated to protecting worldwide waterways. The annual event brings famous big screen stars to the slopes in the name of the environment.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Celebrity Sports Invitational, which takes place Jan. 12-15, 2012, plans to host big-name guests this year such as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Alec Baldwin. Past years have drawn Hollywood names such as Glenn Close, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Meg Ryan, Dan Aykroyd, Jason Priestley and Martin Sheen.

Sunshine Village hosts the celebrities in two days of on-snow events. Skiers and snowboarders at Sunshine can watch the celebrities compete in snowshoe and toboggan races as well as dual giant slalom races.

The event finishes with a gala dinner and concert at The Fairmont Banff Springs. The gala is open to the public with individual tickets costing $500 and the purchase of a gold table costing $10,000. Purchasers of gold tables can invite 10 guests to dine with a celebrity. Last year, the gala raised more than $1 million for the Waterkeeper Alliance.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel hosts the gala fundraiser for the Celebrity Sports Invitational. Photo by Becky Lomax.

The event seeks to raise funds for the Waterkeeper Alliance. The alliance, which was founded in 1999, comprises more than 190 local organizations that protect 1.6 million miles of waterways on six continents. The organization employs about 600 environmental activists, scientists, attorneys, and educators.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is offering Star Gazer packages for lodging and the gala. The luxury hotel also offers ski and stay packages.

Tickets for the gala are available through The Fairmont Banff Springs by calling 403-762-1710. Reservations for lodging are available by calling 866-540-4406. Find more lodging information here.