Jackson Hole Events Summer 2015 – Locals, tourists, and heck even the wildlife would tell you if they didn’t want to let everyone in on the secret that summer just may be the best season in Jackson Hole. Bears after all are wise enough to sit out the harsh winter in a hibernating stupor and simply fast-forward to the best time of the year, where the sun is shining, the mountain flowers are in full bloom, and everything is pretty much perfect. So, don’t delay or hesitate to book that trip you’ve been meaning to out west to Jackson Hole. Summer may be the best season in the Hole, but it can also be one of the shortest, so make sure you don’t miss it. The hardest part of your summer vacation in Jackson Hole will be trying to fit in all the amazing summer activities that the Tetons have to offer you and your family.
Music
The streets of Jackson literally come alive in summer with the sounds of music, but not quite in the Julie Andrews sort of way. Think funkier and with quite a few more decibels. Jackson offers music lovers a plethora of options to see live music indoors as well as out with the mountains serving as an epic scenic backdrop. Don’t worry whatever music genres you are into you’ll be able to see them live this summer in Jackson Hole.
This festival makes its inaugural debut this June for “four nights and three days of music, art, and culture” on June 11-14. A killer lineup with a ton of acts including headliners, The Thievery Corporation, ensures that there is pretty much a sound for everyone. It’s also safe to say Jackson Hole has probably never hosted a festival of this magnitude before. For the full lineup and tickets head to contourmusicfestival.com
Jackson’s favorite free outdoor concert series at the base of Snow King returns this summer for more of the same. Last summer Lynyrd Skynyrd closed out the series as part of the town’s historic centennial celebration. For more info check out jacksonholelivemusic.com and stay tuned for when this summer’s lineup is announced.
Billed as season 54, yeah they’ve been doing it for over half a century now the Grand Teton Music Festival is a great place to hear some classical music in Jackson Hole or anywhere for that matter. The concert series runs from July 1 to August 15. For info on concerts and tickets go to gtmf.org
Quite possibly the best reason to drive over the pass or better yet take the shuttle and check out the Music on Main series in the park in Victor, Idaho. The weekly Thursday music series starts June 25 and runs until August 13. Nothing quite beats sitting in the grass with some great food and listening to some free music. For more info on the musical acts this year go to tetonvalleyfoundation.org
The 11th annual Targhee Fest runs July 17-19 at Grand Targhee Resort. This fun festival highlights national acts and this year features Bruce Hornsby as well Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real. For tickets and info go to grandtarghee.com
Fairs & Events
Nothing like a Western fair to get outside and spend some quality time with the family. At the numerous fairs and outdoor events Jackson offers in the summer you’ll be able to sample some great local eats, enjoy some thrilling rides, and even learn some local Wyoming history.
Come to the festival that boasts quite possibly the world’s best collection of elk antlers. The antlers are collected right from the National Elk Refuge and are sold by the Boy Scouts at auction on the town square. Other events include a free concert by the Jackson Hole Community Band, plenty of food, and interactive exhibits highlighting local wildlife. The Elkfest is scheduled for May 16-17. For more info go to elkfest.org
The valley hosts its 34th annual Old West Days in Jackson Hole on May 22-25. It’s pretty much a celebration of everything Wyoming. Be sure to check out all the food, Old West entertainment, rodeo events, arts and crafts and more. For a listing of all the events go to jacksonholechamber.com/old_west_days
From Monday to Saturday at 6pm on the Town Square you can watch a real Wyoming tradition go down as a Jackson Hole shootout is reenacted to the delight of the tourists and locals alike. Go to jacksonholechamber.com/events/jh-shootout form more info.
Nothing quite says you’re out west like attending the rodeo. The Jackson Hole Rodeo runs from May 23 to September 5 and makes for a perfect night out for the family. For more info head over to jhrodeo.com
If wine is your thing, or you just want an excuse to raise a glass the Jackson Hole Wine Auction offers plenty of opportunities to sample some vino from June 25 – 27. You’ll also have a chance to sample some delectable bites from top local restaurants. Great wine and great food equals a perfect pairing. Go to jhwineauction.com for more details.
The 4th is a pretty big deal, it’s after all our country’s birthday, but you are definitely in for a treat when you watch all the festivities go down in scenic Jackson Hole. From the small town parade that is anything, but small to of course the fireworks show at Snow King Resort, the 4th is something truly special in Jackson. For more info on events check out the jacksonholechamber.com/events/4th-of-july
Featuring the best of all the local food offerings you can find in one spot, the Jackson Hole Farmer’s Market is the place to be on Saturdays for good eats. A weekly Saturday tradition since 2000 the Farmer’s Market runs from July 5 through September from 8am to 12 pm right on the Town Square. To read up about this Jackson staple head over to jacksonholefarmersmarket.com
This eclectic art fair has been brining all types of art to Jackson since 1965. Displaying the work of international, national, and local artists the fair provides for a great family outing or the serious art collector looking to score some great art. This art fair runs from July 10-12 and August 7-9 in Miller Park starting at 10am. Admission is free for members and just $5 for non-members. For more info go to jhartfair.org
This is the big one and summer just doesn’t seem like summer around here without making an appearance at this fun filled fair. The Teton County Fair runs this year from July 17-26 and has everything you could imagine and then some. From great food, fun rides, and even animals the Teton County Fair has it all. For more info go to tetonwyo.org/fair
Sports
Skiing is maybe what Jackson is known for, but if that is the only thing that comes to mind when you think Jackson you are truly missing out. The summers in Jackson offer way more activities then simply of the skiing variety, but yes if you wanted to you could do that too. The sky’s the limit for outdoor activities around here. So simply use your imagination or grab your favorite piece of outdoor gear and get after it.
Get in shape and see this national treasure at this year’s Yellowstone Half Marathon on June 13. If you aren’t quite ready to run that far, you’re in luck as they’ve just added a 5K run to this year’s lineup. Head over to yellowstonehalfmarathon.com to get info on the course, register, and even get training tips.
This festival is a celebration on two wheels and offers everything from clinics, group rides, races, music, food, and beer. This year’s festival runs from August 29 to September 1 and offers a great time for bike enthusiasts. To learn about all the events go to tetonbikefest.org
The name stands for Logan (Utah) to Jackson (Wyoming), which is over 200 miles of cycling, so it’s more than just a ride around the block. If you are up for it, or are looking to cross a big race off your bucket list than get in shape and start training for this one of a kind endurance event on September 12. For more details go to lotojaclassic.com