Photo Credit: Jack McLane

As one would expect from the Cowboy State, most of the big festivals and events in Wyoming revolve around cowboys and their lifestyle. There are several big rodeos in the summer along with special cultural festivals in Jackson Hole. You can enjoy a weekend of Scottish tradition or celebrate the beauty of mountain living in this state that only really kicks into gear when the snow finally melts. But one thing's for sure -- Wyoming holidays are a rope slinging, roaring good time!

Old West Days

This four-day Wyoming event each May marks the beginning of the wonderful and busy summer tourist season in Jackson. It’s a Wild West extravaganza, with everything from real rodeo competitions to live bands and theater performances. The entire town of Jackson turns into a big street party, with lots of great food, arts, and crafts vendors offering goodies for sale.

Alpine Mountain Days

When the summer begins to peak at the end of June, the beautiful town of Star Valley opens up its annual festival to celebrate the culture of mountain living. The scenery couldn’t be better for the roster of fun and quirky events like a black powder shoot, a mustache contest, and a chili cook off. There are live bands, great food, and plenty of stuff for the kids to do at this family-focused Wyoming festival.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo

A major rodeo event in the American West, Cheyenne’s annual July rodeo boasts US $1 million in prize money for the top cowboys. Every event on the menu is performed during each of the nine shows that are scheduled daily during the festival. Bareback bronco busting, bucking bulls, and those clever rodeo clowns draw thousands to Frontier Park, with lots of supporting fun like food, music, and activities for the kids.

Jackson Hole Scottish Festival

This event might seem a bit out of place, but in fact Wyoming has a rich Scottish heritage running through its veins. The mountain town of Jackson celebrates this heritage every August with a weekend of all things Scottish. The Teton County Fair Grounds plays host to traditional Highlands games, activities, bag pipe performances, and other fun events.

Jackson Hole Arts Festival

After summer has put on its performance, it’s time for the region’s artists to come out and show their stuff. Jackson transforms into a giant art exhibition, with special gallery events, painting competitions, and artists simply wandering around setting up their kit for an impromptu session. Of course, there is lots of original art for sale as well throughout this week in September.

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