Cody Yellowstone to Celebrate Country’s 250th Birthday with Classic Western Fun, Including a Cattle Drive, Rodeo, Museum Exhibitions, Entertainment and More

CODY, Wyo., June 2, 2026 – Cody Yellowstone continues to expand its lineup of 250th birthday celebrations with classic food, a street festival, immersive stage productions, a commemorative beer, museum exhibitions and rodeo.

“It’s great how the whole region is leaning in to its heritage to celebrate our country’s milestone birthday,” said Michael Wambolt, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, parts of the Shoshone National Forest and a large swath of Yellowstone National Park. “We are proud of our Western lifestyle, and we welcome old and new friends to come see what the excitement is all about.”

Single Events

Frontier Festival and Chuckwagon Cookoff

In partnership with the Cody Medical Foundation, the Park County America’s 250 committee will be hosting a Chuckwagon Cookoff at the Cody Stampede Grounds June 6-7, 2026 with up to five competing chuckwagons cooking authentic meals over campfires.

Chuckwagon Cook-Off & Live Music

Held June 27 at City Park, the event will feature two things Park County does best: chuckwagon cooking and musical performances.

Meeteetse 250th Celebration – Cattle Drive and Street Festival

The town of Meeteetse, Wyo. will host an afternoon and evening of old-fashioned fun on June 29.

Meeteetse’s festivities will start at 4 p.m. and include a cattle drive through downtown Meeteetse to showcase the town’s proud ranching heritage; a stroll along the town’s historic boardwalk with stops at Latigo & Lace, the Meeteetse Museum, the Meeteetse Chocolatier, Vic Payne Studio & Gallery, the Shops at the Meeteetse Mercantile and Quilt Exhibition and Sale and the Meeteetse Meat Company; outdoor picnic dinner and refreshments catered by the Elkhorn Bar & Grill; street dance and music by Kellen Smith, a 5th generation Wyoming rancher and hunter and an outdoor movie under the stars with popcorn, popcorn balls and other movie treats from local vendors and food trucks.

Cody Stampede

After the Meeteetse celebration, Cody takes over with a lineup of events revolving around the Cody Stampede. The Independence Day celebration really kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30 with the Xtreme Bulls Tour, a high-octane event that showcases the skills of some of the top bull riders in the country. The Cody Stampede Rodeo begins on Wednesday, July 1, and the rodeo is staged nightly through Friday, July 4. The final rodeo is capped by a huge fireworks show. Each night of the rodeo features a special theme and tributes to heroes. July 1 is Law Enforcement Night. July 2 is Breast Cancer Awareness Night. July 3 is Military Appreciation Night. And July 4 is Veterans Appreciation Night.

Other events during the five-day celebration include a Cody Stampede Kiddie Parade on July 2 at 10 a.m., and Stampede Parades at 9:30 a.m. on July 3 and 4.

Throughout the celebration, the town of Cody stages a variety of fun events, from free concerts to Independence Day-themed decorations throughout the city. Other events include performances of Wild West Spectacular The Musical on July 3 and 4, Wild West Arts Fest July 2-4, 45th Annual Runner’s Stampede on July 4.

Other events during the five-day celebration include a Cody Stampede Kiddie Parade on July 2 at 10 a.m., and Stampede Parades at 9:30 a.m. on July 3 and 4 as well as a craft fair in city park with live music, food trucks, and local vendors.

America’s Potluck

Not confined to Cody Yellowstone, this celebration will take place all day July 5 all over Wyoming. Neighbors and visitors alike will have the opportunity share a fun communal meal that is sure to have a wide variety of choices.

Defining Courage

On July 26 the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation will host a powerful immersive stage production by renowned news anchor David Ono. The production will bring to life the overlooked stories of Japanese American soldiers who served with extraordinary valor during World War II, despite their families being unjustly incarcerated in camps across the country, including Heart Mountain.

Ongoing Programs

250 Pale

Cody Craft Brewing has brewed a special pale ale to honor the country’s birthday. Available on tap at the brewery and in cans at various locations in Park County, “250 Pale” is brewed with hand-picked hops and premium malt. Even better is that $1 from every pint and six pack is being donated toward the 250th celebration.

Cody Nite Rodeo

Cody is the Rodeo Capital of the World, and the Cody Nite Rodeo is the only nightly summer-season rodeo out there with performances June 1 – August 31. Fun for the whole family, the Cody Nite Rodeo features a variety of rodeo contests and performances by enthusiastic cowboys and cowgirls.

Field of Honor

Flags will be displayed June 14-July 4, 2026 at the Cody Heritage Museum Field of Honor. Stretching from the Heritage Museum, around the courthouse and City Park and concluding at the Chamber of Commerce, the flags will honor local veterans.

Wild West Spectacular

The Legend of Buffalo Bill Cody comes to life June 17-August 18 in a night of live entertainment suitable for young buckaroos, old timers and everyone in between. Guests will be entertained by action, romance, humor, perils, fights and dancing and singing. Don’t be surprised by a special 250th Anniversary twist.

Cody Cattle Company

There will be nightly performances all summer at the Cody Cattle Company, where visitors can experience a buffet dinner and an entertaining hour-long musical show.

Arms of the American Revolution

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Cody Firearms Museum is hosting a signature exhibition now through Fall 2027. In recognition of our nation’s founding, the exhibition brings visitors face to face with the actual firearms and projectiles carried on Revolutionary battlefields.

Buffalo Nation

This two-year exhibition opened in January and will continue through the end of 2027. Honoring our national mammal – the American bison – the exhibit will be found throughout the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and will include multiple displays, new technology and an exciting lineup of public programs and educational activities.

###

Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park. The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world’s attention.

Related hashtags:

#YellowstoneCountry

#CodyWyoming

#CenteroftheWest

#BuffaloBill

#Yellowstone

#ThatsWY

Media contact:

Mesereau Travel Public Relations

720-284-1512

[email protected]