What’s Ahead in Late Summer and Fall in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country; Events Showcase Region’s Legends, Local Talent and Western Traditions

CODY, Wyo., July 21, 2017 – A pilgrimage, fair, free concerts, art show and air show are in the line-up of fun events awaiting visitors to Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country during the late summer and fall. The events reflect the authentic Western heritage and array of outdoor adventures in this small northwestern Wyoming town of 11,000 residents.

“What Cody lacks in population we make up in enthusiasm and creativity, and each one of these events reflects a massive investment of time and energy by dedicated planners,” said Claudia Wade, director of the Park County Travel Council, the marketing arm for the region. “Many of our visitors are surprised at the high caliber of the festivities and the welcoming attitude of our locals. We are an open-arms community, and we work hard to ensure that our visitors leave town with great memories of their Western adventures.”

Comprised of the towns of Cody, Meeteetse and Powell and the East Valley of Yellowstone, here’s what’s planned for the coming months in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country:

Now through Aug. 12 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays – The Cody Monologues: Famous Infamous Women of the West. The Studio Theater at the Cody Center of the Performing Arts presents the stories of some of the more colorful women of Cody in this 75-minute play. Historical characters including an artist, author, “lady Doc,” lady of the evening and cowgirl from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show entertainingly present their life stories.

July 22 – Yellowstone Beer Fest. Scheduled from 3 to 8 p.m., proceeds from the non-profit Yellowstone Beer Fest are donated to local charities. The festival includes live music, food vendors and samplings of local and regional craft beers.The Heart Mountain Pilgrimage will take place July 28-30.

July 19 – 22 and 26 – 29 – Rocky Mountain Dance Theater presents: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The historic Cody Theater is the fitting location for this show, which has been playing Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm. and Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. since late June. Dancers and actors portray the true story of Buffalo Bill Cody and famous Western characters such as Annie Oakley and Wild Bill Hickock.

July 28 – 30 – Heart Mountain Pilgrimage – This annual event sponsored by the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation at the site of the Heart Mountain Internment Camp includes panel discussions, banquet, documentaries and special exhibits about this camp where 14,000 Japanese-Americans were incarcerated during World War II.

Thursdays through Aug. 24 – Concerts in the Park. Cody’s City Park hosts free concerts Thursday evenings through the end of August. Every week there’s a different band performing a wide variety of music, like bluegrass, folk, country, blues, reggae and Americana.

July 29 – Historic Pitchfork Ranch Tour – Hosted by Meeteetse Museums, this tour of the historic Pitchfork Ranch is led by owner Lenox Baker and includes some of the ranch’s historic structures. Built in 1878, it is the second-oldest ranch in the state. The ranch helped owner Count Otto Franc von Lichtenstein launch his career as a cattle baron. There’s also a connection to Butch Cassidy, who launched his career as a notorious Western criminal when he stole his first horse from the ranch.

Aug. 5 – Cody Air Fair – The Yellowstone Regional Airport and Choice Aviation host this fair including pilot competitions and free aircraft rides for the kids.

Aug. 10 – Annual Buffalo Bill Invitational Shootout – Organized by the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Cody Shooting Complex, the shootout showcases the sport of shooting and the history of the country’s firearms industry.

Aug. 12 – Annual Kirwin Tour – Hosted by Meeteetse Museums, this tour offers an up-close look at the long-abandoned mining town of Kirwin, located high in the Absaroka Mountains. Participants will see the ghost town’s storage and shop facilities, cabins, sheds and machinery. A highlight of the tour is a short hike to view the foundation of Amelia Earhart’s cabin. Construction on the cabin ended when Earhart disappeared in 1937.

Aug. 12 – Plaza Diane Renaissance Fair – Powell’s popular Plaza Diane is the site of this fun family event that includes art projects, games, activities, food vendors, art exhibits and entertainment. Renaissance-themed costumes are encouraged.

Aug. 17 – Taste of Meeteetse – This free event showcases cuisine prepared by residents. Donations will benefit Meeteetse Christmas baskets and the Meeteetse Youth Works program.

Aug. 18 – 20 – Cody Wild River Fest – The Shoshone River is front and center during this family event featuring river games, fly fishing tournaments, food, music and river sports. Participants can learn ways to keep the river healthy through exhibits and presentations.

Aug. 19 – Wings ‘N Wheels Annual Fly-In Car Show – Located at the Powell Municipal Airport, this event includes an air show, car show and array of vendors.

Aug. 19 – Great Dam Day showcases the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center with a hike down the “Old Dam Road” for a view below the dam, kids’ hike and lunch.

Aug. 21 – Great American Total Solar Eclipse – The Cody Visitor Center will be selling eclipse glasses for visitors who wish to see the solar eclipse, which will be viewable from Cody with only 98.05 percent obscuration.

Aug. 25 – 26 – Cody Country Car Show – Classic cars, hot rods, custom vehicles and muscle cars will be on display at the Denny Menholt Chevrolet, Buick, GMC dealership. There will also be an organized cruise through town, barbecue, judging and awards.

Sept. 2 – Annual Chatelaine Quilt Guild Show – The work of local quilters will be on display at Meeteetse Museums through the middle of October. The exhibit includes three-dimensional as well as orthodox pieces.

Sept. 2 – Archaeology Fair – Organized by Meeteetse Museums, this event features archaeology activities at stations throughout town.

Sept. 2 – Meeteetse’s Annual Labor Day Celebration – Meeteetse has been celebrating Labor Day in a big way for more than 100 years. Events include a craft fair, parade, games, food, entertainment, sip-and-paint and the final rodeo in the Big Horn Rodeo Circuit.

Sept. 7 – 9 – Yellowstone Quilt Festival – Located in the Cody Auditorium, quilters from throughout the region celebrate the art of quilting with contests, a block challenge, raffle quilt, silent auction, vendors mall, exhibit and classes.

Sept. 8 – 9 – Trapper Stampede Rodeo – Northwest College in Powell competes in the Big Sky Region, long recognized as one of the toughest competitive regions in collegiate rodeo. Events include bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling and team roping.

Sept. 8 – Homesteader Days Festival – Celebrating the days of homesteading and farming, the festival includes antique machinery demonstrations, farmers market, craft vendors, hay ride, food, music and entertainment.

Sept. 9 – Wyoming Desperados Regional Mounted Shooting Competition – Contestants from throughout the region compete in mounted shooting championships at the Park County Fairgrounds.

Sept. 18 – 23 – Rendezvous Royale – One of Cody’s biggest events of the year is this week-long celebration of Western art, studio tours, seminars and more. The capstone of the event is the 36th Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale on Sept. 22 and Quick Draw Brunch on Sept. 23. This sale of Western-themed fine art includes a broad range of interpretations of the American West in original oil painting, watercolor, sculpture, ceramic and mixed media. The exhibition, housed in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, is free for public viewing. Main events include a Friday-evening auction, Saturday-morning Quick Draw and Saturday-evening Patron’s Ball.

Sept. 24 – Black-footed Ferret Celebration – Hosted by Meeteetse Museums, this annual celebration on the anniversary of the 1981 rediscovery of the black-footed ferret includes a variety of free events. This year documentary filmmaker Virginia Moore will offer a preview of her documentary, “Ferret Town.”

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Yellowstone Country is comprised of the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park.
The area of Park County is called “Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country” because it was the playground of Buffalo Bill Cody himself. Buffalo Bill founded the town of Cody in 1896, and the entire region was driven and is still heavily influenced by the vision of the Colonel. Today its broad streets, world-class museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West and thriving western culture host nearly 1 million visitors annually.

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Media contact:
Mesereau Travel Public Relations
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