Ongoing throughout the month:
• Free Wyoming Stargazing program at Rendezvous Park (R Park) - Fridays from 9-11 p.m. near the north entrance to R Park off Hwy 390 astronomers from Wyoming Stargazing will have a Dobsonian telescope to look at planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies and more! There will also be several iPads with the Star Walk application installed. Free. - wyomingstargazing.org
• "The Ballad of Cat Ballou" at Jackson Hole Playhouse - Jackson Hole's only dinner theater's 2017 summer musical; runs Mon.-Sat. through Oct. 6 - jacksonholeplayhouse.com
• Raptor Encounters at the Teton Raptor Center - Hour-long educational experience with live raptors at 2 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday at Hardeman Ranch in Wilson; $18 adults/$15 kids ages 4-12; free 3 and under. - tetonraptorcenter.org
3-4: Concerts on the Commons in Teton Village starts with a bang over the July 4th weekend. Free music begins at 8 p.m. July 3rd, followed by the only fireworks show in the area at 10 p.m. On July 4th, music starts up with the Jazz Foundation of JH at 4 p.m. and Grand Teton Music Festival’s “Patriotic Pops” live audio feed from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fireworks will again proceed at 10. The concert series continues every Sunday at 5 p.m. throughout the summer. - concertsoncommons.com
3 and 4: Grand Teton Music Festival starts at 6 p.m. at Walk Festival Hall in Teton Village with songs celebrating Independence Day. This program opens with the Star Spangled Banner and includes patriotic favorites like America the Beautiful, God Bless America, and the Armed Forces Salute. The festival continues through Aug. 20. For full schedule visit gtmf.org
4: 4th of July in Jackson Hole. We have celebrations in spades! Park yourself in downtown Jackson for the Howdy Pardners 4th of July Parade. Snow King Resort hosts a fabulous fireworks display, as does Teton Village across the valley. See our article for more day-of events.
7-8: Jackson Hole Silver Collector Car Show and Auction in Teton Village - silverauctions.com
Plein Air for the Park. Fifth annual gathering of artists painting en plein air in and around Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole. - grandtetonpark.org/our-work-for-the-park/plein-air-for-the-park
Alive@5 Raptor Wednesdays at Teton Village - Meet live raptors up-close, 5-5:45 p.m. every Thursday throughout summer. - tetonraptorcenter.org
Raptor Thursdays at Snow King Mountain's King's Grill patio. Free Q&A session with an expert from the Teton Raptor Center; meet live raptors up-close. 5-6 p.m. every Thursday throughout summer.
6-8: Off Square Theatre Company presents Thin Air Shakespeare: "Macbeth" - The Center Amphitheater; free, bring your own picnic; 6:30 p.m. lawn opens/7:30 p.m. performance. – jhcenterforthearts.org
7: Farmers Market on the Town Square. Start of annual Saturday morning Farmer's Market with fresh produce and music; weekly until September 22. - jacksonholefarmersmarket.org
13-15: Teton Village Art and Antique Show - mcpresents.com
13-15: Off Square Theatre Company presents Thin Air Shakespeare: "Macbeth" - The Center Amphitheater; free, bring your own picnic; 6:30 p.m. lawn opens/7:30 p.m. performance. – jhcenterforthearts.org
13-15: Annual ArtFair Jackson Hole. Hosted by the Art Association of Jackson Hole in Miller Park, this is a quintessential Jackson family-oriented summer event featuring dozens of international, national and local artists, live music, food and snack booths, hands-on, kids art activities and artists demos. Items for sale include ceramics, paintings, furniture, photography and jewelry. Cost: $5; free for members. Hours: Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - jhartfair.org
Alive@5 with Jackson Hole Historical Society - Village Commons: The past comes Alive@Five with storytellers, mountain music and folk artists sharing the best of the historic West. - jacksonholehistory.org
13-15: 14th Annual Targhee Music Fest. Grand Targhee Mountain Resort in Alta, Wyoming, (just over Teton Pass out of Wilson) hosts acoustic, folk, blues and roots music over three days. Camp in the surrounding area, bring your RV or stay in one of the resort’s lodges. - grandtarghee.com
Alive@5 with Jackson Hole Historical Society. Teton Village Commons: The past comes Alive@Five with storytellers, mountain music and folk artists sharing the best of the historic West. - jacksonholehistory.org
Jackson Hole Gallery Association Third Thursday Art Walk - Galleries are open late, from 5-8 p.m., featuring new art work, opening of a show or simply offering art and a glass of wine - jacksonholegalleryassociation.com
Special Program to Celebrate Birds at National Elk Refuge - Family-friendly activities at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center offers a chance to learn fascinating facts about birds, identify flyways and migration challenges, simulate eating habits, participate in a crafts station and take part in a short bird walk; 11 a.m. -2 p.m.
20-29: Teton County Fair - Celebrates Jackson’s roots at the Teton County Fairgrounds; includes carnival rides starting on July 26th, food, live music, vendors and much more. - tetoncountyfair.com
25: Grand Teton Music Festival presents "Family Orchestra Concert: A Night at the Movies" - Instrument petting zoo at 6 p.m. followed by music from Disney films, "Lord of the Rings" and "2001: A Space Odyssey." - gtmf.org
28: 50th Annual Snow King Hill Climb Running Race. The 2.3 mile race begins at the Jackson Town Square, follows Cache Street and climbs 1,571 feet up switchbacks and alpine terrain to the summit of Snow King Mountain. Cost to enter: $35 by July 22/$45 day of race. – tetoncountyparksandrec.org
Alive@5 with Jackson Hole Historical Society. Teton Village Commons: The past comes Alive@Five with storytellers, mountain music and folk artists sharing the best of the historic West. - jacksonholehistory.org
More Fun Things To Try
ATTEND ALIVE@5 EVENTS IN TETON VILLAGE
Alive @ Five takes place on the Teton Village Commons and is a free, all ages program running from 5 to 5:45 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. This summer series provides both an educational and entertaining element to evenings in Teton Village. Tuesdays: Second Nature—storytelling with live animals and interactive activities; Jackson Hole Historical Society brings storytellers, mountain music and folk artists sharing the best of the historic West. Wednesdays: Hawks, eagles, owls and falcons take center stage. Enjoy a unique, up-close, arm's length learning experience with live birds of prey presented by Teton Raptor Center. Thursdays: Tunes on Thursday—Enjoy a variety of music featuring different local musicians each week. Fridays: Wild Things of Wyoming brings an interactive and engaging experience about the animals who make Wyoming their home.
PLAY MINI-GOLF AT SNOW KING
This state-of-the-art 18-hole miniature golf course is the only one in Jackson Hole. It features water challenges including a waterfall and a pond! The course travels through multiple levels and is a great activity for kids of all ages. (That means you, too, mom and dad!) Tickets are $12 for adults and kids ages 7 to 18; $6 for those age 6 and younger. Visit snowkingmountain.com
ATTEND A RANGER PROGRAM IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Interact better with the park by taking a ranger-led program or two; many are wheelchair accessible. Park rangers provide a wide variety of activities for visitors including hikes, slide shows, children's activities and wildlife viewing in the various districts of the park. The following is but a small sample of both regular and special programs being offered throughout the summer. For full schedule visit nps.gov/grte
In the Moose District
• The Olaus and Mardy Murie legacy speaks to the power of passion and commitment to protecting wild places. Through conversation on a walk to the Murie Ranch, you can learn about the Muries and their early-20th century conservation efforts. Roundtrip distance: 1.5 miles. Difficulty: Easy. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1 pm. (Through August 18).
• Twilight Talk (accessible): Join a ranger by the campfire to learn more about one of Grand Teton's fascinating animals or park stories during this family-friendly program. Meet at the Gros Ventre amphitheater for a 45-minute program. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7:30 pm. (Through August 25)
In Jenny Lake District
• Bear Safety (accessible): Discover techniques that will help you stay safe while traveling and camping in bear country. Includes instruction in the use of bear pepper spray. Meet on the Jenny Lake Visitor Center Deck for a 30-minute presentation. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 1:30 pm. (Through September 4)
In Colter Bay District
• Coffee with a Ranger (accessible): Join a ranger for questions, trip planning and dialog over morning coffee. Meet on the visitor center front porch for a 1-hour conversation. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m.
• Swan Lake Hike: Hike through forest and wetland communities and learn about the plants and animals living in the park. Meet the ranger at the visitor center flagpole, daily at 1 p.m. The programs lasts 3 hours. Distance: 3 miles. Difficulty: easy.
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
• Nature Explorer's Backpack: Children discover the wonders of the natural world using the tools provided in the Nature Explorer's Backpack. After a brief orientation by a ranger, each child receives a journal full of activities to guide them as they explore the preserve trails with their family. The backpacks are available for checkout at the Preserve Center desk every day starting at 9 a.m. and need to be returned by 5 p.m. Recommended for children ages 6 to 12. Backpacks are limited, one per family please.
• Critter Chat: Join a ranger to learn about a critter in the park. Saturday, Sunday, Thursday and Wednesday from 3:30-4 p.m.
