Guide to the Summer Festivals of Teton Valley, Idaho
Teton Valley, Idaho is known for our endless outdoor recreation opportunities, but we’re also gaining a strong reputation for festivals and special events that draw people from around the world. With jaw-dropping scenery, a thriving arts scene, fine dining, and world-class recreation from skiing to fishing to mountain biking and more, it’s no wonder that this destination is one everybody wants to visit. Add to that our rustic, laid-back western vibe when compared to the busier, crowded scene in Jackson Hole, and you’ve got a perfect setting for festivals that bring people back year after year.
If you’re planning on visiting Teton Valley, Idaho, check out this guide to the best summer festivals, then head on over to our website to reserve the perfect vacation home for your getaway.
June Festivals
Old West Days: Held annually during the last two weeks of June, Old West Days celebrates the history and heritage of western life in the perfect setting of Jackson, Wyoming – which is just a little over 30 minutes from Teton Valley, Idaho. Stay here in quiet Teton Valley, then drive over for the festivities, including the Elkfest, Mountain Man Rendevezous, parades, chili cookoffs, a brewfest, arts-and-crafts fairs and more.
Million Dollar Music Festival: Held annually on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar puts on the Million Dollar Music Fest, a free outdoor concert series that features some of the best artists in the nation on stage right in the middle of the iconic Jackson town square.
July Festivals
City of Victor July 4th Parade and Arts Festival: Every year the City of Victor hosts a 4th of July celebration in conjunction with local nonprofit groups. Arrive early to get a good spot to watch this nostalgic small-town parade that begins at 10:30 a.m. and winds down Main Street in Victor, Idaho. The Art Fair will be held at the Victor City Center Park for several days before and on the 4th of July, so be sure to visit that as well.
Teton Valley Balloon Rally: Hot air balloons launch from the Teton County Fairgrounds in Driggs, Idaho just after sunrise each morning every 4th of July holiday weekend in a grand tradition to celebrate Independence Day. During the Teton Valley Balloon Rally, balloon rides are available, and special spectator passes allow you to get up close to the color balloons each morning of the 4-day event. Even if you don’t ride, you can see this amazing display from many great vantage points around Driggs each day and enjoy some amazing sights with the balloons floating in front of our majestic Teton mountains.
Driggs Plein Air Festival: Held during the last week of July, the Driggs Plein Air Festival features more than 70 professional and emerging artists from all over the country who set up their easels outdoors to capture in paint the abundant gorgeous scenery found throughout Teton Valley. Plein air workshops will be offered and artists and collectors can enjoy many activities like the extended Exhibition & Sale, Opening Reception, Quick Draw Competitions, Workshops, Paint-Outs, Competition Awards Ceremony, and Closing Reception.
August Festivals
Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival: This famous festival has been going for more than three decades and draws bluegrass fans from around the world. Started in 1988, the Targhee Bluegrass Fest is the Grand Daddy of Bluegrass Festivals in the Northern Rockies, combining great Bluegrass with the ultimate mountain lifestyle. Grand Targhee Resort’s Bluegrass Festival has been a mainstay for Bluegrass aficionados for over two generations with stage appearances by artists and performers during that span that highlight the best in the industry.
Shakespeare in the Park: This performance by a nationally-recognized groups is held in an open-air venue in downtown Driggs, presented by the Downtown Driggs Association in partnership with "Montana Shakespeare in the Parks," a nationally recognized outreach program of the College of Arts and Architecture at Montana State University. Bring your lawn chairs, enjoy local brews, wines, and food, and enjoy a great Shakespeare play in a location like no other.
September Festivals
Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Mountain Bike Festival: Held during Labor Day weekend at Grand Targhee Resort, this festival for mountain bikers features activities that will cater to all levels and kinds of riders with hundreds of miles of sweet singletrack trails, bike demos, skills clinics, live music, great food, and lots of entertainment.
Greater Yellowstone Crane Festival: Celebrate the migration of Sandhill Cranes through Teton Valley at this annual event held every September. The week-long festival will include Sandhill Crane habitat tours, drawing and photography workshops, documentary film screenings, special programs and workshops, and an Art Show at Driggs City Center. (Event proceeds support the Land Trust’s conservation efforts in the Greater Yellowstone region.)