Native American Culture, Delicious Raspberries Celebrated in Southeast Idaho

During the second week of August, Native Americans gather from all across North America in Fort Hall, Idaho, for the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival. Held annually since 1964, the festival is rated one of the best powwows in Indian Country. The amazing handmade regalia worn during the drumming and dancing competitions and the grand entrance are filled with symbolism often handed down over generations. Activities include handgames, art shows and parades, with opportunities to purchase Indian handcrafts and food. Don’t miss the Indian Relay Races – a heart-pounding horse competition where teams compete bareback.

Bear Lake Valley is known for its bountiful and completely delicious raspberry harvest that occurs in early August. A Thursday parade kicks off Raspberry Days, followed by a fair with craft booths, rides for kids, food vendors and live music all day long. And of course, Bear Lake’s famous raspberry shake is available at the fair. Unique to Raspberry Days is the Boat Light Parade on the intense turquoise water of Bear Lake, where boats are decorated with lights.

Held annually since 1964, the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival is rated one of the best powwows in Indian Country. Photo courtesy of Southeast Idaho High Country

For more information on Southeast Idaho, please visit IdahoHighCountry.org.

Immerse Yourself in Cowboy Country at a Wyoming Dude Ranch

Wyoming is truly cowboy country, and there is no better way to experience that first-hand than by booking a stay at a dude ranch.

Wyoming is proud to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the country’s first and oldest dude ranch, Eaton’s Ranch, which still welcomes guests today. Located in Wolf, Wyoming, Eaton’s Horse Ranch coined the term “dude ranch” in 1904 and still offers a more traditional Western experience.

However, Eaton’s is not the only ranch you can find in Wyoming. We have dude ranches for every type of adventure, from kid-friendly ranches great for the whole family to a little R&R time for adults. Wyoming dude ranch vacations offer an opportunity to live out the Western way of life, even for just a short time.

Many of these accommodations welcome guests year-round and offer guided horseback riding trips, adults-only getaways and fall hunting excursions. With so many options, it is hard to find a reason not to stay at one of Wyoming’s amazing dude ranches.

Wyoming is truly cowboy country, and there are dude ranches for every type of adventure, from kid-friendly to adults-only options. Photo courtesy of Wyoming Office of Tourism

For more information on Wyoming, visit TravelWyoming.com.

Experience Real Winter Magic in Caldwell, Idaho

Every year, the city of Caldwell transforms into a real-life winter wonderland from the weekend before Thanksgiving until the first week of January.

Over 1 million LED Christmas lights decorate the city, painting its streets in glowing reds, purples and blues. The more than 1 million holiday lights cover trees, buildings and bridges all over town, painting the city in a mesmerizing glow. Children, families and couples skate under the lights on a huge outdoor skating rink, and a singing Christmas tree stands tall on the corner of Indian Creek Plaza. Visiting Caldwell in the winter is a reminder of just how magical this season can truly be.

Indian Creek Plaza in downtown Caldwell is your holiday headquarters. Take the family to enjoy ice skating at Idaho’s only, and the seventh in the USA, ice skating ribbon. The ribbon is great for skaters of any ability with skate rentals available.

Every year, the city of Caldwell transforms into a real-life winter wonderland from the weekend before Thanksgiving until the first week of January. Visiting Caldwell in the winter is a reminder of just how magical this season can truly be. Photo courtesy of Southwest Idaho Travel Association

For more information on Southwest Idaho, visit VisitSouthwestIdaho.org.

South Dakota’s Calendar Ranges From Bikers to Bison

Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarch (Custer), June 1 & October 1

Hike up the mountain to stand face-to-face with Crazy Horse! The volksmarch is the most popular organized hike in the United States, welcoming nearly 15,000 hikers.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant (De Smet), July 5-7, 12-14, 19-21

The annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant in De Smet is an outdoor theater experience celebrating the Ingalls family and De Smet’s early history.

Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Sturgis) , August 2-11

It’s biker heaven! Each year since 1937, Sturgis’ Main Street becomes a sea of motorcycles, leather and, of course, people.

Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival (Custer), September 27

The ground rumbles and the dust flies as cowboys, cowgirls and park crews saddle up to bring in the thundering herd. Adding to the weekend’s festivities is the annual Arts Festival, held Thursday through Saturday adjacent to the State Game Lodge.

25th Anniversary of Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (Philip)

2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, located just minutes from Badlands National Park. The site protects two facilities that were once part of a Minuteman Missile field that covered the far western portion of South Dakota.

It’s biker heaven! Each year since 1937, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally turns Sturgis’ Main Street into a sea of motorcycles, leather and, of course, people. Photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota

For more information on South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.

Cowboy and Native American Cultures Celebrated in Rapid City

Rapid City, South Dakota, offers a wealth of unique events providing visitors with a diverse and unforgettable experience. Discover the heart of the Black Hills by attending one of the many iconic events in the area!

The Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo

The Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo is a 10-day extravaganza that showcases the state’s official sport of rodeo in grand style. With over 300 vendors, nonstop rodeo action and a lively beer festival, it offers something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a seasoned cowboy or a newcomer, the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo promises 10 days of fun and entertainment.

Black Hills Powwow

Every October, vibrant Native American culture is celebrated at the Black Hills Powwow, which ranks as one of the nation’s largest powwows. This event unites dancers, singers, artisans and spectators from all over. First time attending a powwow? Learn the meaning of the movements here, or RSVP to attend the Wacipi 101 classes offered at the event.

Vibrant Native American culture is celebrated each October at the Black Hills Powwow, one of the nation’s largest powwows. Photo courtesy of Visit Rapid City

For more information on Rapid City, visit VisitRapidCity.com.

2024 Celebrates History In North Dakota

January 6, 2024, marks the 105th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s passing, a significant milestone in not just North Dakota’s history, but the whole nation’s. His robust conservation efforts, visionary policies and impact on the United States’ political landscapes are immeasurable and memorialized throughout North Dakota through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, set to open in 2026.

In a different historical vein, 220 years ago in October 2024, explorers Lewis and Clark first stepped foot in North Dakota. Their journey took root in Fort Mandan, which you can still explore today. Here, they encountered the awe-inspiring beauty of the Missouri River, worked with local tribes and first met Sakakawea, who would become their guide. This exploration paved the way for westward expansion and shaped the course of American history.

2024 also marks the 120th anniversary of the White Horse Hill National Game Preserve. Today, this refuge continues to protect the natural habitat and wildlife of North Dakota, serving as a testament to the importance of conservation in preserving the state’s biodiversity and ecosystems. Here you can see bison, elk and beautiful overlooks of the area, including the nearby Devils Lake.

October 2024 will mark 220 years since explorers Lewis and Clark first stepped foot in North Dakota. This exploration paved the way for westward expansion and shaped the course of American history. Photo courtesy of North Dakota Tourism

For more information on North Dakota, visit NDTourism.com.

Folk Music, Rodeo, Arts on the Calendar in Montana

Montana Folk Festival is one of the largest free music events in the northwestern U.S. Held in Butte from July 12-14, 2024, multiple stages offer a variety of traditional and ethnic performers.

A great way to enjoy local art is by attending community Art Walks, usually held on Friday evenings once a month. Browse galleries in Red Lodge, Livingston, Billings and Butte.

Montana’s many rodeos are held in large and small towns throughout the summer. Some standouts are Livingston’s Roundup (July 2-4, 2024), Wolf Point’s Wild Horse Stampede and Dillon’s Rodeo (dates TBA).

Enjoy music under the stars and among the pines all summer long at Pine Creek Lodge near Livingston.

Mark your calendars! New Visitor Center and facilities at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument open in 2026 in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the battle.

Montana Folk Festival is one of the largest free music events in the northwestern U.S. Held in Butte from July 12-14, 2024, multiple stages offer a variety of traditional and ethnic performers. Photo courtesy of Montana Office of Tourism

For more information on Montana, visit VISITMT.COM.

Buffalo Heritage Days Brings History Alive in Buffalo

Buffalo and Kaycee, Wyoming, are among the few remaining authentically Western towns where the past and the present collide. This community is full of rich and diverse cultures keeping their heritage alive in everyday practice from agriculture to art, trade skills and music. Here, you can interact with experts while getting hands-on with ancient techniques still used today and hearing the incredible stories of individuals who keep our Native, cowboy and immigrant legacies alive today.

Come out to the TA Ranch for Buffalo Heritage Days, a fun day chock-full of history and entertainment. Learn from our wonderful historians, speakers, musicians and entertainers to see how the past and the present collide. This event promises fun for all with a kids’ corner, Basque and Indigenous dancing, and live canon firing and blank shooting from our reenactors! Take a photo with the family at the old-time photo booth or kick up your heels at the barn dance starring Wolf Creek Revival.

This is an event you do not want to miss!

Come out to the TA Ranch for Buffalo Heritage Days, a fun day chock-full of history and entertainment. Learn from our wonderful historians, speakers, musicians and entertainers to see how the past and the present collide. Photo courtesy of Johnson County Tourism Association

For more information on Johnson County, visit VisitBuffaloWY.com.

Pack Your Bags for Idaho’s Upcoming Can’t-Miss Events

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024. Formed during eight major eruptions over thousands of years, this unique landscape of lava flows and cinder cones resembles the moon’s surface, which made it the perfect training ground for NASA’s Apollo 14 mission. Anniversary events will be held May through September, and will include a focus on the park’s cultural Native American history, wildlife, research, geology and the night sky.

For an authentic rodeo experience, come celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Caldwell Night Rodeo with a full week of events, August 10-18, 2024. This professional rodeo features 600-plus contestants and seven thrilling nightly events held under the arena lights.

Idaho is home to the largest concentration of Basques per capita in the U.S. When it comes to celebrating their unique heritage and culture, the Basques know how to throw a party. Jaialdi, the six-day festival held every five years in Boise, returns in 2025 with authentic Basque food, music, games, performances and more.

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Caldwell Night Rodeo in August 2024, featuring 600-plus contestants and seven thrilling nightly events held under the arena lights. Photo courtesy of James Babb

For more information on Idaho, visit VisitIdaho.org.