April Events
Ongoing throughout the month:
• The Jackson Hole History Museum has a new exhibit running through July 12th entitled "Women Artists of the American West: Trailblazers at the Turn of the 20th Century. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
• Wyoming Stargazing offers free, year-round, public stargazing events on clear Thursdays of each month (when the temperature is above zero degrees Fahrenheit!) just after sunset at Rendezvous Park (R-Park) off of Rte. 390, the Teton Village Rd. Astronomy educators use one of their large aperture telescopes to show you planets, stars, planetary nebulae, galaxies, and more. There is no need to reserve your spot in advance; just come and go as you please. Park in the main parking area and walk to the far side of the hill following the "Public Stargazing" signs. There is $10/person recommended donation.
• Bluegrass Tuesdays in the Silver Dollar Showroom at the historic Wort Hotel have been bringing locals and visitors together year-round through the music of One Ton Pig, from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
• The Jackson Hole Hootenanny is every Monday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. at Tumbleweed Creative Arts in the Pink Garter Plaza. Admission is $5 in advance or at the door. BYO alcohol; snacks and nonalcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
• Open mic at Cowboy Coffee at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday night of the month
• Spirit Tasting at the Virginian Saloon - Complimentary tastings are available every Thursday from 4-6 p.m.
• Nora's Fish Creek Inn in Wilson offers live music on Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights.
• Disco night at the Stagecoach Bar - Get your boogie on starting at 9:30 p.m. every week until April 10.
• Cloudveil hotel has live music presented from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays
• The Silver Dollar Showroom in the Wort Hotel hosts live music every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. The Wort's sister bar, The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, has music every Monday-Saturday night.
4-5: Annual Jackson Hole Rendezvous Fest - The Jackson Hole Rendezvous is a 2-day lifestyle and music festival at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and on Town Square. Read our story: Jackson Hole Rendezvous Festival - jacksonhole.com
Yellowstone National Park opens north and west entrances - nps.gov/yell
13: Closing Day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - jacksonhole.com
19: Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Town Square - Grab a bag or basket for the kids and head over to Town Square at 10 a.m. (promptly!) for the egg hunt and mingle with the Easter Bunny and other favorite characters.
19: Pond Skim at Grand Targhee Resort - The most prestigious alpine Pond Skim ever, where skiers and riders skip, slide and swim across the ice-cold pond near the Targhee base area. Time: noon. Spectators are welcome to check out the event from the bottom of the course.
20: Closing Day at Grand Targhee Resort - grandtarghee.com
Greater Sage Grouse Tour - Grand Teton National Park naturalists will be offering the opportunity to view sage grouse during their spring courting ritual. This pre-dawn ranger-led program is free, however, reservations are required. Call the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 307-739-3399 for details.
Opening Weekend for Yellowstone Bear World Park
Greater Sage Grouse Tour - Grand Teton National Park naturalists will be offering the opportunity to view sage grouse during their spring courting ritual. This pre-dawn ranger-led program is free, however, reservations are required. Call the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 307-739-3399 for details.
May Events
• The Jackson Hole History Museum has a new exhibit running through July 12th entitled "Women Artists of the American West: Trailblazers at the Turn of the 20th Century. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
• Wyoming Stargazing offers free, year-round, public stargazing events on clear Thursdays of each month (when the temperature is above zero degrees Fahrenheit!) just after sunset at Rendezvous Park (R-Park) off of Rte. 390, the Teton Village Rd. Astronomy educators use one of their large aperture telescopes to show you planets, stars, planetary nebulae, galaxies, and more. There is no need to reserve your spot in advance; just come and go as you please. Park in the main parking area and walk to the far side of the hill following the "Public Stargazing" signs. There is $10/person recommended donation.
• Bluegrass Tuesdays in the Silver Dollar Showroom at the historic Wort Hotel has been bringing locals and visitors together for 15 years, year-round, through the music of One Ton Pig; 7-10:30 p.m.
• The Virginian Saloon offers "Live From The Virg" every Thursday acoustic sessions featuring Americana, Western and folk from 9-11 p.m.; no cover. On Fridays from 9-midnight listen to live music; Saturday nights feature rotating bands and DJs.
• Snow King Mountain’s brand-new, state-of-the-art Observatory and Planetarium — The only observatory on a North American ski area — allows you to stargaze and check out the skies day and night. A rooftop observation deck allows portable telescopes to be set up for additional viewing during astronomical events. Planetarium shows rotate throughout the day along with programming at the solar telescope, science on a sphere exhibit, and in the immersive private theater.
• The Silver Dollar Showroom in the Wort Hotel hosts live music every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. The Wort's sister bar, The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, has music every Monday-Saturday night.
• Open mic at Cowboy Coffee at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday night of the month
1: Grand Teton National Park - All roads open to vehicle traffic, snow conditions permitting - nps.gov/grte
1: Grand Teton National Park's Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center opens - The center, located in Moose, will be open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; see exhibits, speak with park rangers.
2&3: Cathedral Voices Chamber Choir Spring Festival Concert - The free concert includes the Jackson Hole Symphony Orchestra; Center for the Arts; 7 p.m.
4: Jackson Hole Community Band Spring Concert - At the Center for the Arts Theater; 4 p.m.
"May Hooray" at Astoria Hot Springs - Celebrate Annual Mental Health Awareness Month with a free soak. Wellness booths and kids programs - astoriahotspringspark.com
Yellowstone National Park opens south entrance - Snow conditions permitting - nps.gov/yell
EcoFair - Held at Center for the Arts lawn; family-friendly, community-oriented event showcasing sustainability, eco-wares; food, beverages, music
16-26: Mountain Man Rendezvous and Traders Row - Teton County Fairgrounds Elkfest and Old West Days - The festivities, including the world-famous Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction, kick off and continue through Memorial Day weekend. The spirit of the true West lives on in Jackson and is celebrated every year during Elkfest and Old West Days, where we have one of the only remaining horse-drawn parades in America! - jacksonholechamber.com
17: Elkfest - Auction and purchases take place in Town Square from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; auction at 10 a.m.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Aerial Tram opens for the summer season - jacksonhole.com
18: High Noon Chili Cookoff - Town Square; noon
18: Ultimate Towner Adventure Race - From 11 am - 4 pm.
23: Million Dollar Music Fest Kick-off Concert at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar at 7 p.m.
The Old West Days Ranch Tour will feature two landmark Jackson Hole ranches. It will run from 3 to 8:45 p.m. and starts at the National Elk Refuge and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center on Cache.
24: Jackson Hole Shootout opening day celebration - The longest-running shootout in the country; Town Square at 6 p.m.
Snow King opens for the summer season - snowkingmountain.com
24: Annual Best of the West Parade - One of the last horse-drawn parades in the West; 10 a.m.
24: Jackson Hole Rodeo opens for the season - jhrodeo.com
24: Old West Family Activities - Teton County Fairgrounds from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
24: Old West Brew Fest - Teton County Fairgrounds; 11 a.m. -4 p.m.
25: Jackson Hole Half-Marathon - 13.1-mile race from Teton Village to Phil Baux Park at the base of Snow King. - jhhalf.com
25: Million Dollar Music Fest - Held on Town Square from 6 to 9 p.m. for free, sponsored by the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar; held rain or shine. TBA will headline the Cowboy Bar’s 5th Annual Million Dollar Music Fest in the heart of downtown Jackson Hole on The Wyoming Whiskey Stage on Town Square. TBA will also perform. - millondollarcowboybar.com
26: American Legion Memorial Day Service - Town Square flagpole at 10 a.m.
31: "Cat Ballou" Opens at the Jackson Hole Playhouse - For information and reservations, visit jhplayhouse.com. Runs through September 28th.
Other Spring Things To Do
TAKE A GUIDED WILDLIFE TOUR
Wildlife is in abundance during the springtime in the Tetons. Animals such as bears are coming out of hibernation—many with their cubs—bison become more active after a winter of hunkering down, large herds of elk and moose begin to march northward from the National Elk Refuge up into the hills, and eagles prowl the skies for signs of rodent or fish life below. Spring also means that it’s time for the ungulates (deer, elk and moose) to begin calving.
Take a sunrise or sunset wildlife tour in and around Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest with trained and knowledgeable naturalists. Try Buffalo Roam Tours, Wildlife Expeditions, Eco Tour Adventures, or Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris.
While Wyoming Stargazing and its partner Earth and Sky Safaris offer wildlife tours day or night, its signature sunset safari and night sky tour is exclusive to Jackson Hole. Experience the best of both worlds with a knowledgeable wildlife guide and professional astronomer while you watch the day fade into a dazzling and inspiring night sky for stargazing. This special private tour — which includes dinner! — is six to seven hours long for eight people, maximum. Call 844-996-7827 or visit wyomingstargazing.org.
Click here for our story on wildlife spotting in Grand Teton National Park.
GO FISHIN'
Spring fly fishing in Jackson Hole is a terrific activity. In April, as the days get warmer but before the snow melts, river fishing is prime, especially on the Snake River. Good fishing is also found during May in the alpine lakes as they stay clear and are largely unaffected by runoff.
We highly recommend anglers go with a guide, such as Grand Teton Fly Fishing or Fish the Fly.
TAKE A FAT BIKE TOUR
Fat bikes are all the rage here in Jackson Hole, no matter what the weather. The bike's 4- to 5-inch tires allow for durable traction on and off the beaten path.
With the majority of the roads in Grand Teton National Park closed to vehicular traffic until May 1st, bike riding through this gem of a park is especially pleasurable in spring. Rent a bike and take a self-guided tour, or sign up with Teton Mountain Bike Tours for a half or full day fat bike tour with awesome views of the Teton Mountain Range.