These Wyoming Towns Throw Legendary 4th Of July Celebrations
Wyoming is honoring America's 250th Anniversary in 2026 with a statewide "Declaration of Imagination." With some celebrations literally lasting throughout the year, these small towns are throwing some of the country's most colorful and patriotic parties. Grab your cowboy hat and get ready to see some world-class rodeos in Cody and Jackson Hole, epic competitions in Alpine and Ranchester, old fashioned bake auctions in Saratoga, and of course, fireworks finales fit for Wyoming's big skies.
Cody
Cody is known for hosting one of America's best Independence Day parties, centered around the internationally renowned Cody Stampede Parade. This annual tradition draws an international audience to Cody's downtown district as parades wind down Sheridan Avenue. The main parade this year will start on July 3rd and 4th at 9:30am. The vibrant procession features marching bands, floats, horseback riders, and professional rodeo performers celebrating Wyoming's Wild West heritage. In addition to the main parade, Cody also hosts a special Kiddie Parade (on July 2nd at 10am this year) for kids to participate with their own costumes and decorated wagons and bikes (floats). The Kiddie Parade is always a lot of heartwarming fun for the whole family. And of course, there will be a spectacular firework finish on the 4th of July. Fireworks will be launched north of the rodeo grounds across the river as they have been in the past.
Beyond holiday festivities, Cody offers exceptional year-round attractions. Visitors can explore the world-class Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a massive five-museum complex that takes two full days to experience completely. Additionally, Cody serves as a primary gateway to Yellowstone National Park, serving as a gateway to Yellowstone’s East Entrance and to scenic drives toward the park’s northeast corridor.
Alpine
Alpine is ringing in the occasion with an exciting three-day event from July 2nd through July 4th, 2026. You can join the patriotic fun by participating in the Lincoln County 250 Semi-Quincentennial Scavenger Hunt to win a collectible and commemorative Alpine challenge coin. Local festival grounds will feature all the games, food, and live music you'd expect throughout the weekend, while neighborhood boutiques offer special discounts on USA-themed apparel. The holiday highlights peak on Independence Day itself, kicking off with a scavenger hunt at Marge Grover Memorial Park, a grand parade at 7pm and a brilliant fireworks display at dusk.
The town of Alpine is situated at the convergence of three rivers, the Greys, the Salt, and the Snake River. All three of these rivers merge and flow into the Palisades Reservoir, which provides water activities for all. There is boating, jet skiing, fishing, water skiing, and much more. Or if you prefer the mountains to the water, the Greys River Area offers over 471,000 acres of virgin national forest with countless miles of trails for hiking or horseback riding.
Ranchester
Ranchester is celebrating Independence Day with an action-packed community festival at the Town Hall Park and Event Hall. You can enjoy live music, local food and beer trucks, a bounce house, and a family friendly basket raffle all throughout the day. Of particular note, the daytime festivities feature the annual Wyoming Wife Carrying Championship, a hilarious competition where couples race through an obstacle course of hurdles and water. This will be starting around 3pm at the Connor Battlefield State Historic Site. Legal marriage is not required, but registration is (check for current fee). This Championship is held every year in Ranchester on the 4th of July and serves as a qualifier for the North American Wife Carrying Championships. The holiday celebration here finishes at dusk with a spectacular fireworks display at Tongue River Middle School.
Ranchester is a popular place for hunters and snowmobile enthusiasts to depart on their adventures into the Bighorn Mountains (once the stomping ground of outlaws and cowboys like Buffalo Bill and Butch Cassidy). Inside the town of Ranchester proper, the Connor Battlefield State Park is a favorite destination for fishing and picnicking along the Tongue River under shady cottonwood trees. You may also want to take a drive down the Historic US Highway 14, which runs through the center of town and takes you toward the east gate of Yellowstone National Park.
Jackson
Jackson is bringing small town charm and big sky energy to an action packed Independence Day. The long weekend starts on July 3rd with outdoor activities around Grand Targhee, a Concert on the Commons featuring music by Pink Talking Fish, and a legendary firework display that lights up the slopes of Snow King Mountain. On July 4th, the downtown streets come alive during the traditional morning parade complete with fire trucks, kids on bikes, swing dancing, candy, lots of horses, and Wild West flair. The Concert on the Commons continues at 7pm with live music by Joslyn and The Sweet Compression. At 7pm you can enjoy a symphony under the stars as the Grand Teton Music Festival plays "Patriotic Pops." At 8pm, the Jackson Hole Rodeo begins, one of the rowdiest events of the summer, drawing crowds from near and far to watch real cowboys and cowgirls in an authentic Old West competition. Getting a ticket to the rodeo means you've already got a great seat for the 4th of July fireworks You can also experience a patriotic symphony by the Grand Teton Music Festival or secure front row seats for dueling fireworks shows that will illuminate the sky over Teton Village and Snow King Mountain.
Jackson Hole preserves the history of the West at large. Be sure to visit the town square and its iconic Elk Antler Arches. All four entrances to The Town Square feature an elk antler arch and these arches have come to be considered some of Wyoming’s most iconic landmarks, symbolizing the town's connections to nature, wildlife, and the heritage of the old West. You can also venture beyond the town for a day filled with exploration and beauty in the Grand Teton National Park either mountain climbing, swimming in an alpine lake, or just basking in the sun.
Saratoga
Saratoga is going big for Independence Day, packing its celebration with old-fashioned community charm. The holiday weekend kicks off on July 3rd, with the Platte Valley Arts Council Quilt Exhibit, a ceremony to reveal a new Teense Willford statue, and the Festival of Arts Opening Night Gala where you can mingle with celebrated Western artists. On July 4th, activities start early with the Platte River Independence Day 5K run and a free pancake breakfast served by local volunteer firefighters. Not long after, a colorful community parade rolls through downtown Saratoga at 11:00 AM, complete with vintage cars, silly costumes, and live animals. Right after the parade you can bid on pies, cakes, and goodies at an old-fashioned bake auction, and get a free hot dog at the 10th Annual WeenieFest. The night culminates with a massive open-air Saratoga Days concert headlined by country music artist Ned LeDoux, complete with food trucks and a brilliant fireworks display at dusk. The "Celebration of Imagination" doesn't end until July 8th when there will be a historic reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Saratoga Museum with music by the town's community choir.
For those extending their stay, the Hobo Hot Pool, a natural mineral hot spring is a favorite spot to play for locals and visitors alike. The pool averages around 106° F from its coolest part to 119° F to its warmest part of the pool, and it's open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, for free to the public. And Saratoga's North Platte River is a treat to fish in. This is one of the few rivers that flows north and more than 65 miles have been designated as a “Blue Ribbon” trout fishery by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Worth noting, if you're not into fishing, you can also float the North Platte River and enjoy the cool river waters and peaceful scenery.
Declaration Of Imagination
Wyoming gets creative to ring in the country's birth, offering more than simple sparklers and Uncle Sam tophats. Alpine's Semiquincentennial Scavenger Hunt requires significant planning to pull off, while Ranchester's annual Wife Carrying Championship, if nothing else, gives couples a teambuilding challenge. Meanwhile, on the slightly more traditional end, Jackson Hole's rowdy rodeo offers a slew of activities from morning to night, and Saratoga's classic Americana-style celebration in classic Americana style gives Wyoming natives the burgers and dogs they desire. Wyoming is truly pulling out all the stops to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
