The Old West Days Parade: Where Heritage and Community Come Together
Not all parades need to be two hours long, have a hundred floats, and wind through ten miles of city streets. In fact, we would argue none of them need to fit that description. If we wanted to sit in the heat and watch cars go by, we’d get a job in road construction. However, there’s something charming about a parade that’s not too long, not overstuffed, and alive with just the right amount of small-town charm.
Jackson recently kicked off summer with its annual Old West Days parade—a tradition that celebrates the spirit of the town in all its forms. And it really does have all the forms: local hockey players high-fiving kids, hometown royalty waving from a convertible, mountain men in buckskin loincloths, and a classic limousine commemorating Wyoming’s legacy as the first state to grant women the right to vote.
It’s a lineup that only makes sense in a place like this—where history rides alongside today’s community heroes. We watched fire and EMS crews roll by with smiles and salutes, handing out goodly amounts of candy without ever feeling like our kids were going to have sugar rushes back at home. We cheered for the local band playing proudly from a flatbed trailer. We clapped for the airport team (and their adorable train of kids in little wheeled planes), and we waved at cowboys—actual cowboys—riding tall in the saddle like they do for every parade.
There were vendors tossing samples, the Kiwanis Club marching by, and the aforementioned group from the Mountain Man Rendezvous looking like they’d time-traveled in from the 1800s. When it was over, we didn’t feel as though we’d been beaten over the head with community pride or shackled to the street so the locals could trot out history nobody else cared about. The whole thing was a little wild, a little charming, and completely Jackson. That’s what makes Old West Days more than just an event. It’s a reflection of the community itself: layered, proud, and deeply connected.
And for us at Flat Creek Inn, the parade was a reminder of why we love this place. We’re lucky to be part of a town that shows up—not just for the parades, but for each other. Our guests often come to Jackson for the views, the wildlife, the national parks. But weekends like this? They stay in people’s hearts long after the camera roll fills up.
If you’ve never experienced Old West Days in Jackson Hole, consider this your invitation. No fancy floats here. It’s just real. And sometimes that’s exactly what we need.
***
Ryan Kunz is a copywriter and freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics, including media, the outdoors, and whatever else strikes his fancy. He is, as you may guess, not a fan of long parades.
