The trails, the peaks, and the rivers are some of the first things visitors mention about Jackson Hole, and often the last things they see before heading home. But Jackson has always offered something else alongside the altitude: a cultural life that’s quietly become one of the most concentrated in the American West.
The valley’s culinary reputation has grown steadily over the past decade. This summer, extend your visit a little further into town and get to know the other side of Jackson.
Jackson Hole Food & Wine’s Summer Festival
The annual Jackson Hole Food & Wine Summer Festival draws a mix of celebrated guest chefs and the best of Jackson’s own dining community for a long weekend of tastings, dinners, and events that move between venues across the valley.
On June 25, the weekend opens with Taste of Jackson Hole at the Rendezvous Lounge at the top of the Bridger Gondola. Guests sample signature dishes from local restaurants paired with beer, wine, and spirits against the backdrop of the Tetons.
The next day, the Dinner Series takes over, offering a choice of three intimate evenings at notable venues and private homes around town. One brings the world-renowned flavors of Nobu New York to the valley, led by Chef Matt Hoyle, with a multi-course menu of Japanese-Peruvian fusion. Another gathers just 40 guests at a private Teton home for an intimate dinner with two-time James Beard Award–winning chef Gavin Kaysen of Spoon and Stable in Minneapolis. The third dinner takes place at the Snake River Sporting Club, featuring a seasonal menu from celebrated chef Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto. 64 guests will enjoy a meal that blends French technique with rustic Italian flavors.
The weekend closes with SAVOR, a walk-around tasting at a working ranch where the guest chefs mentioned above come together with Jackson’s finest local talent. Jackson’s premier bluegrass band, One Ton Pig, will provide a backdrop as guests enjoy a collection of small plates in the signature style of the guest chefs. Sing Hat Company will be on site offering custom hats, premium kitchenware, and other products.
It’s worth noting that the festival is adults-only, tickets for the Dinner Series sell quickly, and June evenings in the valley can drop into the 40s. Make sure you book early and bring layers!
Art Fair Jackson Hole
From July 24–26, the lawn at the Center for the Arts transforms into one of the region’s most beloved outdoor art fairs. Art Fair Jackson Hole, presented by the Art Association of Jackson Hole, brings together jury-selected local and national artists working across ceramics, painting, furniture, photography, jewelry, and more, drawing thousands of visitors over the three-day weekend. Admission runs $6 per day, with children 12 and under free, and the fair is open Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5:30pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm.
The Art Association has been making visual art a vital part of life in Jackson Hole for 60 years, and the fair is its largest fundraiser. Every admission and purchase goes directly back into art education and community programming. The fair also sits within one of the most art-dense small towns in the country: Jackson is home to more than 25 galleries, spanning everything from Western landscape painting to contemporary sculpture, most of them within easy walking distance of Town Square.
The National Museum of Wildlife Art
No summer visit to Jackson is complete without at least an afternoon at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, perched on a hillside two and a half miles north of Town Square, overlooking the National Elk Refuge. Founded in 1987 and designated a national museum by Congress in 2008, the collection holds more than 5,000 works spanning wildlife art from present day to 2500 B.C.E., with artists including Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, John James Audubon, and Carl Rungius represented across its galleries. This summer, the museum has also erected five origami-inspired sculptures of local wildlife in a bold outdoor installation called the Prismatic Menagerie. They are spread along the route from the National Museum of Wildlife Art down to the Center for the Arts, so take a walk or a drive to experience the full scope of the installation.
The museum is open daily through October, 10am to 5pm, with an on-site restaurant open for lunch.
A Different Kind of Jackson Hole
The mountains are central to the valley’s identity. But summer in Jackson rewards the visitor who looks past the trailhead toward the ranch where a James Beard winner is plating dinner, the lawn where a ceramicist from Santa Fe has set up her booth, the stone building on the hill where a Warhol hangs beside a Rungius. This is the artsy side of Jackson Hole, and it’s very much worth the trip.
Born and raised in Jackson Hole, Wilden McIntosh-Round brings a deep-rooted love for the area into his work as a writer. In his versatile career as a content creator and copywriter, he has worked with brands like Samsung and Rolling Stone, but the best part of his job is partnering with local businesses to share their unique stories.
