Plains Indian Museum Powwow

Celebrate Native culture, dance, and arts

Join us for the 37th annual Plains Indian Museum Powwow, a cultural celebration and competitive dance competition, on June 16 and 17, 2018.

Herman Vasquez, Eastern Shoshone & Kiowa Apache. Men’s Traditional Dancer from Fort Washakie, Wyoming. 2016 photo by Frontier Fortitude.

Grand Entries:

• June 16: Noon and 6 p.m.
• June 17: Noon

Dancers, drum groups, and artists from Northern Plains tribes gather to celebrate their vibrant cultural traditions and histories. Dance categories include traditional, jingle dress, fancy, grass, team dancing, tiny tots, and chicken dance. Men, women, teens, and children compete in various age groups for more than $25,000 in prizes. The Learning Tipi is a popular educational program that invites visitors to discover the traditions of powwow.

Visitors shop for authentic Indian jewelry, beadwork, quillwork, clothing, basketry, pottery, paintings, sculpture, and more at more than forty vendor booths, and enjoy fry bread and Indian taco vendors, as well as food and beverage concessions.

Admission Prices and Information

Powwow begins at noon both days with a Grand Entry. On Saturday a second Grand Entry takes place at 6 p.m. Powwow runs till about 9 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. Gate opens to the public at 9:30 a.m. each day. Tickets are available at the gate or at the Center’s admissions desk beginning the Monday before Powwow. Admission is good for one day of the event.

• $10 for adults (18 and older)
• $5 for youths (7–17)
• Children 6 and younger free
• Dancers, drums, and their family members admitted free
• Center members receive $1 discount on admission price each day with a valid membership card
• Press passes are available with prior arrangements

Visitors are welcome to bring chairs or blankets for our outdoor grass amphitheater. No pets please. For travel and lodging information contact the Cody Chamber of Commerce. For general questions about visiting the Buffalo Bill Center of the West e-mail Nancy McClure or call 307-578-4102.

For Our Dancers

Dancers and their families receive a free pass to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West exhibits at dancer registration. Registration 8 a.m. – noon Saturday; late registration or for specials on stage both days. Contact: e-mail Hunter Old Elk or call 307-578-4012.

Vendor Information

Our powwow includes 47 vendors who sell arts and crafts made by enrolled members of North American Indian tribes and Nations. No food booths please.

We will post a vendor application form here in January for our 2018 Plains Indian Museum Powwow for applicants to download, fill out, and return along with your deposit to Buffalo Bill Center of the West, ATTN: Hunter Old Elk, 720 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, Wyoming 82414.

To view the map of vendor spaces larger, please click on the image at right.

Questions? E-mail Hunter Old Elk or call her at 307-578-4012.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Sponsors of the 2016 Plains Indian Museum Powwow:

In 2016, the Plains Indian Museum Powwow was sponsored through the generous support of Choice Aviation; Artie Yellowstone Jewelry; Coca Cola Distributing of Cody, Hal and Amalia Ramser; Whole Foods Trading Company in Cody, Wyoming; and The Local.

View a video glimpse of a powwow:

For information on all events, please visit our Events page.