Local Festivals

Teton Valley known as Pierre’s Hole or Teton Valley, is located in an alpine valley in south eastern Idaho. Three small Western towns lie nestled here, between the Teton Range on the east and the Big Hole Mountains on the west.

In Victor, visitors will find Pierre’s Playhouse just south of Teton Valley’s only stoplight. A genuine “blast from the past,” Pierre’s presents melodramas, complete with sweet heroines, sneering villains, and dashing heroes.

Between Victor and Driggs, a giant potato atop an old flatbed truck signals the entrance to the celebrated Spud Drive-in Theatre. Moviegoers can enjoy a “Gladysburger” while viewing first-run films from the comfort of their lawn chairs.

High flyers can soar the Tetons in a glider with Teton Aviation at the Driggs Airport, while earthbound types tour the 9-hole Targhee Village Golf Course, just east on Ski Hill Road.

Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders can explore trails surrounding Teton Valley. To the east, Teton Canyon, South Leigh Creek, and Darby Canyon—to name just a few—lead into the Jedediah Smith Wilderness Area and connect with the Teton Crest Trail. Westward lies Packsaddle Lake, with its chilly high-mountain waters, log diving platform, and rope swing. It’s one of the more popular destinations in the Big Hole Mountains.

In July, Teton Valley grabs some air with its Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Teton County Fairgrounds. Balloonists from across the country converge to launch giant, gloriously colored balloons and float slowly across the valley as the sun rises over the Grand Tetons. The festival includes a breakfast on the mornings of July 3rd and 4th and entertainment at the launch site. The balloon festival is followed by a fine arts competition, fiddlers’ contest, shootout, buggy rides, stagecoach rides, a teen dance on the 3rd, rodeo, a parade in Victor July 4th, a street dance, and fireworks display.

Competitors will enjoy racing through Teton vistas on bike and on foot. The Big Hole Challenge in July offers downhill and dual slalom mountain bike events at Grand Targhee, and a cross-country scramble for speed through the Big Holes.

August will mark the running of the John Colter half-marathon and two-mile fun run, commemorating the legendary trapper’s race for his life from the Blackfoot Indians.

This year’s Teton County Fair will be held in August. A real country-western event, the fair will also highlight local crafts, livestock, and 4-H entries.