During this long holiday weekend in Yellowstone Country, I have two goals: clean and organize my house (isn’t that what everyone does?) and mark up my brand new 2016 calendar with important upcoming dates and events in Cody. The latter task is easy; there’s a handy calendar of events on the Yellowstone Country website. The first task could take me well in to March.
Those of us who live here as well as those hardy winter-season visitors who come to play know that there are great events year-round, including during the winter months. First up, at least for me, was a Yellowstone Quake hockey game in the Riley Arena on Saturday, Jan. 2. If you love hockey like I do, Yellowstone Quake is a great way to support our Cody team. The team is a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior ice hockey team playing in the North American 3 Hockey League. You might be surprised just how exciting junior hockey can be, and I try never to miss a home game.
Watching a Yellowstone Quake hockey game is always a thrill.
Another one of the events I always look forward to in winter is the annual Ice Fishing Derby, this year scheduled for Feb. 13 and 14 at the Sunshine Reservoir in Meeteetse. I already have my three-person team together.
One of the biggest events of the winter is the annual Buffalo Bill’s Birthday Ball, this year scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26. Buffalo Bill would be 170 years old, and this annual bash sponsored by the Cody Knights of Columbus always reminds me of just how important Buffalo Bill was to our town and our country. So important, in fact, that the Cody City Council officially declared the fourth Saturday in February “Buffalo Bill Day,” and it seems that the whole community celebrates with music, dancing and Wild West entertainment. This is some serious winter frivolity that always improves my spirits and gives my dancing boots a great workout.
Buffalo Bill’s birthday, February 26, marks 170 years.
Then on March 3, I have tickets to one of Cody’s Community Concert Series productions – The Wonderful Wizard of Song. This production – like all of the concerts in the series – features a talented cast and some terrific music. This particular concert will highlight pivotal moments of composer Harold Arlen’s life and will feature some beloved songs from film and theater. My friends have already told me that there will be elbows in my ribs if I start humming along to the songs.
On Saturday, March 12, I’m taking my theater-loving niece to a production of Aladdin presented by the Missoula Children’s Theater. It’s at the Meeteetse School Gymnasium. The Missoula Children’s Theater is a true regional gem, and I’ve always been charmed by the production and wowed by the talented kids in our community.
It’s fun to watch the kids in Sleeping Giant’s Rail N Bails competition.
Another kid-friendly event that I try never to miss is Rails-n-Bails at Sleeping Giant Ski Area. This year scheduled for Saturday, March 26, the event is a great way for kids between five and 19 to show off their freestyle skiing and snowboarding skills in the terrain park of the ski area.
There are plenty of other cool events throughout the winter months, and I hope to see you at them.
Until next time, wishing you a happy New Year and an eventful 2016 here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country.
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