Fall Arts Festival

The aspens turning to gold is a sign that fall has come to Jackson Hole. So, too, is the annual Fall Arts Festival, one of the premier art festivals in the West. This year marks the festival’s 41st iteration, and the 2025 event includes more than 50 art events over 12 days. September 3–14, enjoy exhibit openings, a jewelry and wine pairing, gallery walks, plein air painting, artist demonstrations, concerts and performances, a QuickDraw, art auctions, museum exhibits, and more. Mingle with nationally and internationally known artists, architects, designers, and makers. Year-round, Jackson Hole is a destination for art collectors—it has more than 30 galleries and was recently ranked as the most arts-vibrant small community in the U.S. by SMU Data Arts, which annually recognizes the country’s most arts-vibrant communities and cities—and the valley’s art scene goes into overdrive during the Fall Arts Festival.

Palates + Palettes

Palates + Palettes is one of the signature events of the Fall Arts Festival, and it’s free! Participating fine art galleries pair with local restaurants to serve light bites and beverages as the public browses the art; galleries often use this evening as the opening celebration for a new show. Friday, September 5, 5–7 p.m.

Western Visions Show + Sale

The National Museum of Wildlife Art’s largest—and also most fun—annual fundraising event, the Western Visions Show + Sale, celebrates its 38th anniversary in 2025. While the show is up for the entirety of the Fall Arts Festival (it hangs September 6–28), the Show + Sale, on September 11 this year, is the big night. Here, you have the opportunity to not only see all of the approximately 170 works but also to submit an intent to purchase for any of them. How does this work? Each work has a set price. The winning bidder for each piece is selected by a drawing from the pool of those who submitted an intent to purchase. Last year, artworks in the sale ranged in price from $400 to $39,000. “Western Visions is an opportunity for both established and emerging collectors to add to their collection,” says the museum’s chief marketing officer, Madison Webb Stanko. “Part of the fun of the event is that there are pieces at a very wide range of prices.”

The event is also fun because so many of the artists with works in the show are there. You can submit an intent to purchase for a piece and then go and talk to the artist. It’s not unusual for 20 percent of the party’s attendees to be artists. At last year’s Western Visions, 70 of the 175 artists with works in the show were at the sale event. All five of the artists whose work won one of the five awards given out at last year’s Western Visions are participating again in 2025.

The Show + Sale party does sell out. New this year is the addition of two levels of exclusive tickets. Buy either a VIP ($500) or Benefactor ($1,000) ticket and you’ll get access to the VIP/Artist Lounge during the Show + Sale and to the Artists’ Party the night before. General admission tickets are $195. Buy tickets in advance online at wildlifeart.org.

QuickDraw

One of the most beloved events of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival is its QuickDraw. This event on the Town Square challenges artists to create an original painting or sculpture in 90 minutes. When the 90 minutes are up, all of the newly created works immediately go to a live auction. Also included in this auction are the festival’s featured painting and sculpture. Bid live or online. September 13, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

Other Events

Many other exciting events, including the Sunday Art Brunch (September 14, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.), take place during the Fall Arts Festival. Check the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce website (jacksonholechamber.com/events/annual-events-festivals/fall-arts-festival/) for additional details.