Raising a Glass, and the Frontier Festival, at the Irma

Next Saturday, April 25, 2026, head to the Irma for a night of good food and fun at the Irma to raise funds to bring back the Frontier Festival. A few decades ago, the Frontier Festival was a beloved yearly event. Last year, the Cody Medical Foundation brought it back and aims to expand it this year as the organization’s main fundraising event.

With homesteading becoming popular again, this event is sure to draw people of all ages to learn about skills that have gone by the wayside with technological advances. From a chuckwagon competition and pack saddle competition, to a farrier who also sometimes portrays a mountain man, an herbalist, and a flintnapper, there will be reenactments and many family-friendly activities.

The festival begins June 5th with a “Meet the Cowboys and Cowgirls” night at the Chamberlin. The Frontier Festival is Saturday and Sunday, June 6th, and 7th, but fund raising for the festival begins with a Western-themed dinner at the Irma.

Raise a Glass in April to Raise the Dust in June

To bring back the Frontier Festival, the Cody Medical Foundation is holding the Bet Your Boots Fundraising Dinner at the Irma next Saturday. Not only will there be a prime rib buffet extravaganza dinner, but also entertainment with music by Aaron Walker and the Mustang Dollies cancan dancers. The master of ceremonies will be Mike Darby, owner of the Irma. There will also be a frontier jail, a silent auction, games, and some gambling fun on hand.

Tickets for the night can be purchased online.
Individual Tickets: $100
Host a table for 8: $1,000 – 2-4 bottles of wine
Sponsor a table of 8: $1,500 – advertising 2-4 bottles of wine
Event Sponsorship: $5,000 – advertised and promoted with the event

The money raised at the dinner will support the cost of the Frontier Festival. The money from the festival goes to the Cody Medical Foundation.

Cody Medical Foundation

For over 60 years, the Cody Medical Foundation, a non-profit, has helped improve healthcare in the West Park Hospital District (Cody and Meeteetse). Founded in 1976, the Foundation grew out of the Cody Memorial Hospital Association, which raised funds to build the original hospital in Cody. The money raised through the 1990s went to support medical buildings, recruit physicians, provide loans and scholarships, and fund other health-oriented public service projects.

Scholarships and grants are awarded to Cody or Meeteetse students pursuing careers in the medical field. Many of the students have returned to Cody to practice medicine. The Cody Medical Foundation also awards community grants to enhance and benefit the medical needs of the West Park Hospital District.

In recent years, the Foundation donated to the construction of Spirit Mountain Hospice, paid the annual salary for the Special Olympics coach, and provided diagnostic equipment for the Children’s Resource Center. Plus, they have supported the Cody Senior Center, Canal Park, Bright Future Mentoring, the Bill and Joanne Price Cancer Treatment Center, Cody Quad Center, and Cody Regional Health Dialysis Center. If that wasn’t enough, they also distributed 15 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for various community buildings, purchased equipment for Cody Regional Hospital Paramedics, and completed a renovation of the Health Resource Center at the Park County Library.

In short, they find health-oriented needs and fill them. Their fund raising efforts go straight back into the community.

More recently, they have focused on Mental Health Awareness. The Coe Memorial Shelter built on the edge of Beck Lake maintains several bulletin boards with resource numbers and a lending library. It is also a quiet place for listening and viewing sunrises.

Three Events and Fundraisers

This year, the Cody Medical Foundation holds three main events. The Fundraising Dinner, the Park County Mental Health Run/Walk (formerly the Beck Lake Challenge), and the Frontier Festival. Mark your calendars for all three:

1. Bet Your Boots Fundraiser Dinner 

Prime Rib Buffet Extravaganza, Live Music, Cancan Dancers, Games, Silent Auction

When: April 25, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Where: The Irma Hotel
Tickets: Buy Tickets Online

2. Frontier Festival

Start with a Cowboy Calcutta at the Chamberlin, then enjoy the horse packing competition, chuckwagon cook off and more!

When: June 5-7
Schedule:
Gates Open: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

• Friday, June 5: Cowboy Calcutta at the Chamberlin – 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Saturday, June 6: Frontier Festival at Stampede Park (Rodeo Grounds)
  • Gates Open: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Horse Pack Participant Check-In: 9:00 am
  • Horse Packing Competition: 9:00 am
  • Chuckwagon Cookoff Competition: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Chuckwagon Cookoff Luncheon: 1:00 pm
• Sunday, June 7: Frontier Festival at Stampede Park (Rodeo Grounds)’

Tickets: Buy Tickets Online – please note: The Chuckwagon Cookoff is a separate fee from your gate entry. Tickets for this lunch must be purchased by June 1, 2026, and can be purchased on this site along with your event entry tickets.

3. Park County Mental Health Run/Walk

Walk, Run, Dance, Rollerblade, Bike… just come out and be active! Pets on leash are welcome!

When: June 13, 2026
Schedule:

• Sunrise Walk – 5:30
• Beck Lake Walk – 8:30
• Music 9:00 – 11:00
• Brunch/Lunch – 10:30

Where: Beck Lake
Tickets: Register Online

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