Cody Fireworks Raffle 2024
- Cody Firearms Experience
- Haskell’s Furniture
- Park County Travel Council (Cody/Yellowstone next to Tossers)
- The Chamber of Commerce
- The Buffalo Bill Village Gift Shop (Holiday Inn/Blair Hotels)

Cody’s Rich 4th Of July History
Cody’s 4th of July Celebrations have more significance to the town than many realize. Buffalo Bill launched himself to fame through an “Old Glory Blowout” in 1882 in North Platte, Nebraska. From there, the sport of Rodeo was born, and the following year, in 1883, Buffalo Bill hosted its inaugural “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.” Cody continues his legacy with the PRCA events of the Extreme Bulls and the four-day-long Cody Stampede Rodeo, which hosts three separate parades. In addition, the sheer number of entries in the 4th of July Parade puts Cody’s parade second in length only to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Continuing the fireworks has become a grass-roots effort led by the Chamber of Commerce and joined by the Park County Travel Council and various businesses. Fireworks committee member Q Blair states, “It is undeniable that Cody was Buffalo Bill’s home, and he would be proud to see us carry forward and preserve the traditions of the American West, not least the celebration of our nation’s independence on the 4th of July.”
Fireworks Almost Fizzle
For many years, the Cody Skylighters organized the fireworks display. In 2017, according to an article in the Cody Enterprise, they ran into trouble “after a policy change by the Skylighters’ fireworks supplier, the nonprofit group could not meet federal regulations to continue.” When nobody else stepped up to the plate, the Chamber of Commerce did, and the show continued, but not without the tremendous support of the town. Since 2018, the Cody Fireworks Committee expanded. In 2022, it became a separate organization supported by the Chamber, Park County Travel Council, and the City of Cody, businesses large and small, and truly the entire community. They aim to work ahead enough on fundraising to make the fireworks show fully sustainable for many years to come.
You Can Help
First and foremost, let’s get every one of those 1776 raffle tickets sold this year. If you can help sell them or want to donate, contact Brittania McNair at 406-581-6004. If you wish to purchase tickets, please do so generously. Finally, when you watch the fireworks display this year, know that this is truly a community effort that is a testimony to how this town pulls together.
