Annual Crow Fair is 105 Years Old

This year, 2024, the Crow Fair at Crow Agency, Montana, is celebrating its 105th year. Parades, traditional dancers, drums, rodeos and horse races are among the events to be held at the week-long celebration that began on August 14 and will run through Sunday, August 18.

During the fair, many families set up traditional tepees, gaining Crow Agency the title, “Tepee Capital of the World” with over 1500 tepees being set up at the fairgrounds.

Danielle Arnoux who is of Crow and Blackfoot heritage, talked about the fair and the way it began over 100 years ago. She said the Crow Reservation in Montana is very large and that Crow Agency is near the center. In the early days, families would come together in the fall to pick chokecherries in the area. They would camp out for several days, exchange news of the family, hold horse races and parades, participate in the dancing, or just be together, much as they do today. The fair evolved from there.

This year for the first time, out of 105 managers, the general manager of the Crow Fair Pow Wow is a woman, Brinna Jo Melendrez. For several years she has managed the parades and helped with the fund raising.

Today, the Crow Fair is still a part of the Crow Tribe’s culture and heritage. Each family has their own traditional camping spot, and as well setting up the traditional Crow tepee, many attendees bring modern camper trailers or wall tents.

On Sunday, August 18, the last day of the fair, the best dancers will competed in the dancing. The dancing will be held under dance arbor, and around The Crow Fair draws around 10,000 people each year to watch or take part in the parades, the rodeos and the dancing.

Arnoux added that she wanted to let everyone know they are welcome to attend the fair, watch the parades, enjoy the food, and watch the dancing.