Crow Fair 2023 This Weekend

Parades, traditional dancers, drums, rodeos and horse races are some of the events which will be featured at the Annual Crow Fair to be held August 17-21 in Crow Agency, Montana.

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, or just be together, much as they do today. The fair evolved from there.

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.

Everyone is welcome at Crow Fair. Although Thursday is set aside for the tribal members, Arnoux said she wanted to

In the parade, horses and riders predominate, with many of the horses wearing traditional Crow bridles, saddles, horse blankets, and breast collars, with colorful beadwork. Booths include artwork, food, and various crafts.

The Crow Fair has been called the Tepee Capital of the World, with over 1500 tepees being set up at the fairgrounds at Crow Agency, Montana.

Arnoux talked about some of the events and how to find the fair.

This year the brand-new dance arbor is ready for the powwow, and Arnoux talked about this and other new additions to the fair.

The Crow Fair draws around 10,000 people each year to watch and take part in the parades, the rodeos and the dancing.

For a longer version of this story with photos see Sheridanmedia.com