Buffalo Bill Days transforms Lanesboro into a lively summer gathering, with family activities, live music, tournaments, food, fireworks, a grand parade and beloved local traditions taking place throughout town. It is a chance for visitors and residents alike to enjoy the community spirit and small-town hospitality that make Lanesboro special.
Buffalo Bill Days is hosted by the City of Lanesboro with support from local volunteers and community partners. This visitor guide is provided by the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce for informational and promotional purposes. Event details are subject to change; please refer to the City of Lanesboro for official updates.
Four Days of Community Fun
Buffalo Bill Days is more than a single parade or concert. Activities take place throughout downtown Lanesboro, Sylvan Park and nearby community recreation facilities, creating a weekend filled with something for nearly every age and interest.
Visitors can watch or compete in sports tournaments, browse the Sylvan Park marketplace, enjoy live music, visit the Beer & Brat Tent and take part in free family activities. The weekend builds toward Saturday night’s concert and fireworks before continuing Sunday with music, Duck Races and the Grand Parade.
Explore More of Lanesboro
Buffalo Bill Days is a great reason to visit Lanesboro—and an even better reason to stay awhile. Between festival activities, explore the shops, galleries and restaurants downtown, walk or bike the Root River State Trail, visit the Lanesboro Dam or spend time enjoying the river and surrounding bluffs.
Local inns, bed-and-breakfasts, cabins, vacation rentals and campgrounds offer plenty of ways to turn Buffalo Bill Days into a complete Bluff Country getaway. Booking early is encouraged for festival weekend.
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Festival Locations
Events take place at several locations around Lanesboro, including:
Admission and Registration
Many Buffalo Bill Days activities are free, including the Saturday concert, fireworks and children’s activities. Food, beverages, tournament entry, registration and certain individual activities may have separate fees.
Weather
Buffalo Bill Days takes place rain or shine unless organizers announce otherwise. The published fireworks rain date is Sunday at dusk at the same location.
Official Updates
For organizer announcements, participation forms, registration information and last-minute schedule changes, visit the official City of Lanesboro Buffalo Bill Days page.
Visit the Official Buffalo Bill Days Page →
Lanesboro’s connection to William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody began in the late 1870s, when the famous frontier scout and showman visited his longtime friend Dr. David Franklin “Frank” Powell. Better known as “White Beaver,” Powell was Lanesboro’s first physician and a colorful frontier personality in his own right.
According to stories passed down through local history, Cody and Powell brought plenty of Wild West energy to the young town—riding through the streets in buckskin, demonstrating their marksmanship and entertaining local residents. Local legend also holds that the friends discussed ideas in Lanesboro that may have helped inspire Cody’s later theatrical ventures. While Buffalo Bill’s famous Wild West officially debuted in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1883, his friendship with Powell gave Lanesboro its own memorable connection to one of the most recognizable figures of the American West.
Buffalo Bill Days carries that colorful history forward with a lively community celebration featuring music, sports, family activities, fireworks and the Grand Parade. More than a century after Buffalo Bill visited, the festival remains a chance for residents and visitors to come together and celebrate Lanesboro’s history, personality and community spirit.
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When is Buffalo Bill Days 2027?
Buffalo Bill Days will take place the weekend of August 6th, 2027, in Lanesboro, Minnesota.
Where is Buffalo Bill Days held?
Activities take place throughout Lanesboro, including downtown, Sylvan Park, the Community Center and nearby sports and recreation facilities.
When are the Buffalo Bill Days fireworks?
Fireworks are scheduled for Saturday at dusk from the football field. In case of rain, they will take place Sunday at the same time and location.
When is the Grand Parade?
The Buffalo Bill Days Grand Parade begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, August 2.
Is Buffalo Bill Days family-friendly?
Yes! The schedule includes free children’s activities, a family movie, fishing tournament, Touch a Truck, Pedal Pull, Duck Races, a parade and other family-friendly events.
Is Buffalo Bill Days free?
Many events are free, including the Saturday-night concert, fireworks and children’s activities. Some tournaments, food, beverages and other activities may require payment or advance registration.
What happens if it rains?
Individual activities may have their own weather plans. The official schedule states that Saturday’s fireworks will move to Sunday at dusk if necessary.
Where can I stay during Buffalo Bill Days?
Lanesboro offers inns, bed-and-breakfasts, vacation rentals, cabins and campgrounds. Festival weekend can be busy, so visitors should reserve lodging early.
What else is there to do in Lanesboro during Buffalo Bill Days?
Visitors can explore downtown shops, galleries and restaurants, bike or walk the Root River State Trail, enjoy the Root River, visit the Lanesboro Dam, catch a live performance or simply take in the scenery of Minnesota’s Bluff Country. Buffalo Bill Days is a great opportunity to turn a day at the festival into a full weekend getaway.
