Arts & Culture in Casper, Wyoming
Living in Casper, Wyoming, makes possible a rare combination: having access to a vibrant urban cultural scene while enjoying the community feel of a smaller city. Though it’s known as a gateway to the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of the West, it’s also a regional center of arts and culture. Keep reading to discover the abundance of possibilities in this town that’s full of surprises.
Savor Local Art
The Nicolaysen Art Museum is the center of the vibrant local arts scene. Here you’ll find exhibits featuring contemporary artists from the area and around the country. Furthering their mission to educate and inspire, they also offer an active program of classes and events for kids and adults.
Sip premium coffee and enjoy locally made baked goods within a light, contemporary gallery space displaying works in diverse mediums from artists around the globe at Scarlow’s. Or, appreciate the natural beauty of Casper’s surroundings while taking a tour of more than a dozen striking murals throughout the downtown area.
Enjoy Live Music and Theater
When you’re in the mood to see a live show, Casper has an amazing range of options including everything from musical theater to nationally known contemporary artists.
The Stage III Community Theater presents six productions a year, covering classical favorites to contemporary Broadway hits. The dedicated group of volunteers draws on a deep pool of local talent and passion for the stage. You can also find outstanding performances at the Gertrude Krampert Center for Theatre and Dance, featuring students from Casper College’s School of Fine Arts and Humanities.
Casper is home to the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, whose more than 70 local musicians produce five concerts each season. The orchestra is led by Christopher Dragon, who also serves as Resident Conductor for the Colorado Symphony in Denver. Combining symphonic music with stage talent, Opera Wyoming, the state’s first opera company, is also based in the city. Casper College is another venue for classical concerts and recitals, thanks to the faculty and students in its music programs.
Though there’s plenty of local talent in town, Casper also hosts live events featuring professional productions and prominent acts from outside the area. At the Ford Wyoming Center, the varied roster of events includes traveling Broadway shows and musicians like Hozier, Wynonna Judd, and Ian Munsick.
To take in more intimate shows with local or touring bands, you can head to The Lyric, Gaslight Social, or The Beacon Club. David Street Station, in the center of downtown, hosts free summer concerts in a relaxed outdoor venue.
Explore History and Science
Want to expand your knowledge and broaden your horizons? Casper’s diverse collection of museums gives you plenty of places to spend a quiet afternoon of exploration.
The area shares in the larger, tumultuous story of the nation’s Westward expansion and the rugged culture that developed to match a sometimes harsh environment. Several area museums and sites reveal this background in intriguing detail through hands-on exhibits and historical artifacts.
The National Historic Trails Interpretive Site, which provides an excellent overview of the Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express trails that passed through the area, is a great place to start. Fort Casper Museum and the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum give you a window into area history stretching from the earliest indigenous inhabitants to the 20th century.
Wyoming also has a fascinating natural history, with striking geological formations and abundant fossils in the surrounding area. The Tate Geological Museum lets you explore these riches through an impressive collection of minerals and fossils, including a mammoth skeleton of unusual completeness. For a truly unique adventure, sign up for one of the summer Tate Dinosaur Safaris and join a five-day dig in the field where you’ll help hunt for fossils to build the museum’s collection.
Join the Crowd for Unforgettable Events
In Casper, the summer is punctuated by a number of annual events that bring together the community and draw visitors from across the region. Each one presents a unique way to enjoy the culture of the area under the clear blue skies of the West.
The College National Finals Rodeo, hosted in Casper for 25 years, is one of the most important rodeo events of the year, with the best of the best from over 100 colleges and universities all over the country competing for National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association titles.
For a sprawling selection of art, crafts, food, and live music, head to the NIC Fest, organized by the Nicolaysen Art Museum. You’ll find unique works in diverse mediums and delicious and varied cuisine from dozens of vendors and food trucks. Also downtown during the summer, stop by the David Street Station Brew Fest to taste the best from local and regional breweries.
Up on Casper Mountain just south of the city, the Beartrap Summer Festival brings in talented bands from around the country with a focus on bluegrass.
Big City Opportunities, Small Town Community
As a regional hub, Casper offers a lot more than you’d expect for a city of this size. It also offers a sense of community and closeness to nature a bigger city can’t match. Why just visit when you can make Casper home? The Nolan Townhomes, in the heart of the vibrant downtown, give you easy access to the area’s arts and culture as well as its thriving culinary scene. Explore the life that’s waiting for you here.
