Experiencing the Medora Musical in Medora, North Dakota

By Meg Brunson

As a full-time RV’er there are some places that we know we want to visit, and others that we stumble upon along the way. Medora was a town we stumbled upon in our planning, and once the reservations were made I began exploring things to do during our (short) stay. There were a couple reasons why I was so excited to learn about the Medora Musical – first, it’s unique and unlike anything we’ve ever done before even after over a year on the road; and second, it takes place in an outdoor amphitheater and since we were visiting right after coronavirus restrictions began lifting, it was something we were comfortable participating in with our family.

We visited in August 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic: attendance was limited. When booking tickets pairs of two were available separated by two seats so that there would always be 2 empty seats between each 2 attendees, allowing for social distancing. With a bigger party, you could buy the number of pairs you needed, then either spread out (leaving 2 empty seats on each end) or squeeze in the middle leaving additional empty seats on each end – it worked nicely. The amphitheater is outside, and masks were optional.

During the tourist season June-September the Medora Musical is performed nightly and provides a fun and patriotic look at what brought Theodore Roosevelt to Medora. The show is full or a mix of country songs and original songs about North Dakota and Medora. In addition to singing and dancing, the show incorporates horses and the mountain behind the set. The kids got a kick out of watching the horses climb the mountain. The show also has fireworks and big cannon bangs which everyone loved because they startled me right out of my seat.

There is an intermission during the show which gave me the perfect opportunity to grab some snacks from the concession stand. With 4 kids this is something my wallet typically dreads, so I loved that the Medora Musical had a $5 kid pack that came with popcorn, fruit snacks, and a drink... I grabbed each of the kids a snack pack and everyone (ages 5-12) was happy, as was my wallet!

After the intermission, and before the musical resumes, every show has a special performance that changes every few weeks. The day we were there we saw Marcus Monroe who was a juggler and comedian – you never know what you’re going to get when someone says they’re a comedian, but this guy was amazing and had dad busting up laughing in his seats and the kids loved the juggling and were also laughing (but maybe more at dad? Either way!).

The experience had a lot going on in a very organized way. It entertained the kids and parents alike and provided a great way to wrap up an amazing day exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the city of Medora.

Tips for a super special experience:

• Plan for a meal! You can grab a nearby unique meal at the pitchfork BBQ – something I wish we had time to squeeze in (definitely next time).
• Arrive early so you can take photos before the show starts and shop the gift shop. There are lots of cute keepsakes and souvenirs at the gift shop.
• The website mentions that there are no bad seats in the house – and I agree! Sitting in the back (the “nosebleeds” if you will) was nice because we had space to spread out and the kids were able to dance without bothering other attendees (it was not sold out). We also were able to stay to the end, and quickly get back to our cars after the musical to avoid any traffic on the way out. The performer after intermission did interact with some of the audience sitting “front & center” so if that’s your thing, those are the tickets you may want.
• Don’t just pass through Medora. There is a cowboy museum, the fudge and ice cream depot, and lots of other fun things in this cute town!

Whether you’re a country music fan, or just looking for a unique North Dakota experience, the Medora Musical is a can’t miss experience that you simply won’t find anywhere else. Learn more about the current season, special performances, and buy your tickets at https://medora.com/do/entertainment/medora-musical/.

Read about some of the other adventures we're having on our Indefinite Road Trip!

© 2020 Meg Brunson

Thanks to the Medora Musical for sponsoring this review! All opinions expressed are my own. See more on Instagram!

Meg is a mommy blogger, Facebook marketer, and much more. She is a mom to four kids who live full-time in an RV exploring the US! As a former Facebook employee, Meg remains a Facebook addict and handles KidsOutAndAbout.com's Social Media Marketing in addition to providing freelance services for other small businesses on how to best leverage Facebook as a part of their marketing strategy. Meg also hosts the FamilyPreneur Podcast, a podcast for parent entrepreneurs raising entrepreneurial children. Learn more about Meg at MegBrunson.com!