These 9 Montana Towns Have The Most Unique Festivals
To many, Montana means mountain vistas, big skies, and wide open ranch land. But the Treasure State also has deep communal roots, palpable frontier heritage, and it knows a thing or two about live music. These assets culminate in unique small-town festivals, especially throughout the summer (people are too busy hitting the slopes in the winter). So if you're looking to shift out of introverted nature mode and experience Montana through its beloved annual events, these nine towns certainly have something to offer.
Big Sky: Music in the Mountains
Known for its world-class skiing and mountain biking, Big Sky, Montana, has a vibrant and invested community. For over a decade, the Meadow Village portion (Big Sky is divided into Mountain, Meadow, and Canyon enclaves) has hosted a free weekly outdoor concert for its residents and outdoorsy itinerants. Backdropped by the magnificent Madison Range, Music in the Mountains hits Center Stage at Len Hill Park every Thursday evening (beginning at 6 pm) from late June through to early September. Each edition features established and emerging artists across various feel-good genres. With that said, the season's final instalment likes to go out with a (head) bang, rebranding itself as Metal in the Mountains. To accommodate the hundreds (sometimes even thousands) of attendees further, local food and beverage vendors set up shop along the park's south side.
Anaconda: Smeltermen's Day
Smeltermen's Day (a whole weekend) takes over the enigmatic city of Anaconda every August. Founded by Marcus Daly (i.e., one of the three "Copper Kings") and called initially (rather fittingly) Copperopolis, Anaconda surged for nearly a century as a mining/smelting powerhouse. Smeltermen's Day now commemorates that legacy with three days (i.e., Aug 8-10, 2025) of live music, road races, food trucks, games, historic tours, a parade, and a park-wide brewfest. Most of the action takes place in Kennedy Commons (in the heart of town, right off of Main Street), or at Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park, which (as the name suggests) harbors the decommissioned smoke stack that still stands guard over the city. I got lucky during my summer road trip through the Treasure State by stumbling upon the final day of this lively annual gathering. The sun shone, the park was full of friendly faces, and the vendors were still stocked with suds and enthusiasm.
Butte: An Ri Ra
Speaking of Montana's mining legacy, the rustic and spirited city of Butte (once a mere mix of gold and silver camps) was also jump-started by the Copper Kings at the turn of the 20th century. Quickly gaining the reputation as "The Richest Hill on Earth," an eclectic mix of immigrants flocked to Butte in an attempt to capitalize on the copper boom. One such group that left a lasting mark was the Irish. As such, one of Butte's many unique annual events (it has now adopted the additional nickname of "Festival City" because of its full calendar) is the An Ri Ra Festival - a free three-day (also the second weekend in August) celebration put on by the Montana Gaelic Cultural Society and held in the Original Mine Yard.
On a large stage beneath the iconic headframe, traditional Irish dancers kick and tap away in unison, followed by folk, Celtic, and rock bands. The An Ri Ra Festival fans further into the repurposed mining site and even spills into the National Historic Landmark District (with green, white, and orange flags punctuating the rusty-red commercial buildings).
Bigfork: Monday Market & Rumble in the Bay
Bigfork may be small, but this Flathead Valley community goes big regarding its events. I enjoyed being at the Monday Market after an afternoon of paddleboarding on Flathead Lake. This multifaceted weekly gathering (Memorial Day through Labor Day) takes place just off of Electric Avenue (one of Montana's unforgettable Main Streets) in the cradle of Swan River. The Farmers Market leads patrons up Mill Street and into the shared property of Lake Baked and River View Bar. There, kids can snag some ice cream, mature attendees can sample some of the valley's craft beer scene, and everyone can meet around the barbecue. Once you've claimed your oral indulges of choice, grab a seat around the stage and enjoy the wholesome stylings of local folk and country artists.
As the Monday Market is winding down for the year, Bigfork's next notable event kicks into gear. Rumble in the Bay takes place on the Sunday before Labor Day, and scores of vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles fill up every parking spot on both sides of Electric Avenue. Car enthusiasts won't want to miss this one, but given the atmosphere and accompanying food trucks, Rumble in the Bay will surely put a smile on everyone's face.
Polson: Flathead Cherry Festival
At the other end of Flathead Lake (i.e., the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi), the annual Flathead Cherry Festival leverages the region's fertile farmlands (thanks to the modest, climate-regulating altitude and ample sun). Hosted by the Flathead Indian Reservation's city of Polson, this tasty and colorful event takes over Main Street during the last weekend in July (i.e., the apex of harvest season). As you stroll from tent to tent, there will be opportunities to purchase crates of fresh cherries, but also indulge in delectable pies, jams, and other sweets produced by local vendors. In addition, handMADE Montana recruits a wealth of artists and artisans to round out the shopping experience. And finally, Foodie, Cherry Pit Spitting, and Chalk Art contests, in conjunction with streetside games for the kids, all add a little spice to the two-day affair in the form of friendly competition.
Whitefish: Huckleberry Days & Downtown Farmers Market
While on the subject of Montana's delicious and nutritious produce, the bustling ski town of Whitefish makes a hard pivot during the fair weather season. Making it ever more challenging to decide where to go during the second weekend in August, Whitefish puts on its annual (36 years strong) Huckleberry Days in beautiful Depot Park (with some feasts and activities spilling into other downtown locations). With 100+ artists/food vendors and a huckleberry dessert bake-off, perhaps with some lakeside beach time mixed in in the interim, this weekend will zip by. But that's ok because just two days later, the weekly (during fair-weather season) Farmers Market also takes over Depot Park in much the same fashion. Live music gathers a crowd on the grass in front of the old railway station, while local producers - we're talking both fresh food and crafts (my girlfriend bought a cool bracelet) - occupy the string of white tents in front of the O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center. The vibe is fantastic and whets the palette for everything else (nature and entertainment-wise) that the Whitefish region has to offer.
Livingston: Livingston Roundup
I'm not sure how we've gone this far into our Montana extravaganza without visiting a rodeo, but a mid-summer stop in Livingston will amend that oversight. This south-centrally located, frontier-style city leans into its Western heritage with the Livingston Roundup - the state's oldest rodeo. Established in 1924, this 4-evening-long frenzy takes place at Park County Fairground in early July, with members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) eager to put on a show. Along with the tried-and-true riding, wrangling, and barrel racing, Magic in Motion brings a more acrobatic spectacle to the cowboy scene, while the Miss Livingston and Little Miss pageants inject a bit of elegance into the affair. But regardless of your tastes, everyone unites under the nightly fireworks when it's all said and done.
Hamilton: A Little Bit Of Everything
Hamilton is the southernmost town of the scenic Bitterroot Valley. And even though its population only hovers around 5,000 permanent residents, the fourth weekend in July is a solemn occasion, with not one, or two, but four overlapping events. During this time, Daly Days (i.e., a tradition honoring the aforementioned Copper King, Marcus Daly) and the Bitterroot Brewfest (featuring 60+ craft beers, a dozen food trucks, and live music) overtake the grounds of the Historic Daly Mansion. During that same weekend, the Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival beckons crowds to a natural amphitheatre (courtesy of the Bitterroot Range) just south of town for three straight days of rootsy mountain music. And capping off this synergistic summer shindig is the Saturday morning Farmers Market, which keeps on keeping on in Hamilton's historic downtown, just as it does every weekend from early May to late October.
West Yellowstone: Yellowstone Ski Festival
Thus far, the focus has been on summer festivals, but given Montana's early and abundant snows, winter has a few tricks up its sleeve. West Yellowstone is best known as a transit town for Yellowstone National Park, as the West Entrance provides quick access to some of the most famous attractions (Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Norris Geyser, Gibbon Falls, etc). But beyond the steak houses, souvenir shops, and old-timey general stores, West Yellowstone has its Rendezvous Ski Trails, where the Yellowstone Ski Festival unfurls the week of Thanksgiving. For amateur attendees, high-performance biathlon and freestyle races are interspersed with clinics (not just skiing, but wax, pilates, and yoga classes). Once all the week's awards have been handed out, athletes and spectators boogie down at the Snow Ball winter kick-off party.
Concerts and culture, rodeos and races, produce and parades - Montana's festivals are as unique as they are diverse. At an anticipated annual gathering, there's no better way to punch up a road trip or outdoor excursion than by rubbing elbows with locals (and maybe some fellow travelers). We didn't even touch on the Treasure State's big cities (Bozeman, Billings, and Missoula all have something to say), but that's because these nine small towns already swarm the calendar with fun, wholesome, and delicious festivals. Which ones call to you?
