Welcome to the Top 10 Events in Montana
Explore the selection of the top 10 annual events and festivals, fairs and celebrations (listed in calendar priority) across the State of Montana, including events in Butte, Browning and Great Falls, Nevada City and Virginia City.Living History Program at Nevada City
Memorial Day – Labor Day: weekends
Nevada City & Virginia City, Montana
The Outdoor Living History Museum in Nevada City, Montana, houses one of the largest collections of Old West Artifacts outside the Smithsonian. The site consists of 100, 1863 to early 1900 buildings, and close to 70 living history interpreters.
Living history weekends are held Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend all summer long.
Visitors can relive the excitement of the Gold Rush era in Montana and see what the Old West was really like in Nevada City, Montana.
For more information visit: www.montanaheritagecommission.com
Annual Lewis & Clark Festival
June
Great Falls, Montana
This week of Rediscovery is an opportunity to experience an incredible journey through the weathered pages of the daily journals kept by Lewis and Clark; all shared with visitors through presentation, ceremony and guided experience.
Demonstrations, exhibits, and other events continue all week as the history of this 200 year old adventure unfolds.
For more information visit: www.lewisandclarkia.com
Custer’s Last Stand Re-enactment & Little Bighorn Days
June
Hardin & Crow Agency, Montana
In a grand pageant of Montana history, more than 300 reenactors relive the events that led up to what has become known as Custer's Last Stand. The reenactment site is less than 20 miles from where the actual event occurred.
Little Bighorn Days, the renowned four-day festival of ethnic food, exhibits, music, dancing, parades, contests, performances and fun.
For more information visit: www.custerslaststand.org
North American Indian Days
July
Browning, Montana
North American Indian Days, an annual celebration and the largest and most impressive of Blackfeet tribal events, hosts Native Americans from every region of the United States and Canada.
Featured events include traditional drumming and dancing contests, powwows, the crowning of Miss Blackfeet, a parade and fun run and more.
For more information visit: www.blackfeetnation.com
Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede
July
Wolfpoint, Montana
Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede is a three-day event including a PRCA sanctioned rodeo that brings the best cowboys to town. There is a parade each day, along with a carnival, the Human Stampede Run/Walk, the world famous wild horse race, kids' stick-horse rodeo, street dances and cowboy church.
For more information visit: www.wolfpoint.com
National Folk Festival
2nd Weekend in July
Butte, Montana
Celebrating the unique music, culture and cuisine that are found throughout the United States, this annual National Folk Festival is held in Butte against the historic backdrop of this unique and culturally diverse town.
Since 1934, the Festival has showcased the country’s finest traditional artists as the signature event of the National Council for the Traditional Arts.
The Festival will incorporate but is not limited to the traditional music, culture and cuisine of the American West. Also included will be folk and traditional arts marketplace and ethnic foods.
For more information visit: www.nationalfolkfestival.com
Libby Nordicfest
July
Libby, Montana
The Libby community celebrates its Scandinavian Heritage every year on the second weekend in September.
Libby Nordicfest is a gala affair featuring Scandinavian foods, a juried craft show, traditional folk costumes, free outdoor entertainment, a quilt show, concerts, music and arts. There are special events like the Grand Parade, Bunad Procession, International Fjord Horse Show, Kootenai Karacters Melodrama, Swedish Varpa (rock throw) and a youth Runnerfell.
For more information visit: www.libbynordicfest.org
Sweet Pea Festival
August
Bozeman, Montana
The Sweet Pea Festival is a three-day festival of the arts held in Bozeman, Montana. The fun in Lindley Park starts Friday afternoon with food and music and continues all day Saturday and until 7:00 pm on Sunday. Acts include everything from dynamic music, to engaging theatre to family entertainment to dance lessons.
For more information visit: www.sweetpeafestival.org
Crow Fair and Rodeo
Third weekend of August
Crow Agency, Montana
From every western state and Canada, Indians come to camp along the Little Bighorn River to form the Teepee Capital of the World. There are spectacular parades each morning featuring authentic costumes, an all-Indian rodeo with cowboys from throughout the nation, pari-mutuel wagering, wild horse races and Indian dancing.
For more information visit: www.crow-fair.com
'Running of the Sheep' Sheep Drive
September
Reed Point, Montana
The 'Running of the Sheep' Sheep Drive features hundreds of sturdy Montana-bred woolies charging down the six blocks of Main Street in an event some say is matched only by the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.
The event also has a parade including the Shriner's Band, floats, antique cars, covered wagons, horse groups and more. To end the fun filled day, don't miss the evening 'Street Dance' with live music.
