Summertime is imminent in the Flathead Valley, which means an influx of visitors and a full landscape of adventurous opportunities.
It’s also the valley’s prime time for can’t-miss events, activities, programs, and parties; be sure to keep tabs on www.FlatheadEvents.net and www.MontanaTickets.com for up-to-date event listings, additions and changes.
With so much going on, the possibilities can seem endless and potentially overwhelming. Here are some of the most popular summer events in the Flathead, so you have a chance to fill in those spaces of your calendar that aren’t already full of outdoor adventures and road trips.
Picnic in the Park | Begins June 27
Depot Park, Kalispell
Tuesdays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
One of the most-welcome aspects of summertime is being able to spend time outside with friends and neighbors without freezing. Twice a week, the Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department offers a chance to do just that during Picnic in the Park. This series brings together the forces of live music and picnicking with the community for a summer of tunes and fun. Concessions are available if you forget to pack your own picnic. The series kicks off with Copper Mountain Band on June 27; for more information, visit www.Kalispell.com/Parks_and_Recreation or call (406) 758-7717.
Lakeside Community Fair | July 8
Lakeside
Join the women of the Lakeside Community Club as they host their major fundraiser of the year, featuring a parade, silent auction, Attic Treasures, a kids’ zone, a live auction, a watermelon-eating contest, duck races, and much more. It’s the quintessential summer party, and all the money raised goes to nonprofits helping the West Shore communities on Flathead Lake. Last year’s fair raised more than $27,000. For more information, visit www.lakesidecommunityclub.com.
Montana 200 | July 13-15
Montana Raceway Park
Get your motor running during this weekend of engines, speed and asphalt at Montana Raceway Park’s signature event, the 27th annual Montana 200. Kick it all off with practice on July 13, heat races and qualifiers on July 14, and the main event on July 15. Drivers all over the country head to the track for a piece of the prize purse, worth more than $50,000 total. The winner gets a check for $15,000. For more information, visit www.mtracewaypark.com.
Arts in the Park | July 14-16
Kalispell
Hit the shade under trees in Kalispell’s Depot Park as you peruse more than 100 juried arts and crafts booths during the Hockaday Museum of Art’s largest fundraiser of the year. The event takes over the park with tents, live music, food, a wine and beer garden, and a Hockaday-selected array of arts and crafts to purchase. Daily admittance is $3, or it’s $5 for the whole weekend. A weekend button also provides admission to the Hockaday Museum. For more information, visit www.HockadayMuseum.org or call (406) 755-5268.
The Event at Rebecca Farm | July 19-23
1385 Farm to Market Rd., Kalispell
Hidden in the wide-open fields of the west valley, Rebecca Farm annually hosts one of the preeminent equestrian triathlons on the global circuit, turning the quiet farmland into an international athletic extravaganza for a weekend. Competitors of human and equine origin take on dressage, cross country and show jumping, which the audience can enjoy for free. Parking donations are accepted, and will benefit the Halt Cancer at X program, which raises thousands of dollars for local and national cancer education and research. For more information, visit www.RebeccaFarm.org.
Heritage Days | July 26-30
Columbia Falls
Celebrate the area’s history and the people who lived it during Columbia Falls’ annual Heritage Days event. It’s a weekend full of family-friendly events, such as a car show, farmers market, swimming, auction, rodeo, 5K and 10K runs, a parade, a barn dance, all sorts of athletic tournaments, and much more. For more information, visit www.cfallsheritagedays.com.
Bigfork Festival of the Arts | Aug. 5-6
Head to the village by the bay for Bigfork’s annual arts explosion, taking place all over Electric Avenue for the 39th year in a row. The main streets of town fill with art, crafts, food, and music, providing a festive, family-friendly feel. There are bus shuttles to help accommodate the traffic, and the restaurants and shops in downtown Bigfork will be ready to celebrate as well. For more information, visit www.bigforkfestivalofthearts.com.
Huckleberry Days Arts Festival | Aug. 11-13
Whitefish Depot Park
Join more than 100 artisans, craftspeople, and vendors as they show their wares and celebrate one of the Flathead’s most popular fruits: the ever-popular huckleberry. There will be live music, entertainment, food vendors, activities for kids, and of course, a huckleberry dessert bake-off contest. Admission is free, and special treats like free ice cream await. For more information, visit www.whitefishchamber.org/huckleberry-days or call (406) 862-3501.
Northwest Montana Fair | Aug. 16-20
Kalispell
It doesn’t get much more like a Montana summer than at the fair. Explore the various animal and craft barns to get a better idea of the full breadth of talent contained here in the valley, and then hit the carnival rides and fair food for a well-rounded afternoon. In the evenings, enjoy rodeo and live music with this year’s musical headliner, country music artist Dustin Lynch. For more information, visit www.nwmtfair.com.
Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop and Festival | Aug. 27 – Sept. 2
Bigfork
The eighth annual Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop and Festival will bring together some of the biggest global talent in the guitar world and put it onstage just by Flathead Lake. During the day, students learn from legendary musicians at workshops, and by night, these musicians play public concerts. It has become one of the biggest concert events in the region. For more information, visit www.crownguitarfest.org.
Montana Dragon Boat Festival | Sept. 9-10
Lakeside
Hit the waves with massive boats full of brave paddlers trying their hardest to outpace the competition, or just watch it all from the comfort of the Lakeside shore on Flathead Lake at the Montana Dragon Boat Festival. Thousands head to the lakeshore to watch teams of 20 race in 46-foot-long boats, all to the beat of each boat’s drummer. Teams come from around the country and Canada to compete. For more information, visit www.montanadragonboat.com.
Flathead Celtic Festival | Sept. 16
Herron Park, Kalispell
Grab your kilt and your family crest and head on over to Herron Park where there will be a celebration of all things Celtic during this educational and family-friendly festival. Play the traditional highland games, learn about heritage, and enjoy the outdoors with people of all clans. For more information, visit www.FlatheadCelticFestival.com.