Happy Friday, everyone! It was fun earlier this week getting a chance to chat with some Bigfork Whitewater Festival figures of the past and present in light of this year’s festival being the 50th annual. It’s worth considering checking out if you’re looking for something different this weekend. And, as has long been the refrain from organizers, it’s a way of kicking off the Flathead summer. I don’t want to jinx anything, but looking down the road at the coming weather forecast, it seems that the folks at the whitewater festival just may have some secret knowledge.

In addition to interviews, my work on the story also involved a dip into some old digitized newspaper archives, which almost always seems to offer an illuminating glimpse into local history’s minor and major moments. One thing that stuck out to me during this particular journey to the past was a 1980 edition of the Missoulian newspaper, which featured a small writeup on the Bigfork Whitewater Festival and its “mad mile,” as some back then were apparently calling the Swan River’s iconic stretch of rapids.

But what was even more interesting than a 35-year-old breakdown of the festival’s events and activities was an adjacent article with the headline “Kalispell Area Chamber tells tourists ‘We’ve Got It’ all.”

As Don Schwennesen reported for the Missoulian at the time, the Flathead Valley was preparing to hold its first tourism exposition that weekend at the Kalispell National Guard Armory, with 13 acts and 30 exhibitors.

“The free, two-day exposition, entitled the ‘We’ve Got It’ show, is designed to acquaint area residents with the tourist and recreation attractions that the valley has to offer,” Schwennesen wrote.

The musicians’ union donated most of the entertainment acts, which included the Port Polson Players, the Moran Sisters, the Sergos Rythmaires, the Dandy Duo, Rob N’ Hoods, the Big Mountain Frump Band, the Northernaires, Wild Rose, the Empty Pocket String Band, and “belly dancers.”

Demonstrations were also planned to show off fly casting and tying, packing a mule, river safety, trapping, and artwork. Films and side shows highlighting skiing, hunting, rafting, packing and other outdoor activities were also on the docket.

The chamber’s director at the time, Rich Hadley, told the Missoulian that the show was intended to promote the valley’s tourist attractions and emphasize that tourism is the area’s second-largest industry. Hadley further said that a goal of the show, as the Missoulian paraphrased, “is to acquaint area residents with what the valley has to offer, so they in turn can be more helpful when visiting friends or relatives, or other tourists, ask what there is to do in the area.”

I won’t claim to have made a groundbreaking discovery here, but to me it’s an interesting reminder of just how long tourism has been considered an economic driver in the valley, and the ways in which it’s been courted over the decades. Especially given some of the recent conversations we’ve reported on at the Flathead Beacon.

Now, let’s get back to the present, and into some news. I’m Mike Kordenbrock, bringing you the Daily Roundup …

It sure seems like we are picking up some momentum with music and entertainment announcements for the summer and fall.  The Wachholz College Center (which has a 2025-2026 season preview open house planned for June 13), has in recent weeks announced events with Connie Chung and Maury Povich (June 25), the legendary blues guitarist Taj Mahal (Aug. 7), Keb’ Mo’ & Shawn Colvin (Aug. 22), Whose Live Anyway? (Sept. 21), Old Crow Medicine Show (Oct. 9) and David Sedaris (Nov. 12).

Meanwhile, the Northwest Montana Fair finally tipped its hand earlier this week, and revealed that this year’s musical headliners will be “Godmother of Punk” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Aug. 12), and country star Scotty McCreery (Aug. 13).

But wait, there’s more! Yesterday, the folks at Glacier Bank Park (home of the Glacier Range Riders) announced their first venture into the world of stadium concerts with a July 11 show featuring country music artist Tyler Rich, with openers Scotty Hasting and Maggie Baugh. The show is set to conclude with a celebratory fireworks show. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, May 27. For more information, you can visit glacierbankpark.com.

You can find even more event info in our 2025 Can’t Miss Summer Events writeup, or at flatheadevents.net.