A Montana Travel Blog

These are the best and biggest annual events in Montana, happening all across the state. Maybe we’ll see you at a few of them in 2024!

January

Seven people stand together, facing the camera wearing snowshoes and carrying ski poles. Amidst them is a person dressed in a polar bear costume on cross-country skis.
The Snoflinga Winter Festival inspires attendees to stay active and get outdoors all winter long.

Jan. 13: Festival of the Winter Moon – Anaconda

Jan. 19-21: Great Rockies Sportshow – Billings

Jan. 19-21: Snoflinga Winter Festival – Butte

Jan. 26-28: Montana Winter Fair – Lewistown

February

A woman in a red dress stands spotlighted on a stage with the logo of the "Big Sky Documentary Film Festival" projected on the screen behind her.
The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the biggest non-fiction film festival in the western U.S.

Feb. 2-4: Whitefish Winter Carnival – Whitefish

Feb. 3-4: Best in the West Skijoring Showdown – Big Sky

Feb. 9-11: Cabin Fever Days – Martin City

Feb. 16-22: Flathead Lake International Cinefest – Polson

Feb. 16-25: Big Sky Documentary Film Festival – Missoula

Feb. 24: Winter BrewFest – Missoula

March

View of a snow-covered town on a cloudy day, with a metal triangle-shaped mining headframe in the foreground.
Butte is known as the most Irish place in America – and its St. Patrick’s Day celebration is legendary.

Mar. 2: Free the Seeds Fair – Kalispell

Mar. 9-10: National Finals Skijoring Races – Red Lodge

Mar. 14-15: Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival – Missoula

Mar. 14-17: The Great Western Show – Great Falls

Mar. 17: St Patrick’s Day Festivities – Butte

Mar. 22-24: Wild Wings Snow Goose Migration – Choteau

Mar. 29-30: American Indian Council Powwow – Bozeman

April

A large ski slope with several runs cut into sits behind a wooded asphalt parking lot and a small ski lodge.
Whitefish Mountain Resort is THE place to close out ski season.

Apr. 6: Whitefish Mountain Resort Pond Skim – Whitefish

Apr. 20-25: International Wildlife Film Festival – Missoula

Apr. 26-28: Rendezvous Days – Eureka

May

Side of a tan building, covered by a mural of a two cowboys on horses, several cows, a red tractor, and a field of wheat. At the top is a compass labelled 46.2427 degrees N and text reading Welcome to Miles City.
Miles City’s Bucking Horse Sale is one of eastern Montana’s premier annual events.

May 3-4: Bozeman Spring MADE Fair – Bozeman

May 4: Garden City BrewFest – Missoula

May 11: Montana Brewers Spring Rendezvous – Bozeman

May 16-19: Bucking Horse Sale – Miles City

May 24-26: Bigfork Whitewater Festival – Bigfork

May 25-27: St. Regis Flea Market – St. Regis

May 31-Jun. 2: Front Range Yoga Festival – Choteau

May 31-Jun. 2: Wings Across the Big Sky Bird Festival – Helena

June

Looking down a wooden pedestrian bridge with metal support beams running along and above it.
The Fort Benton Summer Celebration is one of Central Montana’s most vibrant events.

Jun. 1-2: Montana Renaissance Festival – Red Lodge

Jun. 6-9: Whoop-Up Days and Rhubarb Festival – Conrad

Jun. 7-8: Buzzard Days – Glendive

Jun. 7-8: Northeast Montana Treasure Trail – Sheridan & Roosevelt counties

Jun. 7-9: Montana Mule Days – Hamilton

Jun. 15: Territorial Days – Deer Lodge

Jun. 17-21: Crow Native Days – Crow Agency

Jun. 21-22: Lewis and Clark Festival – Great Falls

Jun. 21-23: Battle of the Little Bighorn Reenactment – Crow Agency

Jun. 21-23: Old Salt Festival – Helmville

Jun. 23: Missoula Summer MADE Fair – Missoula

Jun. 28-30: Fort Benton Summer Celebration – Fort Benton

Jun. 28-30: Missoula Marathon – Missoula

July

Outdoor sign reading It-too-nio'p (Indian Agency) Browning, with a metal sign above it of two bison, a circular design of feathers and the words Blackfeet Nation.
North American Indian Days is one of the biggest Native American celebrations in Montana.

Jul. 1-4: Livingston Roundup Rodeo – Livingston

Jul. 1-7: Arlee Powwow Celebration – Arlee

Jul. 5-7: Whitefish Arts Festival – Whitefish

Jul. 5-8: Bigfork Montana Rodeo – Bigfork

Jul. 11-13: Wild Horse Stampede Rodeo – Wolf Point

Jul. 11-14: North American Indian Days – Browning

Jul. 12-14: Arts in the Park – Kalispell

Jul. 12-14: Montana Folk Festival – Butte

Jul. 12-14: Under the Big Sky Festival – Whitefish

Jul. 13: Strawberry Festival – Billings

Jul. 19-21: Art in Washoe Park – Anaconda

Jul. 20-21: Bannack Days – Bannack

Jul. 25-27: Headwaters Country Jam – Three Forks

Jul. 25-28: Big Sky Balloon Rally – Billings

Jul. 25-28: Red Ants Pants Music Festival – White Sulphur Springs

Jul. 26-Aug. 3: Montana State Fair – Great Falls

Jul. 27: Madison Valley Arts Festival – Ennis

Jul. 27-28: Dino Shindig – Ekalaka

Jul. 27-28: Flathead Cherry Festival – Polson

August

Several large paintings on easels set up in a field in front of tree-covered hills.
We lucked out and happened to be passing through Bigfork on the weekend of the arts festival one year!

Aug. 2-3: Wildlands Music Festival – Big Sky

Aug. 2-3: Yee-Haw Hee-Haw, Western Days – Billings

Aug. 2-4: Sweet Pea Festival – Bozeman

Aug. 3: Montana Brewers Summer Rendezvous – Helena

Aug. 3-4: Bigfork Festival of the Arts – Bigfork

Aug. 6-11: Western Montana Fair – Missoula

Aug. 8-10: Rockin’ the Rivers Music Festival – Three Forks

Aug. 8-11: Heart Butte Indian Days – Heart Butte

Aug. 8-11: Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering – Lewistown

Aug. 9-10: Riverfront Blues Festival – Libby

Aug. 9-11: An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival – Butte

Aug. 9-11: Huckleberry Days Arts Festival – Whitefish

Aug. 9-11: Smeltermens Day – Anaconda

Aug. 9-17: Montana Fair – Billings

Aug. 10: Huckleberry Festival – Swan Lake

Aug. 14-19: Crow Fair – Crow Agency Crow Agency

September

View of rocky, shrub-dotted badlands landscape out to the horizon.
The Makoshika Music & Arts Festival is a unique way to experience Montana’s biggest state park.

Sep. 5-8: Kootenai Country Montana International Chainsaw Carving Championship – Libby

Sep. 6-7: River City Roots Festival – Missoula

Sep. 7: Chokecherry Festival – Lewistown

Sep. 14: Makoshika Music & Arts Festival – Makoshika State Park

Sep. 19-22: Montana International Film Festival – Billings

Sep. 28-29: Big Sky Paranormal Conference – Butte

October

Red and white theater marquee sign that says Roxy in yellow lights at the top and lists Eighth Grade, 3 Identical Strangers, and Sorry to Bother You.
Missoula’s beloved Roxy Theater hosts the annual Montana Film Festival.

Oct. 3-6: Montana Film Festival – Missoula

Oct. 5-6: Bridger Raptor Festival – Bridger Bowl Ski Area

Oct. 18-19: Bozeman Fall MADE Fair – Bozeman

Oct. 25-27: Haunted Peaks Halloween Festival – Big Sky

November

The Cat-Griz game is Montana’s most heated annual sporting event. Photo by Tim Evanson.

Nov. 2-3: Bridger Ski Foundation Ski Swap – Bozeman

Nov. 9-10: Holiday Food & Gift Festival – Billings

Nov. 23: Cat-Griz Game (Brawl of the Wild) – Bozeman

Nov. 26-30: Yellowstone Ski Festival – West Yellowstone

December

Looking down at an indoor market, with people walking among rows of tents and tables. A yellow cloth map of Yellowstone National Park hangs from a stand in the front.
Do your holiday shopping at one of Montana’s MADE Fairs!

Dec. 6-7: Helena Holiday MADE Fair – Helena

Dec. 11-15: Bozeman Ice Festival – Bozeman

Dec. 15: Missoula Holiday MADE Fair – Missoula

Canceled & Paused Events

Unfortunately, a few beloved Montana events are currently on hiatus or have recently been canceled: