Bigfork
Bigfork, MT · Arts & Culture
Flathead Beacon
Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo Kicks Off in Kalispell
Another edition of the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo will commence at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell this week, with Grammy-nominated country singer Walker Hayes kicking things off on Wednesday night. Running from Wednesday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 16, the fair features more than 100 commercial exhibitors and...
bozemansymphony.org
Bozeman Symphony Presents Free Summer Concert in Kalispell
BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Bozeman Symphony invites the public to enjoy an afternoon of free live music on Friday, Aug. 14, at Wachholz College Center’s O'Shaughnessy Amphitheater, 795 Grandview Dr., in Kalispell. The concert, presented from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m., features Symphony Associate Principal Horn Elizabeth Schmidt and...
Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish Trail Hootenanny is Aug. 21
The public is invited to the Whitefish Trail Hootenanny, a fundraiser for the Whitefish Trail and Whitefish Legacy Partners on Friday, Aug. 21 at Depot Park in downtown Whitefish from 5 – 9:30 p.m. Enjoy live music, kid’s activities, food trucks, local craft beer and a huge raffle. All ages are welcome and participants are encouraged to walk or ride bikes to Depot Park. This fundraising event is made possible by title sponsor First Interstate Bank, now in their 13th year. Event sponsors include BNSF Railway, Glacier Restaurant Group, Malmquist Construction, National Parks Realty, Edward Jones Financial Advisor Joel Pemberton and Summit Beverage. Kids’ activities are sponsored by Flathead Area Mountain Bikers and Stumptown Art Studio, and the craft beer is exclusively from sponsors Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company and Blackstar. Food trucks, wine, hard seltzer and Athletic Brewing NA beer options will be available as well. “The Whitefish Trail Hootenanny is our way of bringing the community together at the end of summer to celebrate the Whitefish Trail and our local conservation lands," said Nathan Tuebner, Legacy Partners program manager. "It combines music, community and fundraising all for a great cause.” Live music is made possible by Great Northern Bar
Bigfork Eagle
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks to perform 'Much Ado About Nothing'
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks brings performances of Shakespeare’s lively comedy, "Much Ado About Nothing," to Kalispell Aug. 14. Previously held at Woodland Park in Kalispell, this is the first year the Bozeman-based group will perform at the O’Shaughnessy Outdoor Amphitheater, which is located at the Wachholz College Center, 795 Grandview Dr., Kalispell. Lobby doors open at 5 p.m. and the play starts at 6 p.m. All ages are welcome and no tickets are required to attend. In its 54th season, the company of 11 actors who make up the troupe embarked on a 12-week tour across the West in June, stopping in 64 communities. "Much Ado About Nothing" speaks to the joy and uncertainty of love, reputation and the ways that community shapes an individual's understanding of one another. The play unfolds in the aftermath of war, where returning soldiers and welcoming hosts find themselves drawn into courtship, clever schemes and shifting perceptions. Among a vibrant cast of characters, Shakespeare explores how easily people can be misled, and how resilience, honesty and grace can restore both trust and connection. “In a moment when many communities feel polarized or fatigued, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ insists on laughter, music and communal
Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish artist featured in Phillips Gallery solo exhibit with meet-and-greet planned
The artwork of Whitefish artist Sandy Bridgewater will be on display at Phillips Gallery in a solo exhibit titled "The Mountain View" through Aug. 29. This new collection of contemporary and traditional landscape paintings depicts local scenes from Glacier National Park and surrounding areas in the stunning palette the artist is known for. Bridgewater’s technique prioritizes the effects of light, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere typical of the Luminism style. Bridgewater describes herself as a born creative, with the natural world her constant teacher via plein air painting adventures. She has studied art at the Art Institute of Boston and the Breckenridge Colorado Arts District. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, American Women Artists, National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, NorthWest Arts Association, Boulder Arts Association, Glacier Art Museum and Plein Aire Painters of the Flathead. Her work has been published in magazines such as Western Art & Architecture, Western Art Collector, Art of the West and American Art Collector. Painted en Plein Air and in the studio with reference photos taken on the trail, Bridgewater said the landscapes in "The Mountain View" exhibit were created with a focus on light, and compelling compositions, using a
mixonline.com
Show Imaging Brings Sound to Under the Big Sky Festival
Whitefish, MT (August 5, 2026)—Founded in 2019, the Under the Big Sky Festival draws big name acts and more than 20,000 music fans to Big Mountain Ranch, just outside Whitefish, Montana. This year’s edition, held in mid-July, brought the likes of Chris Stapleton, Of Monsters and Men, Ryan Bingham, Leftover Salmon, Greensky Bluegrass, Old Crow Medicine Show and others to the site.
Char-Koosta News
Community invited to 2026 Harvest Fest
FLATHEAD RESERVATION — CSKT Tribal Health will bring its annual Harvest Fest to communities across the Flathead Reservation, offering families health education, locally produced food, games, door prizes and other activities. Now in its fourth year, Harvest Fest promotes healthy eating, active lifestyles, tobacco-free living and awareness of childhood...
Bigfork Eagle
PHOTOS: Bigfork Festival of the Arts
The 48th anniversary of the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. An artist in front of a couple of her pieces at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. Steve Michell Shoppers admiring the wares of a vendor at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. Steve Michell The Bigfork Festival of the Arts had visitors of all ages, including this little cutie. Steve Michell The Bigfork Festival of the Arts provided top quality live music that could be heard all over town. Steve Michell The Bigfork Festival of the Arts provided top quality live music that could be heard all over town. Steve Michell A smiling face in a food truck greets customers at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. Steve Michell A young shopper learns about boomerang's from a vendor at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. Steve Mitchell Wood carvers bear keeping watch for customers at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. Steve Mitchell
Whitefish Pilot
Backwoods country artist organizes charity concert in Whitefish
A country artist from a small Wisconsin town has organized a charity concert in Whitefish. Having never visited the Flathead Valley before, he said the events that led him to the area "just happened." Roger Lee's concert was inspired by an experience spontaneously playing at a funeral for a man he didn't know while visiting Worland, Wyoming. He showed up in the same cowboy hat as the deceased, a man from Miles City. Lee played and shed tears with people he just met. And then he later concluded he ought to see what he could do for good up in Montana. "I'm just a conduit and it's falling into place," he said. Lee's concert is on Aug. 14 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. He'll be joined on stage by Will. J Burton of Boise, Idaho and Madison Grace of Kalispell. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. and doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door. The concert is a benefit for four charities: Two Bear Therapeutic Riding Center, Flathead Warming Center, All Hearts Rescue and WINGS Regional Cancer Foundation. A Minnesota native, Lee resides in Winter, Wisconsin, a town of about 325 people. Lee describes his
NBCMontana
Anne Frank traveling exhibition coming to Kalispell later this month
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Wanda Hollensteiner Art Gallery at Wachholz College Center on the Flathead Valley Community College campus will host the traveling exhibition “Anne Frank: A History for Today” from Aug. 24 through Sept. 14. Recommended for visitors ages 12 and older, the exhibit explores the...
Flathead Beacon
New Off-Trail Foot Race Sends Runners Bushwhacking Across Blacktail Mountain
Runners participating in the Blacktail Balderdash near Lakeside this weekend still do not know the course route because the inaugural foot race’s organizers refuse to reveal it. That’s by design, race organizers say, “to keep your imaginations active and your creative juices alive.”. But even after participants...
Whitefish Pilot
'The Music of Heart: A Tribute Concert' upcoming in Whitefish
Merie Productions, in collaboration with The Whitefish Theatre Company, presents "The Music of Heart: A Tribute Concert" for three performances on Aug. 14, 15, and 16 at 8 p.m. at the O'Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Celebrating one of rock's most groundbreaking and influential bands, this event pays tribute to the powerhouse music of Heart, featuring an evening of soaring vocals, blistering guitar work, and the timeless songs that made Ann and Nancy Wilson rock legends. This is the final instalment of the fourth annual Whitefish Summer Concert Series. From arena favorites like "Barracuda," "Crazy on You," "Magic Man," and "Alone," to beloved ballads including "These Dreams" and "What About Love," audiences will experience the music that defined generations of rock fans. Combining electrifying performances with faithful recreations of Heart's signature sound, this tribute concert captures the band's unmistakable blend of hard rock, folk influences and emotionally charged storytelling. "The Voice" finalist Brook Wood stars alongside acclaimed New York City vocalist Lauren Wright. Wood has captivated audiences nationwide with her commanding rock vocals and dynamic stage presence, while Wright's versatile voice and extensive performance career have made her a sought-after vocalist on stages across the country. Tickets are $40 with reserved
Lake County Leader
Cherry Festival attendance ‘well above and beyond expectations’ despite the heat
The Flathead Cherry Festival was a busy weekend in Polson, with crowds still in their cherry attire despite the hot, smoky weather. Key event organizer Carol Lynn Lapotka reported that festival vendors were “insanely happy” and provided positive feedback. Overall, it was a successful weekend, including an impressive 42-foot cherry pit spitting winner. Lapotka also said attendance was “above and beyond expectations,” as Saturday had steady traffic flow and Sunday was well attended. Everything was also “on theme” with the community in their cherry outfits and vendors selling many cherry items. “The fruit was very well celebrated,” Lapotka said. Lapotka contracts to manage the Polson Chamber of Commerce event with her sidekick, Courtney Blazon, under their business, handMADE Montana. This was their third year managing the event. Inside the festival Cherries were delivered from the four orchards that attended, quickly selling out of their cherry pies. Owner of The Last Best Orchard, Janna Wyman, said their family orchard has participated in the festival for the last four years. Wyman said the festival always draws a good crowd, and people are always willing to stand in line for the delicious cherries and hand pies. Polson local Kat Perkins said she and
missoulaunderground.com
Weekend PICKS: Thursday, July 30th thru Sunday, August 2nd
Goodbye, July; Hellooo August! It’s time for the Western Montana Fair, and there’s fairs and rodeos everywhere including Missoula, Ronan, Darby plus live music all over including Luke Bryan & Jason Aldean Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Simple Plan at KettleHouse Amphitheater, farmers markets, and the rivers are prime for floating. The MUG is here with all the.
Char-Koosta News
Polson Community Block Party Returns August 20 with Free Family Fun, Local Businesses, and First Responders
POLSON, Mont. — The Polson Chamber of Commerce and Polson School District invites the entire community to the Polson Community Block Party on Thursday, August 20, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Linderman Education Center. The free event will bring together local businesses, nonprofit organizations, first responders,...