Events

The Montana Folk Festival features performances and demonstrations by over 200 of the nation’s finest musicians, dancers, and craftspeople. It showcases multiple performances by more than 20 Artists/groups on six stages including a dance pavilion dedicated to participatory dancing, a family stage with performances appealing to children of all ages, and a Montana folklife stage. In addition to the performance stages, there are several themed festival areas: the Montana Folklife Area, the Family Area, two Festival Marketplaces and the Festival Food Courts. The festival site is situated in the heart of the nation’s largest National Historic Landmark District. Open-air and tented sites will provide a variety of performance venues ranging from intimate stages to amphitheater-sized venues. The Original Stage, which offers a panoramic view of Butte’s historic high rise buildings and the surrounding mountains, is located on the site of the historic Original Mineyard, with its dramatic headframe that is a remnant of Butte’s early days as an underground copper mining center. Festival Marketplaces. Up to 50 traditional artists and craft vendors will be hosted in the festival’s two marketplaces: the Montana Traditions Arts Market and the nearby First Peoples’ Market that will feature Native American artists and craftspeople. Food and Drink Vendors. Nearly 30 food and beverage vendors will serve ethnic and festival food representing the cuisine of natives and immigrants to the region as well as festival favorites such as kettle korn, funnel cakes, fresh-squeezed lemonade and huckleberry shakes. Free to All. Admission throughout the three-day event is free of admission to everyone. Festival Music Sales. Throughout the festival, there will be opportunities to purchase the recorded music of the performing artists who will also be available to sign CDs after their performances near the CD sales tents. Festival Merchandise. At assigned booths, festival-goers can purchase festival merchandise, too, including shirts, hoodies, hats and other commemorative merchandise. Information Booths. Strategically placed booths will be available for directions and answers to all questions. Try to stump the volunteers with questions you can think of about the festival, the community of Butte and where to go and what to see in the state of Montana. Beer and Wine Sales. Beer and wine will be available for sale at special booths and imbibing areas.

Join us for this family program featuring John Williams iconic movie music from Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extraterrestrial, and surprise selections! We also welcome invited composer Gala Flagello for performances of her two energetic orchestral pieces, Bravado and Vitality, rich in imagery and cinematic narrative.

REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 7, 2026! Thanks to everyone who came out to kick of St Paddy’s Day weekend with us ♥ We had a blast and can’t wait for next year! 2025 Photos from Humble Photos will be available around March 23. We will notify all participants via email when they are ready. CHEERS!

Run to the Pub is the only race in America that sends a few lucky participants to Dublin, Ireland to participate in a local race and get a VIP tour of the Guinness brewery.

Are you brave enough to take the plunge? Gather your friends, family, and colleagues, and run, jump, or crawl into icy waters across Montana to make a big splash for Special Olympics Montana. Special Olympics Montana provides life-changing opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities. We offer sports training, competitions, health screenings, and leadership opportunities that promote inclusion for athletes both on and off the field. By taking the plunge, you are making a difference! The Polar Plunge® is a Law Enforcement Torch Run® signature event. It is primarily organized, promoted, and conducted by LETR Officers and volunteer teams throughout Montana.

Come join us for fun family game day. Everyone is invited to come. Every Second Saturday of the month from 1-3pm.

The National Finals Ski-Joring races in Red Lodge occur the second weekend in March each year and are held on both Saturday and Sunday. The races are held at The Home Of Champions rodeo grounds located just west of town on Route 78. From Red Lodge, head west from the traffic roundabout at the fire station to get to the rodeo grounds. ​Watch the weather forecast and dress appropriately. If the weather is relatively warm, the grounds can get slushy or muddy. Food, beverage, and swag vendors will be on site. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. each day and the races start at 11:00 am. Tickets are sold at the entrance gate. There are no advance ticket sales. All tickets are general admission and there are no limits on the number of tickets sold. Feel free to bring a chair. Blankets may be desirable to wrap up in if the weather is cold, but don't plan on sitting on a blanket on the ground due to snow melt.

Dutch electronic music producer San Holo is bringing his Wholesome Riddim Chapter 2 Tour to Montana in 2026 — performing at The Wilma in Missoula on Friday, March 13th, and The ELM in Bozeman on Saturday, March 14th! Born Sander van Dijck, San Holo has become one of electronic music’s most emotionally resonant voices. Blending atmospheric production, live guitar, and introspective songwriting, he’s built a global following through his unmistakable sound and his uplifting “stay vibrant” philosophy.

Family-friendly festival, 5K and FUN RUN!

Come feel the living pulse of Ireland and witness the ancient warrior game of hurling. Fast, fearless, high-scoring, and fiercely physical, hurling is a sport born of myth — a living link between modern Ireland and its Celtic past. This 10th annual St. Patrick’s Day clash features the University of Montana Grizzly Hurling team (four-time national champions) facing Missoula’s own Thomas Meagher Hurling Club, a formidable force in the Pacific Northwest. Ash will clash, bodies will fly, and pride will be on the line. The match is free, family-friendly, and open to all.

Come on over after the parade on Saturday, 2 - 5 pm. Free corned beef and cabbage Irish Whiskey Tasting ($65 at the door) 4pm: visit from the Celtic Dragon Pipe Band

Join the Friends of Irish Studies in the West for their Annual St. Patrick’s Day Banquet Dinner and Auction on Saturday, March 14, at the Holiday Inn Downtown Missoula. Enjoy an evening filled with Irish hospitality and celebration, featuring a delicious dinner, live entertainment, and the vibrant sounds of traditional Irish music, song, and dance. The night will also include both silent and live auctions, offering a wide array of fantastic prizes. Be captivated by performances from talented Irish dancers and the Celtic Dragon Pipe Band. Sit back, relax, and raise a glass as we honor the Irish Man and Irish Woman of the Year and proudly present the 2026 Grand Marshal. Come celebrate the spirit of Ireland with friends old and new—it’s an evening you won’t want to miss!

Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic Alice in Wonderland takes the stage in a never-before-seen contemporary adaptation. ALICE/wonderland is a studio production: an ensemble-created descent into the inner labyrinth everyone carries and a challenge to confront the gap between wonder and reckoning. We are Alice. And so are you.