These Montana Festivals and Events Just Landed State Funding

We love the events that our local organizations put on in our wonderful state of Montana. Brewfests, music festivals, fishing tournaments, races, and plenty more great events give you stuff to do from January to December every year.

Good news: A lot of your favorite events will be receiving a financial boost from the Montana Department of Commerce.

Commerce Awards Economic Impact and Destination Event Grants

Mitch Staley with the Montana Department of Commerce sent out a press release saying community events will receive over $828,000 in funding.

"The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 48 local event organizations will share more than $828,000 of grant funding to support destination events that will help increase tourism in Montana communities. "The funding is through Commerce’s Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant Program," per the release.

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The release lays out what events will receive funding, including several in and around Missoula.

• The 14th Annual Dino Shindig in Ekalaka will receive $19,761.
• The 20th Annual River City Roots Festival in Missoula will receive $25,000.
• The 31st Annual Bitterroot Brewfest in Hamilton will receive $25,000.
• The 39th Annual Montana Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament in Glasgow will receive $23,750.
• The 49th Annual Sweetgrass Society Powwow in Havre will receive $3,000.
• The 2027 Wild Wings Migration Festival in Choteau will receive $6,160.
• Baker's Fourth of July in Baker will receive $9,300.
• The Basement Plays + Art Installation in Anaconda will receive $5,850.
• Bentonfest in Fort Benton will receive $12,233.
• The Bigfork Brewfest 2026 in Bigfork will receive $12,332.
• The Bigfork Whitewater Festival in Bigfork will receive $23,800.
• Big Horn County American Indian Heritage Relay Races in Hardin will receive $25,000.
• The Big Sky Balloon Rally in Billings will receive $9,765.
• The Big Sky Reining Classic in Kalispell will receive $25,000.
• The Bitterroot Performing Arts 2026 Summer Concert in Hamilton will receive $25,000.
• Centerfest Montana in Lewistown will receive $23,000.
• The Clark Fork River Pedal and Farm Tour in Thompson Falls will receive $5,830.
• The Crow Fair Powwow and Parade in Crow Agency will receive $12,000.
• Dillon Days in Dillon will receive $25,000.
• The Don't Fence Me In Trail Run in Helena will receive $16,200.
• Elevating Eastern Montana Agriculture and Local Small Business in Forsyth will receive $25,000.
• The Festival of Irish Writing in Butte will receive $25,000.
• The Fort Benton Summer Celebration in Fort Benton will receive $24,400.
• The Fourth of July Veterans Powwow in Browning will receive $19,000.
• Heritage Day 2026 in Trego will receive $15,000.
• The Journey to the Badlands Triathlon in Glendive will receive $2,300.
• The Kootenai Forest Fair in Libby will receive $3,100.
• Little Bighorn Days in Hardin will receive $25,000.
• The Livingston Songwriter Festival in Livingston will receive $22,500.
• The Lost Hawk Rendezvous in Whitehall will receive $19,500.
• The Milk River Cat Classic and Catfish Days in Glasgow will receive $25,000.
• Miner’s Day in Virginia City will receive $8,170.
• The Montana Renaissance Festival in Billings will receive $15,000.
• Music in the Mountains 2026 in Big Sky will receive $24,500.
• The Norman Maclean Literary Festival in Missoula, Ronan and Seeley Lake will receive $25,000.
• The Plevna Jamboree in Plevna will receive $3,900.
• The Red Ants Pants Music Festival in White Sulphur Springs will receive $25,000.
• The Red Lodge Winter Bash in Red Lodge will receive $25,000.
• Rhythm and Roam in Hamilton will receive $25,000.
• The Roar and Explore Dino Day, Youth and Family Paleo Program in Malta will receive $2,800.
• Rock'n on the Corner in Prairie County in Terry will receive $13,490.
• The Rotary Club of Townsend Fall Fest in Townsend will receive $25,000.
• Smeltermen’s Day in Anaconda will receive $10,200.
• Symphony Under the Stars: ICONS II in Helena will receive $25,000.
• Terror in the Cellhouse in Deer Lodge will receive $10,282.12.
• The Virginia City Gold Strike Art Show and Auction in Virginia City will receive $19,650.
• The Whitefish Songwriter Festival in Whitefish will receive $25,000.
• The Yellowstone Rendezvous Race in West Yellowstone will receive $6,617.

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