Summer in Montana means fair season. Most counties hold a fair each year, and many communities build their summer calendar around it.
What happens at a fair
- 4-H and FFA: young people show livestock and exhibit projects, and market-animal sales help fund their education.
- Open-class exhibits: baking, quilting, gardening, photography and more.
- Rodeos and grandstand events, carnival rides and food booths.
The big ones
The Montana State Fair is held in Great Falls each summer. Large regional fairs include MontanaFair in Billings and the Northwest Montana Fair in Kalispell.
Planning a visit
Dates, ticket prices and schedules change every year. Check each fair’s official website or the county extension office. MSU Extension county offices are also the place to start if your family wants to join 4-H.
For more background, see our explainers on Montana agriculture by the numbers, what Montana’s public libraries offer, and Montana’s tribal nations. Find more stories in our Community section.
Sources
- Montana State Fair: https://www.goexpopark.com/
- MSU Extension, Montana 4-H: https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/
- MontanaFair (Billings): https://www.montanafair.com/
- Northwest Montana Fair (Kalispell): https://www.nwmtfair.com/