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Montana Concert Calendar & Spotify Playlists: Your Guide to Live Music Across the State
Montana’s music scene is alive and well — and we’re here to help you plan your nights out. Each month, we round up the biggest shows, intimate gigs, and can’t-miss events happening all across the state, from Missoula to Billings, Bozeman to Great Falls. To help you get ready, we’ve curated monthly Spotify playlists featuring tracks from artists performing across Montana. Whether you’re road-tripping to see your favorite band, discovering new talent at a cozy local bar, or jus


Montana Brewfests: May–July 2026
Garden City Brewfest – Missoula, Montana One of Montana’s most family-friendly brewfests, featuring 50+ beers and ciders, food trucks, and live music. Perfect for a spring afternoon with friends or family. Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026 Time: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Location: Caras Park, 123 Carousel Dr Helena Ales for Trails – Helena, Montana A unique tasting experience featuring limited-release, small batch, and experimental beers from Montana breweries. Expect everything from


We Asked, Hollie Batista Answered.
Hollie is a Montana-born artist hoping to make the type of clothing people want to pass down to younger generations. She was born in Great Falls, both of her parents were born in Great Falls, and both of their parents lived there for a long time before that. She has old UM Grizzly shirts her dad wore as a college student that she still wears today. She wants to create new clothing pieces that have a timeless look to them and will last for the next several generations of proud


Montana Race Guide: 5K, 10K, Half-Marathons, Marathons, Gravel Races, Trail Races, and More
Whether you're training for your first 5K or chasing a Boston qualifier, Montana's race calendar offers stunning courses, welcoming communities, and events that celebrate everything from winter's deep freeze to summer's long days. This comprehensive guide covers races across the state organized by season. SPRING RACES (March - May) MARCH Run to the Pub - Bozeman Mid-March | Half Marathon, 10K Voted #2 half marathon in the U.S. by Runner's World. Run for the Luck of It - Mi


Things to Do with Kids in Montana
Montana offers an incredible range of experiences that keep kids engaged, curious, and connected to the great outdoors. Whether you're raising kids in Montana or planning a family vacation, this guide will help you discover the best activities, attractions, and adventures across the state. Explore Montana’s Cities with Kids Montana's cities and towns each offer their own family fun. We've created comprehensive guides to help you discover the best activities in each region. Bi


Montana's Best Lifestyle Boutiques
Photo by Maria Ludvigson These aren't your typical gift shops. They're thoughtfully curated boutiques — the kind of places where design, craftsmanship, and local makers meet. Here's your guide to Montana's best destinations for elevated shopping and one-of-a-kind finds. Birdie Thatcher Tucked into Missoula's SoHi neighborhood, this home goods and lifestyle shop stocks an array of objects that feel carefully hand-selected rather than ordered from a catalog: European brands yo


Amber and Cassie Coburn Are Redefining What's Possible for Small Town Restaurants and Young Entrepreneurs
White Sulphur Springs, MT is not the kind of town where people expect to find craft cocktails, a speakeasy, a curated thrift store, a wine society, and a hospitality group with locations across Montana. And yet, that’s exactly what Cassie Coburn and Amber (Coburn) Updegrave have built here — two sisters who grew up in their mom’s restaurant, worked for tips through high school and college, and eventually built restaurants of their own. Amber and Cassie’s story is one that mak


Spring Break, Montana Style: Staycations & Road Trips for Families
Spring break doesn't have to mean airports and expensive theme parks. In Montana, families can trade the chaos for wide-open spaces, quiet cabins, and unforgettable road trips. And here's the secret: spring is actually one of the best times to explore the Treasure State. You'll find fewer crowds at popular destinations, shoulder-season pricing on lodging, and special moments you can't get any other time of year. Staycation Ideas for Families 1. Soak & Stay at a Montana Hot Sp


Best Brunch Spots in Missoula, Montana
Missoula does brunch right. Downtown spots put creative spins on breakfast classics while neighborhood favorites stick to comfort food fundamentals. Looking for fluffy pancakes, a solid Benedict, or a breakfast burrito to go? Here's where to eat. Cafe Mimosa 📍 101 S Higgins Ave, Missoula, MT 59802 | 🔗 cafemimosamt.com Bright, buzzy, and right in the heart of downtown with Miami vibes that somehow work perfectly in Montana. Their attention to detail is impressive — think fri


Hidden Bars and Secret Sips - Montana Speakeasies
In a state known for wide-open spaces and endless horizons, Montana has mastered the art of hiding something special. Tucked beneath restaurants, behind unmarked doors, down alleyways, and in the basements of historic buildings, Montana's speakeasies offer an escape from the everyday—a chance to step into another era where craft cocktails are poured with precision and atmosphere matters as much as the drinks themselves. 51 Below Speakeasy – Butte 📍51 West Park Street, Butte


Must-Try Montana Burgers
Montana isn't just home to some of the best beef in the country—it's home to some of the best burgers, too. From historic dive bars to modern burger bars pushing creative boundaries, the Treasure State has a burger scene that rivals anywhere in the nation. Whether you're a local looking for your next favorite spot or a visitor wanting to taste what Montana beef is all about, these seven burger joints are absolute must-visits. Missoula Club – Missoula 139 West Main Street, Mis


Hot Seat with Brandon Braaten & Josh Perkins
Brandon Braaten, a Stevensville insurance agent, built his career on trust and genuine care—values he shares with his husband, Josh Perkins, a local Realtor. From the agriculture classroom to building their own event venue, the couple has created a life centered on community and connection. They've poured their hearts into The Barn on Pine Hollow , their Bitterroot Valley event space, and Pine Hollow Ranch , their warm and welcoming Airbnb. Both ventures reflect the meaningfu


2026 Montana High School State Swimming: Meet the GFH & CMR Swimmers
The biggest weekend in Montana high school swimming is here! The 2026 MHSA State Swim Meet takes place in Great Falls, bringing together the top athletes from across the state to compete for championship titles. With months of training and hard-fought victories leading up to this moment, swimmers from Great Falls High and C.M. Russell High are ready to make a splash on the state’s biggest stage. Here’s a look at the swimmers representing Great Falls at this year’s state meet


Finding Balance in Bloom: Melissa Lafontaine of Earth Within Flowers
Photo by Jenna Nord Photography, www.jennanordphotography.com For the past decade, Melissa has been weaving Montana's wild beauty into her floral designs, one locally sourced stem at a time. From her studio in Missoula, she creates ethereal arrangements that mirror the landscape she loves, while her nonprofit work helps women and girls reconnect with the natural rhythms of their own bodies. Can you tell us about yourself and what led you to floral design? I've been working wi


Montana's Best Lighting Showrooms
Montana may be known for its wide-open spaces and natural beauty, but when it comes to illuminating your home with style and sophistication, the state boasts several exceptional luxury lighting destinations. From historic family-owned showrooms to cutting-edge design centers, these stores offer everything from rustic elegance to contemporary mountain aesthetics. Here's your guide to the best lighting stores across Montana's major cities. Western Montana Lighting A true Mon


The F.A.N. Show: How Richard Tieman Brings Monday Night Football Energy to Montana Sports
Richard Tieman has never met a microphone he didn't like. It's one of the first things he tells you about himself, delivered with the easy confidence of someone who's spent years performing. But the story of how a touring drummer from Spokane became the face of The F.A.N. Show —Great Falls' most recognizable sports coverage and the reason he was voted Best Entertainment for 2025—isn't the straightforward sports journalism tale you'd expect. The Musician Who Loved Sports Growi


Montana Holiday Guide: Celebrating the Season Across Big Sky Country
Montana does the holidays differently. There's something authentic about how we celebrate here—parades down Main Streets lit by thousands of lights, community gatherings where everyone actually knows each other, tree lightings that feel less like events and more like traditions. Whether you're in a bustling college town or a quiet mountain village, the holiday spirit feels genuine, unhurried, and deeply connected to the place. We've spent years exploring Montana's holiday cel


What to Pack When Visiting Montana: A Seasonal Guide
Because Montana weather doesn't follow anyone's rules but its own. Packing for Montana isn't like packing for most destinations. Our weather has a personality—unpredictable, dramatic, and capable of throwing four seasons at you in a single day. Whether you're visiting the rolling prairies around Great Falls, exploring Glacier National Park, or experiencing the mountain towns that dot our landscape, what you pack can make the difference between a magical trip and a miserable o


Montana on Canvas: Clay Pape’s Impressionistic West
Montana’s landscapes have inspired countless artists, but for Clay Pape, they are the very heart of his work. A Montana native, Clay’s art reflects a deep connection to the place he grew up—capturing the colors, textures, and moods of the American West in a way that feels both timeless and alive. Known for his impressionistic chalk pastel pieces, Clay creates work that invites viewers to pause, reflect, and experience a sense of place. We sat down with Clay to talk about how


How Laci Rathbun Turned Doing Good Into a Business at Donation Warehouse
I'm sitting outside Donation Warehouse in Missoula at 10 a.m. when I see Laci Rathbun turn the sign at the doorway from closed to open. When I walk in, Laci is already behind the counter. She sees me, smiles and immediately offers a tour which allows me access behind those "staff only" doorways. It gives me a peek into the inner workings of an impressive operation. Within minutes, I'm noticing things that don't match my assumptions about thrift stores. Why does this furnitur
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