Local Events in Lewistown MT

Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Rendezvous

For more than 30 years western musicians, cowboy poets, artists, and vendors from Canada, local surrounding states, and of course Montana, gather to share in the oral history of the Rocky Mountain cowboy. His way of life is celebrated through poetry and western style music. The event occurs each August and it runs for four days in Lewistown to keep alive and promote the memory of the American cowboy heritage.

The Chokecherry Festival

On the first Saturday after Labor Day each year, Lewistown celebrates the coming of fall with the annual Chokecherry Festival. The chokecherry itself is a dark red/purple fruit with a very bitter taste and a fairly large pit in the middle. Chokecherries thrive throughout the state of Montana and are used for making numerous jellies, jams, syrup, and even wine. On Chokecherry Festival day, the Main Street of Lewistown is blocked from traffic and hundreds of artist, vendors, and craft booths line the entire Main Street. The fitness-minded can participate in the 5K and 10K run. And everyone can have fun at the chokecherry Pit Spitting Contest. Experience the Lewistown and Central Montana hospitality and enjoy the baked goods, fresh garden vegetables, raffles, and more. It’s even a great time to get some early holiday shopping done with the many unique gifts that are available.

Metis Celebration

The Metis were some of the earliest settlers in Central Montana right before Lewistown was formed. Each Labor Day weekend, this Native American culture is celebrated with singers, dancers, and native crafters from the US and Canada. This annual Pow Wow is located at the Fergus County Fairgrounds and anyone can attend. Expect to see native dance, storytelling, contests, games, and cultural explanations.

Montana Winter Fair

This annual local Lewistown event helps Montanans escape the bleak winter months with some lively community activity. Originally located in Bozeman Montana, the Winter Fair has been a tradition since 1947 and ran continuously until 2002 in Bozeman. After the final Bozeman event, Central Montana’s fair board began to sponsor the event. Located at the Fergus County Fairgrounds, and other locations in Lewistown, the fair includes food and vendors, chili, and baked goods competitions, a home-brewed beer competition, along with the youth livestock and agricultural displays and shows.

Central Montana Rodeo

When you are in Central Montana you cannot miss the fact that you are in cowboy country. And where there are Cowboys there are rodeos. Check your calendar for the Roy Rodeo in June hosted each year on Father’s Day weekend and features all of your classic rodeo events including bareback broncs, steer riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, and bull riding. Plan on being in Stanford in mid-July for two days of fun at the fairgrounds. Their stampede event includes an art auction, street dance, rodeo, music festival, and other events. Next, hurry over to the Central Montana Fair at the Fergus County Fairgrounds in Lewistown in late July, and watch talented rodeo competitors from this region compete in an event you will not soon forget. Be sure to enjoy the traditional rodeo along with the carnival and the numerous art displays, food vendors, and craft displays.

There are a lot of events in Lewistown and Central Montana. Whether you live here locally or are just visiting make sure you take advantage of these wonderful experiences for you and your family.