Community News

Check out these fabulous weekend events taking place in Southwest Montana from Friday, August 11th - Sunday, August 13th: ARTS Downtown Bozeman Art Walk-Fri at 6:00 pm. The Downtown Bozeman Association, Downtown Bozeman art galleries and retailers, and the Emerson Center for Art and Culture, are proud to present this summer's Downtown Bozeman Art Walks. The Art Walks occur on the 2nd Friday of the month, June through September, and again for our "Winter" Art Walk in December from 6 to 8PM in Downtown Bozeman. The businesses and galleries generally feature artists' openings and receptions during the event and often provide complimentary hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2vBAKYT

Madison Valley Arts Festival-Peter T's Park, Ennis-Sat at 10:00 am. Madison Valley Arts Festival at Peter T's Park in the center of Ennis on the historic trail between Yellowstone National Park and Virginia City. A wonderful park setting for this jam-packed, one-day showing of some of the regions most creative artists and artisans. Sculpture, pottery, paintings, jewelry, baskets...everything is unique.  The work is juried and carefully selected for this limited-space show. This year marks the 21st Annual Festival and features the skills of local and regional artists.  Arts association members work in many different media including basketry, painting, fiber, gourd art, jewelry, metal sculpture, multi-media, pottery, stained glass and photography. There is also live entertainment, food, book signings and an art raffle.  Join us in the park and wander our wonderful galleries and extensive collection of outdoor art throughout the town and on Main Street while you are here. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2fqNafE

Classical Music Festival: Big Sky Festival Orchestra-Big Sky Town Center-Sun at 5:00 pm. The final performance of the seventh annual Big Sky Classical Music Festival is a free performance from the Big Sky Festival Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Peter Bay of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and featuring players from various symphonies including the Utah, Austin, Great Falls, Bozeman, Missoula, Helena and Billings! Join us on the lawn in Town Center Park, bring a picnic or grab a bite from one of our food vendors, and enjoy an early evening of beautiful music. Also appearing with the orchestra are soloists Mary Elizabeth Bowden, trumpet, and Angella Ahn, violin. On the program will be Mozart's Symphony No. 31 in D Major; Hummel's Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major; Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending; and Schubert's Symphony No. 3 in D Major. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2uDEu7x

Rockin' the Rivers Music Festival-The Bridge, 1865 Highway 2, Cardwell-Fri-Sun. Listen to dozens of bands during Montana's favorite rock fest! Learn more: http://bit.ly/2vBQ7AF

Heart of the West Art Show and Auction-Best Western Grantree Inn-Fri-Sun at 10:00 am. Heart of the West Art Show & Auction is returning to the Grantree Inn in Bozeman. Featuring over 50 premier contemporary Western artists, live music, fun events, and an exciting live auction, it's shaping up to be the event of the season! Bring along your young art fans to watch working professional artists create masterpieces before your eyes at the Quick Draw Events! Have you ever been to a live auction? Come get your paddle and be prepared for the heart racing excitement and walk away with your favorite piece (or pieces). The Heart of the West Show gives Western art lovers a unique opportunity to meet and talk to their favorite artists while enjoying food, drinks, demonstrations and educational presentations. Attendees inevitably connect and bond over a shared love of fine art while supporting local, regional and national artists. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2wF0T5R

Brewery Follies-H. S. Gilbert Brewery-Fri-Sun at 4:00 pm & 8:00 pm. What is The Brewery Follies? It's an absurd, wacky, zany, fun-filled, contemporary comedy revue with music in a cabaret atmosphere that contains biting parody and naughty political/social satire. When you come to see The Brewery Follies be prepared to let your hair down and unburden yourself from the everyday world politically correct blues. Leave your uptightness at the door and get ready to have yourself a ball. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2u9VB4y

MISCELLANEOUS 7th Annual Agents of Hope Carnival-Bogert Park-Sat at 1:00 pm. Lending a hand to help combat neuromuscular disease, ERA Landmark Real Estate is hosting the MDA Agents of Hope Carnival. The community is invited to come play old-fashioned carnival games, win prizes, listen to music, enjoy food, and play on fun inflatable activities. Admission to the park is free and tickets will be sold to participate in the games and activities. All of the proceeds raised at the Carnival benefit the Montana Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Learn more: http://bit.ly/2vKl1q1

Gallatin Valley Farmers' Market-Gallatin County Fairgrounds-Sat at 9:00 am. The purpose of the Gallatin Valley Farmers' Market is to provide an opportunity and location for local vendors of homemade food, handmade crafts and locally grown produce to market, display and sell their goods to promote economic well-being and support the development of home-based businesses. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2tNDYVP

Family Matters: Bozeman's Historic African American Community-Beall Park Rec Center, 415 N. Bozeman-Fri at 10:00 am. The African American community in historic Bozeman is nearly invisible until you begin to examine the historic census records, newspaper accounts, and city directories. Only then do Bozeman's black citizens come into focus. One name leads to another and soon a tight knit and thriving African American community emerges during the late 19th century. Working as machinists, laborers, laundresses, housekeepers, and porters, Bozeman's Africa American people contributed to the building of our city through their labor, religious activity, child rearing, social clubs and community participation. Join us as we follow these founding families and uncover a history that has been silent for over a hundred years. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2qjzFiu

Gracious Gables: Bozeman's Historic Manors-The Story Mansion, 811 S. Willson-Sun at 10:00 am. Have you ever driven down Willson Avenue and wondered about the people who lived in those fine houses? Wonder no longer! Step back in time and discover the history of South Grand and South Willson Avenues with the Gracious Gables Tour. Learn about the upper class of early Bozeman, the lawyers, lawmakers, professors, doctors and businessmen, many of whom built their grand mansions on these two streets. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2qjzFiu

Ghosts of Bozeman's Past: Historic Sunset Hills Cemetery-Sunset Hills Cemetery-Sun at 4:00 pm. Set atop a peaceful overlook, Bozeman's historic Sunset Hills Cemetery offers a panoramic view of downtown while each evening's sunset reflects the nature of its quiet inhabitants. The early residents of Bozeman laid their love ones to rest in this sanctified ground overlooking the town that their toil and labor helped establish. Bozeman's early movers and shakers rest here along with others whose stories make up the town's historical narrative. Here you will find the Story family plot where Bozeman's most notorious resident, Nelson Story is laid to rest alongside his family. John Bozeman, the man for whom the town is name is interred there as well and that's an interesting story . . . Join us for a tour of Sunset Hills Cemetery and learn the fascinating history of early Bozeman. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2qjzFiu

Walking Tours: Downtown Bozeman-Soroptimist Park-Sat at 10:00 am & 1:00 pm. The past is a place you can go to experience a different world. Come with us on an adventure through time and see the past through new eyes. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2qjzFiu Walking Tour: Murders, Madams, & Mediums-Western Cafe-Sat at 7:00 pm. From horrific murders to notorious madams and mediums communicating with the spirit world, Bozeman's darker history comes to light in a walking tour designed to send a shiver up your spine.  Learn more: http://bit.ly/2qjzFiu

SPORTING EVENTS Gallatin Speedway Races-Gallatin Speedway, 2290 Tubb Rd, Belgrade-Fri at 7:35 pm. Gallatin Speedway was built in 1997 to replace the old Hub of the Valley Speedway which had been located near I-90 and was purchased by the State of Montana to put in a new interchange. Gallatin Speedway officially opened in May of 1998. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2w6UEs7

Bozeman Stampede Rodeo-Gallatin County Fairgrounds-Fri-Sat at 7:00 pm. The Bozeman Stampede is a non-profit rodeo that was started in 2010 by a handful of Bozemanites with the intention of bringing back a sanctioned rodeo to Bozeman for the first time in over 50 years.  Their goals... provide a fun community event that would benefit Bozeman business and community both culturally and economically, and raise money for quality local Ag groups.  The rodeo is a sanctioned under the PRCA. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2wEXZhi