FRIDAY | AUGUST 9

FREE Admission, All Day, Every Day

Thanks to the generosity of Western Montana Fair sponsors, come and go at your leisure several times a day, every day, no charge. Click here for tips and guidelines on how to maximize your visits including where to park on the newly renovated Fairgrounds.

Ride to the Fair Day

Ride to the Fair Day is Friday, August 9 presented by Missoula in Motion, Free Cycles and Mountain Line. Bike or bus to the Fair on August 9 and get $5 in Fair Food bucks. Available for the first 150 people.

Missoula in Motion will be offering free bike valet from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free Cycles will be teaching ways to tune up your bike from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Please bike/walk through the South Ave. entrance (Fair Way) and receive all these perks on Ride to the Fair Day.

FREE Lasso the Moon Activities, All Day, Friday

Lasso the Moon this year at the Western Montana Fair with FREE activities focused on The science, math and cutting edge technologies that are shaping our TOMORROW, today:

Join OPEN AIR for drawing and other paper crafts! This nonprofit organization connects artists with culturally and ecologically significant locations in Montana through its Artist-in-Residence program. They provide innovative opportunities for artists to draw inspiration from diverse landscapes while fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship. (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along Vendor’s Row)

Get ready to race with the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA! Dive into the action with Scouts, all while fulfilling the organization's mission to prepare the youth of America for life's challenges with character-building experiences and leadership skills. Use Legos to create custom pinewood derby cars and race to the finish on the pinewood derby track! (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along Vendor’s Row)

Join the GIRL SCOUTS OF MONTANA AND WYOMING in their mission to empower girls with a variety of fun STEM activities! Dive into exciting experiences at the mobile STEM Learning Center, where girls can explore 3D printing, drones, robotics, virtual reality, coding, microbiology, space science, and more. Promoting courage, confidence, and character, they shape young women into future leaders who strive to make the world a better place, one adventure at a time. (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along Vendor’s Row)

Stop by to see as VRTX GYM teams up with SPECIAL OLYMPICS MONTANA athletes for a fun, interactive demonstration on their Fit 5 class!  The Fit 5 class is based on 3 simple goals--exercising 5 days per week, eating 5 total fruits and vegetables per day, and drinking 5 bottles of water per day.  Come enjoy the inspiration of having fun through exercise! (4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Historic Plaza)

Join ANIMEALS for a purr-fectly delightful activity session! AniMeals offers a safe haven and essential services to approximately 400 cats and kittens annually. Dedicated to addressing pet food insecurity, they distribute over 6.4 tons of food through their community food bank. Embrace the joy of giving back by joining their workshop on crafting cat enrichment toys and cultivating catnip for shelter cats, like creating a wand toy or planting catnip for some kitty relaxation. (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along Vendor’s Row)

Discover the secrets of rocket mass heaters, stoves, permaculture, and more at WHEATON LABS! This Missoula property is dedicated to homesteading and permaculture practices, showcasing their expertise for all to learn from and enjoy. View live demonstrations of yarn spinning, knitting, garment-making, and a rocket device! (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along Vendor’s Row)

Join ALPINE ARTISANS for an informative booth showcasing some talents of over 200 artists within their organization! As they unite to capture the unique energy and spirit of natural Montana, their mission is to promote and preserve the arts in the Seeley, Swan, and Blackfoot valleys of Western Montana. Discover how they support artists, provide arts education, and foster outreach and information sharing. Don't miss out on learning more about the Norman Maclean Festival and other exciting upcoming events. (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along Vendor’s Row)

Get excited about local farming with the ORCHARD HOMES FARMERS MARKET! Discover the fascinating stories behind local farmers, makers, bakers, and more from the Orchard Homes area. Dive into their practices, goals, handcrafted goods, and the rich history of their involvement with the market. This is a chance to get informed and inspired by other passionate people in the Missoula County area. Don't miss out—get the farmer's market on your radar! (11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fairway Plaza)

Get ready to dance, dance, dance with MISSOULA FOLKLORE SOCIETY and MARK MATTHEWS! Supported by HUMANITIES MONTANA, this event is a participatory dance for any community members to enjoy and learn a new skill. Get active and start dancing! (12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Historic Plaza)

Friday’s Shows, Exhibits & Events

11AM

Exhibit halls, fair, and fair office opens

12PM

Participatory Dance with Missoula Folklore Society with caller Mark Matthews (Humanities Montana Speaker’s Program) (Historic Plaza)

Carnival Opens (Carnival Lot)

Butterfly House & Insectarium Opens - viewable by RESERVATION ONLY (register online here) (G.W. Marks Exploration Center)

1PM

Participatory Dance with Missoula Folklore Society with caller Mark Matthews (Humanities Montana Speaker’s Program) (Historic Plaza)

1:30PM

Predator Feeding (G.W. Marks Exploration Center, Balsam Root Rm.)

Eat the Moon - Charcuterie Cheese Boards (G.W. Marks Exploration Center, Honeyberry Rm.)

2PM

Mushroom Identification Presentation with Garden City Fungi (Historic Plaza)

2:30PM

Soil Health Basics (G.W. Marks Exploration Center, Balsam Root Rm.)

Public Garden Tour (Rocky Mountain Gardens)

3PM

Science Demonstration by Garon G. Wiz (Historic Plaza)

3:30PM

Food Policy Advisory Board & Missoula Community Food Assessment (G.W. Marks Exploration Center, Balsam Root Rm.)

Eat the Moon - Cheese Fondue (G.W. Marks Exploration Center, Honeyberry Rm.)

Public Garden Tour (Rocky Mountain Gardens)

4PM

Basketball Demonstration by the Missoula Diamondbacks Special Olympics Team & VRTX Gym (Historic Plaza)

4:30PM

Predator Feeding (G.W. Marks Exploration Center, Balsam Root Rm.)

Public Garden Tour (Rocky Mountain Gardens)

5PM

Oumar Keita & Friends West African Dance Demonstration (Historic Plaza)

Container Wars — Houseplants (Fairway Plaza)

5:30PM

Gates open for Missoula Stampede Rodeo (Clouse Bauer Arena)

7PM

Butterfly House & Insectarium Closes (Reservation required - register online here) (G.W. Marks Exploration Center)

Parade of Champions hosted by Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply for the Missoula Stampede Rodeo presented by Epic Steel (Clouse Bauer Arena)

9PM

FREE Live Music by The Dead and Down (Fairway Plaza)

10PM

Buildings, barns, and carnival close