2007 Visitor's Guide

The annual Park County Fair gets better every year. While agriculture is still a large part of classic Montana fairs, this year’s Park County gathering - the 60th - carries a bunch of events that have both rural and city influences.

The fair begins Wednesday, Aug. 6 and runs through Saturday, Aug. 9.

It has something for everyone, every day and night, with dozens of 4-H, FFA and open class exhibits, a pig wrestling contest, a 4-H/FFA rodeo, food, arts, crafts, entertainment and much more.

Back at the fair this year is the popular Lou’s Petting Zoo for children.

Again this year is IGX interactive gaming, the Sundown Showdown, a cherry pit spitting contest and lots of live music.

On Sunday, Aug. 10, at 1 p.m., there will be a demolition derby.

Youngsters try to grab money off a rampaging calf during a Park County Fair event

For many Park County families, the fair is one of the biggest events of the year.

Entry day for 4-H is Wednesday, Aug. 6 and for open events it’s Thursday, Aug 7. Hundreds of county residents bring their livestock, produce, flowers, artwork and other entries to be judged.

The 55th annual 4-H and FFA rodeo is scheduled for the main arena Wednesday evening at 6.

Behind all the attractions are the 4-H, FFA and open class activities, and competition barns filled with the youths’ animals, which are shown and judged.

Thursday evening the popular Ringling Five and other musical acts will entertain fairgoers.

The youngsters’ steers, lambs and pigs are sold to the highest bidder at the annual 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction, which will take place Friday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. Other made-in 4-H crafts will be auctioned off at this time.

Commercial vendors will bring their latest technologies on water softeners, home furnishing, computers, horse trailers, farm and ranch equipment and a host of other items to show at the main exhibit building and display areas around the fairgrounds.

A 4-H contestant gets ready to show her sheep at the fair.

Saturday evening at 7:30, calcutta betting will start, and then at 8 the rodeo arena will be made into a muddy mess for the famous, and always well-attended, 21st annual Shields Valley FFA Pig Wrestling Contest.

The Park County Team Roping Classic will be held at the fairgrounds rodeo arena July 26 and 27.

The event, usually held on one night, has been expanded to cover parts of two days, and organizers are expecting the best teams from the region to compete.

The Wild West Carnival will be set up with eight to 10 rides and fun-filled inflatables for all four days.

And all along, the 4-H kitchen will churn out delicious food, and “fair-type” food will be available near the main exhibit building.

In addition, there will be food contests aplenty.

For the first time within memory, there will be no entrance fee this year to the main fairgrounds.

For more information, write to the Park County Fair, Box 146, Livingston MT 59047, or call (406) 222-4185.

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When you start to feel that nip in the air and the summer sun starts to set a little earlier each day, then the annual Old Settlers Days festival must be near.

The small town of Clyde Park, a farming and ranching community 21 miles north of Livingston on U.S. Highway 89, hosts the celebration, which includes a parade, foot races, arts and crafts show, barbecue, dance, talent show, and fun and games for all.

This year marks the 33nd annual Old Settlers Days.

The two-day festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14 in the scenic Shields Valley town, which has a population of about 335.

While the final schedule for the event-packed weekend is not yet available, the following is a rough outline of activities:

On Saturday morning, a firefighter’s breakfast will be held at 7 a.m., followed by a flea market, arts and crafts sale, and a quilt show. Then, at 11 a.m., the Old Settlers parade draws a crowd with clowns, horse-drawn carts, floats and music.

At noon, the annual ice cream social is usually held at the town’s United Methodist Church, with concessions and lunch there and at the local Catholic Church.

Several games will be sponsored throughout the afternoon. For the adults and children, there will be a variety of activities, including a talent show.

Also on Saturday, a beef barbecue is usually held in the evening. To cap off the first day, there will be an evening dance for everyone. Usually held in the community center, the dance will run from about 9 p.m. to late into the night or early the next morning.

The Old Settlers Run will take place Sunday. The race will feature 2-mile and 6-mile runs. Walkers are also encouraged join. Participants in the event must be registered by 8:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. start.

Also, some years on Sunday morning, a plastic duck race is held on the Shields River. Sunday at noon there will be a community potluck picnic, at which the parade grand marshals will be honored and prizes given away.

The famous Cowchip Bingo event is often held early Sunday afternoon.

For more information call 686-4409.

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The city of Livingston is sponsoring the ninth annual Summerfest Along the Yellowstone River on July 18, 19 and 20 in Sacajawea Park.

The three-day outdoor celebration of summer and Livingston’s beautiful park by the Yellowstone River features live music, competitive and recreational games, free swimming at the city pool, and lots of great food, beverages, and arts and crafts. Motor vehicle traffic in the park will be restricted to make it easier and safer for families to wander among events and vendors.

There will be cold drinks and foods of all kinds from an assortment of local vendors.

The live music will be as varied as the food, so whether you’re into country, blues and boogie, or rock or bluegrass - this is the place to be.

The headliner act scheduled for this year is The Kingston Trio. Local bands, including The Max, Montana Rose, Ringling 5, The Fossils, The Shuffle Bums and Savage Creek will also play. Also featured will be Montana Tunesmith, The Bop-A-Dips, Blackwater and the gospel/light Christian rock band Glass Lane.

Children can explore their own creative talents throughout the weekend with children’s craft activities.

A doubles tennis tournament runs Friday and Saturday, and possibly Sunday, and the annual hoop shoot contest always proves great fun for all ages.

There will also be a classic and old car show all three days.
Admission to Summerfest is $10 Friday and Saturday, and $15 on Sunday, with children under 9 admitted free.

A three-day pass is $20 for adults and $5 for children 9-12.

Enjoy the sights, music and delicious food and fun Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All proceeds from the event help support Livingston’s Recreation Department.

For more information about Summerfest, call the Recreation Department at 222-8155 or 222-1142, or visit the Web site www.livingstonsummerfest.com.

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Grab a fiddle, add a banjo or two and a guitar, and you have all it takes to make some of the best music anywher

At the annual Fiddlers Picnic in Livingston, some of the best fiddlers, banjo pickers and guitar players from around the country gather early August for three days and two nights of nonstop music and camping.

The Fiddlers Picnic is set to get under way the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 1, when the musicians start arriving. The festivities will continue throughout Saturday and Sunday - but Saturday night, Aug. 2, is when the fun hits its peak.

The music continues on into the wee hours of the night until the last of the musicians are too tired to play. Then they get up again Sunday, pick up their instruments, and start all over.

The event tapers off Sunday afternoon as people pack up their guitars, fiddles, camping gear and head back home.

The music they play is called old-time fiddle music - a unique form of American music that has been around for generations. They also play bluegrass and country western. Sometimes, if the moods strikes them, someone will burst into song.

Musicians from all over Montana, around the county and even some from overseas show up to play.

The event will be held this year on property owned by Candis and David Payne at 5230 U.S. Highway 89 South.

The gathering, one of the largest get-togethers of fiddlers in the state, has been held annually for the past 34 years.

This summer, several hundred people are expected to attend the event, as musicians and their families travel from far and wide.

Last year, including spectators, more than 500 people made their way to the event to relax and enjoy the music.

“It’s straight playing - no competition - and no stress connected with it,” original organizer Doc Allison said.

Performances are impromptu and everyone shares stories and skills.

he musicians get together and play in dozens of small groups. The music from the different groups often mingles together, and when several are playing, it becomes a challenge to decide which group to listen to.

Often, those who can’t play instruments pick up a set of spoons, tap their feet, clap their hands or dance.

Many local musicians attend the event, along with state and regional champions. Sometimes, former national champion fiddle players participate, too.

The public is always invited to come to the Fiddlers Picnic.

The event will take place at 5230 U.S. Highway 89 South in Livingston across the highway from the Firehouse 5 Playhouse and next to the Gallatin National Forest Service Livingston Ranger District.

For more information call David and Candis Payne at (406) 442- 5637.

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Following are key events planned for Gardiner during the coming tourist season. Some of the information was provided by the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce:

June 7

Gardiner will be the place to be for Yellowstone Days.

On hand for the celebration will be one of the historic Yellowstone National Park Yellow Buses. The low-slung buses, from the 1936 until 1950s era, have been refurbished and returned to Yellowstone last year.

Gardiner will celebrate Yellowstone Days with arts and crafts, lots of live music and a film festival.

Also on tap are tons of lick-smacking good food, a 5K fun run or walk, and the popular beer garden.

Most of the events of the fun-filled day will take place in Arch Park, next to the historic Roosevelt Arch.

The old Yellow Buses, rendered obsolete by the rise of the family car, were brought back last summer so visitors can tour the park like their parents and grandparents under the guidance of a knowledgeable driver. Tours start early in June, with prices varying for each of the many tours the open-topped buses make.

June 13 and 14

The Gardiner NRA Rodeo will be held at the Jim Duffy Arena on U.S. Highway 89, just north of town.

The rodeo starts at 6 p.m. each evening. Slack time will start at noon Friday. Slack is free for the public to watch.

The rodeo entrance fee is $6 per adults and $3 for children 6 to 12. Children 5 and under may attend the rodeo for free.

The Gardiner Community Center is planning a dance Friday night after the rodeo.

A rodeo parade is planned for Saturday afternoon. Call the Gardiner Chamber at (406) 848-7971 for the exact time of the parade.

The parade goes from the Gardiner School down Park Street to U.S. Highway 89 and ends at the Gardiner Rodeo Grounds.

Concessions will be sponsored by the Gardiner Chamber.

August 29-31

The fifth annual Yellowstone Music Festival and Art Show will be held most of the day in Arch Park.

Visitor’s are more than welcome to enjoy a day of music, dancing, and fine foods and refreshments.

September 27

The ninth annual Brewfest is scheduled for Sept. 27. This event consists of live music, micro brews from several regional breweries, and a concession stand serving burgers, brats, hot dogs and drinks.

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