The Montana Folk Festival is an annual outdoor summer event in Butte, Southwest Montana, that features over 200 acts by the nation’s best performers. The festival has six stages with continuous live performances for three days by over 20 groups. There is also a dance pavilion where participatory dancing is available. The Family Area has a stage with performances targeted for children of various ages. The Montana Folklife Area showcases music and dance of nations populating the state. Two Marketplaces and the Festival Food Courts with over 30 booths provide opportunities for shopping and trying out various delicious foods. The event attracts about 175,000 people every year.
The Montana Folk Festival is held in one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the U.S. The town of Butte is surrounded by beautiful Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest with lots of options for hiking and other activities. Camping is offered not far from the festival grounds. The Original Stage of the festival has a panoramic view of the mountains, and the historic Original Mineyard, a former underground copper mine.
Montana Folk Festival dates back to 1934 when the National Folk Festival was held for the first time in St. Louis. It is the oldest festival of traditional music and dance in the U.S. that was promoted by Eleonor Roosevelt. The festival has a diverse lineup that includes everything: from blues to cajun music and bluegrass. It features musicians like Eddie Cotton Jr., David Davis and the Warrior River Boys, Gerardo Contino y Los Habaneros, Kyle Huval and the Dixie Ramblers, Felipe Hostins, and Cora Harvey Armstrong.
