Billings is always alive with some kind of event or activity. And once the festival season gets underway properly there’s ample opportunity to find events related to all aspects of Montana, with the addition of Billings’ distinct flavors.
Often referred to as Montana’s Trailhead, Billings is renowned for outdoor recreation. This can be noted from the city’s easy trail and river access, along with its proximity to the mountains.
These are aspects that undoubtedly feature in many of the events and festivals in Billings that occur throughout the year. And yet the thriving downtown urban scene also brings its fair share of unique, family-friendly, and often free events to the table year-round.
So whether you’re looking for the arts, the outdoors, culture from the past and present, music, food, sports, or some other form of live entertainment while in Montana, events in Billings are sure to please.
Top Events in Billings, Montana
St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celtic Fair – March
More than 40 years down the line this popular and free annual event in Billings still sees the downtown area go all Celtic. The festivities are based around a Celtic Fair Street Party which occurs between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm and includes an annual parade, which typically kicks off at 11.00 am.
The parade is free and features around 50 floats amidst a sea of green and food trucks with live traditional music, dancing, and much more.
Montana State University (MSU) Pow Wow – April
Catch this free local event at the Billings branch of the MSU every year to see the celebrations of tribes from around the state and beyond.
Typically held across the first 2 days of April, this means two days of song, dance, and Native American culture and tradition.
Wine & Food Festival – May
This annual event organized by the MSU-Billings Foundation has become something of a staple in the community. This one’s not a free event by any measure, yet wine and food aficionados have been showing up in numbers at this ticketed event for 3 decades or more now.
Typically occurring around May 12-14, the event kicks off on Thursday with the first array of exquisite wines at the Winemaster Symposium.
The fun and flavors continue the following day with wine pairings at the MetraPark Pavillion, and then there’s more food and wine tasting on Friday night.
All of this easily blurs into the culmination of the main event on Saturday night which includes a gourmet dinner, entertainment, and various auctions.
SpringFest at Moss Mansion – June
SpringFest is a free outdoor festival held at the historic Moss Mansion in Billings. The event features music and entertainment from regional artists along with dozens of art and craft makers showcasing handcrafted jewelry and accessories, leather goods, sculptures, paintings, pottery, and plenty more.
Visitors can expect art and craft demonstrations, including plenty of activities for kids, making this event fun for the whole family. There’ll also be plenty of food options including specialty booths.
The SpringFest is held to benefit the Moss Mansion Historic House Museum and is thus hosted on the facility’s lawn. Booths at the event typically open at 9 am, and the show winds down at about 4 pm.
The museum continues to operate tours of the mansion at regular admission prices from 10 am onwards.