Slide into Fall: Montana Fair Review

Montana Fair seems to consistently come in with the scorching hot rays of summer, and go out with the cool, crisp Saturday evening air as we literally and figuratively slide into fall here in Big Sky Country. Cotton candy, fresh squeezed lemonade, 4-H animals and the view of the cityscape from the top of the ferris wheel are just a few of the memories that keep my family coming back to Montana Fair in Billings each year. Apparently a lot of folks from the entire region feel the same way. According to Visit Billings, MontanaFair is the state’s biggest event attracting nearly a quarter of a million attendees each year.
5 star review. Pros: so much fun, so much to do. Cons: hot weather during the day.

My 5 MONTANA FAIR MUSTs

• You must take a walking tour of the sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, cows, steers, turkeys, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and roosters. Find a hard-working 4-H kid and ask them about their animal. These youngsters are dedicated. Some even camp out on the fair grounds for a week to care for their critters and at the very least spend long days cleaning the stalls and making sure their animals are comfortable in the summer heat and with all of the extra visitors. You may be surprised by how proud they are to speak about their animal, feeding it, grooming it, showing it, etc. As a 4-H and FFA kid myself, I often reflect on the core life values I learned from raising and showing a steer, a lamb and even learning to decorate cakes. Skills such as public speaking, showmanship, patience, respect for life, respect for others, winning and losing with grace. For a lot of these farm families, the money raised by selling their prize animals is banked away into a college fund setting the stage for life after 18. Often times the 4-H students offer to let my kids pet their animals and it is a memorable experience for everyone. My husband Andy even volunteers as a judge for the outstanding livestock exhibitor awards. Did I mention he is my Montana cowboy hubby who’s also an ag banker at First Interstate Bank? The bank supports our community and sponsors the award.

• You must take in The Mighty Thomas traveling Carnival. This company brings 40 years of thrilling experiences to town with rides such as the Ferris wheel, the zipper, the tornado, the whacky cowboy kids roller coaster, bouncy houses, the twister barn and so much more. Metra Park General Manager Bill Dutcher speaks highly of the safety and fun the Mighty Thomas carnival provides to the region. Watch Bill and Ray Massie’s interview with host Shoots Veis on Community 7 Television for more details including the great night shows. (18:45 Bill speaks specifically about carnival safety) Rides are relatively inexpensive with wristbands costing around $22. Daily promotions such as seniors’ day and veterans’ day allow specific groups to come in and save a little $. The value pass, $69, is a fantastic deal if you plan to go multiple days and take in the night shows. As Bill says, there’s no reason to pay full price at the fair! Find more info on pricing and options on Montana Fair’s website.

• You must indulge in vikings on a stick, fried oreos, fried snickers, fried cheese curds, funnel cakes, fresh squeezed lemonade, cotton candy, beignets, hot dogs, corn dogs, hamburgers. Enough said!

• You must cheer on the cowboys! From bucking broncs to Miss Montana riding around the arena…the rodeo is sure to make everyone smile, laugh and be on the edge of their seat the entire time. The rodeo is a laid back event for any age, and the outdoor arena is a perfect place to end a summer evening in Montana.

• You must make memories that last a lifetime. There’s just something about a sepia old time photo. I loved this as a kid, and I love even more taking a look at the photo below and reminiscing! This year, we made our own memories at the fair as the Parker outlaws. My oldest daughter Natalya picked out a duster and a pistol. I selected a saloon dress for myself and a proper dress for baby Victoria. Andy rounded out this rough bunch with his silk handkerchief and cowboy boots (the boots are actually his). This photo booth is Montana-owned and operated by a friendly gentleman named Larry who takes the photos himself. His booth is an award-winning booth taking home the fair’s best outside commercial vendor award in 2014. Larry had all kinds of tricks up his sleeve to keep the kids content and not smiling for the serious outlaw pose. It cost around $25-30 for an 8×10 print and we did pay a little extra to get the digital copy. There are less expensive options as well. The 15-minute experience in itself is just as special as the photo documentation for life.