Bigfork, Mont., readies for summer fun

The village of Bigfork in northwest Montana is known for fine art, great food and theatre. So it’s no wonder that the spring and summer event calendar is full of opportunities to sample great food, visit galleries and meet the artists and take in a musical or two. Add in the fact that Bigfork is located on Flathead Lake surrounded by millions of acres of national forest and wild lands and is only a half hour from Glacier National Park, and you have a recreational combination that can’t be beat. The community began the summer season with the ever-popular Taste of Bigfork on April 26, where 20 restaurants and eateries offered samples of their cuisine in a fundraising benefit. May brings the cherry blossoms and a summer-long celebration of the 50th season of the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. Musicals on tap for this year include “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Seussical the Musical,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” and “The Wiz.” The season opens with the comedy “Smokey Joe’s Café.” Many of the summer playhouse alumni performers will return to Bigfork for a 50th reunion celebration Aug. 12-16. Mothers Day weekend is made more special as the Village invites everyone to Celebrate the Arts. Village art galleries will be open for the Spring Art Walk from 3-7 p.m. and merchants will offer specials throughout the weekend. The summer season officially opens with the 33rd Annual Whitewater Festival featuring kayak races down the famous Wild Mile of the Swan River. And thanks to weekly water releases every Wednesday in July and August kayakers can enjoy whitewater on the Swan River’s Class IV Wild Mile throughout the summer. Other noteworthy summer events include an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration with parade, children’s events, duck races and a golf tournament. The 31st annual Festival of the Arts brings fine art, food, fun and entertainment to the streets of downtown Bigfork during the first weekend of August. And to close out the summer season, the Second Annual Rumble by the Bay Car Show is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For additional information about these and all summer events contact the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce at 406-837-5888 or visit www.bigfork.org