Where do we even start? As it turns out, you’re in the right place. We have all the best in outdoor events, festivals, music every which way, and everything to see & do all over Missoula and Western Montana this August summer Thursday thru Sunday. It’s all here with The MUG’s Weekend PICKS!

It’s time to float! Take advantage of UM’s FREE UDash River Shuttle Service to get to the Clark Fork River Access points in Missoula at Sha-Ron and Milltown through August.

Downtown ToNight featuring the Missoula Makers Collective Market, food trucks and live music at Caras Park in Downtown Missoula 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm Thursday Nights thru August (live music starts at 5:30 pm). Tonight’s featured live music is Red Light Challenge.

Missoula Art Museum’s Celebration of the Summer Teen Art Project culminating with the unveiling of a stunning 14′ x 10′ public mural honoring the state’s ecosystem heroes – bison, beavers, and prairie dogs at Missoula Art Park 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm Thursday.

Join Garden City Harvest for the 2025 Farm Party with unforgettable summer evening of farm-fresh flavor, local music by Mudslide Charley and the Joan Zen Band, and community joy—all at the height of the harvest season at 5:30 pm Thursday at PEAS Farm in Missoula.

Singer-songwriter Zach Aaron blends timeless authenticity with a rugged edge 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday at Bitter Root Brewing in Hamilton.

Join the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation and wildlife artist James Corwin at Corwin Galleries in Hamilton for a special evening from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Thursday, celebrating Montana’s newest license plate.

Scrapetown, the latest bluegrass group assembled by brothers John and Billy Parker, performs live at Missoula’s Longstaff House at 7:00 pm Thursday.

Fetch a beverage, settle in, and test your canine knowledge at Dog Days of Summer Trivia Night 8:00 pm Thursday at the Union Club in Downtown Missoula.

Bring your instrument, request a tune, and Jazz Jam with the S&H Elephant Gerald house band, The JIVE from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm Thursday at Stave & Hoop in Downtown Missoula.

Daisy Chain Fest 2025 will be held on Friday and Saturday around Downtown Missoula at Zootown Arts Community Center, plus Ole Beck VFW Post 209, The American Legion, and a block party on 4th Street at The Hip Strip.

20 Grand and Roots Uprising share a double bill at the Northern Lights Saloon in Polebridge 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday.

The Mighty Travis Yost returns to serenade you before beholding the magnificent sunset from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday at Missoula’s Ten Spoon Vineyard + Winery.

Catch Nick Spear performing live 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm Friday, August 15 at the Gunsight Saloon in Columbia Falls.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Trunk Show Production at MCT brings cheeky comedy to MCT’s Missoula stage with performances at 7:00 pm Friday and Saturday.

Songwriters in the Round returns with Band of Drifters at 7:00 pm to 10:00 on Friday night before the Philipsburg Concert & Auction at Winninghoff Park.

The Whitefish Summer Concert Series delivers The Music of Motown – a Tribute Concert at Whitefish Theatre Co. at 8:00 pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Not spooky, but kinda fun and kooky with your favorite flying mammals – drive up for Bat Night at Lolo Pass Visitor Center Friday from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

The summer farmers’ market season is in full swing, including Orchard Homes in Missoula, Anaconda, Columbia Falls and Ronan on Thursday, Polson and Saint Ignatius on Friday, and all the ones in Downtown Missoula, Hamilton, Kalispell, Stevensville, Arlee, and Hot Springs on Saturday morning. On Sunday, there are farmers markets in Seeley Lake, Columbia Falls and Ronan to check out.

The MUG’s Western Montana Summer Farmers Markets guide is ready to help – save the link and get around to all of ’em over the remaining weeks of the season.

Channel your inner Scots-person at the 16th Annual Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Saturday and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday at the Daly Mansion in Hamilton.

As a bonus, the Harp Twins + Volfgang Twins will be performing together at the Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering at the Daly Mansion in Hamilton at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm Saturday; and at 11:00 am Sunday.

Bring your furry family friends (and kids, too) to the 20th Annual Missoula Pet Fest at Caras Park in Downtown Missoula 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday.

The 15th Annual Philipsburg Summer Concert and Charity Auction returns 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday at Winninghoff Park Amphitheatre.

The 2nd Annual Bubblegum x Daisy Chain Fest Block Party & Street Market at Flippers Casino & Tavern on Missoula’s Hip Strip is happening 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, August 16 with live bands from Noon til 4:00 pm.

The metal gods will be smiling upon Missoula this weekend as 96.3 The Blaze presents Totfest 2025 – The Pacific Northwest’s Premier Heavy Metal & Tater Tot Festival at Missoula’s Dark Horse Bar and Sunrise Saloon starting at 1:00 pm Saturday.

The annual Great Bear Festival community fundraiser will be in the O’Shaugnessy Outdoor Amphitheater at Wachholz College Center on the FVCC campus in Kalispell 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday with live music by the Mike Murray Duo at 6:00 pm.

Hot Lolo Nights – Classic Cars Show & Shine Gathering will heat it up at Lolo Hot Springs Resort 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Saturday.

Enjoy Mudslide Charley on Philipsburg Brewing’s outdoor stage at The Springs 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday.

Missoula’s Ten Spoon Vineyard + Winery provides the perfect setting before the sunset to enjoy The Queens & Mr. G with their all-strings covers of classic pop songs from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday.

Midland are bringing cowboy country to Scout + Gather in Columbia Falls 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm Saturday with Mackenzie Carpenter and Archertown.

Missoula’s Draught Works Brewery hosts live music with Tom Susanj at 7:00 pm Saturday.

Billy Strings stops in Missoula in Dahlberg Arena as part of his 2025 Summer Tour at Adams Event Center on the UM Campus at 7:30 pm Saturday.

Justin Harris and The Pocket Aces will be rockin’ the ‘billy at Kelly’s Casino in Bigfork 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm Saturday.

Is it just us, or does it seem like there’s a lot of metal in the water this weekend? Loin Hammer – “Before the Beginning” Album Release Party with Anoxic goes down at the Kalispell VFW Post 2252 from 10:00 pm to closing time Saturday.

For those whose nerves need soothing, the Missoula Symphony has their annual free concert highlighting “From Vienna to The Beatles” (which is also a fundraiser for the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, downtown in Caras Park 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm Sunday.

We have around 90 live music events listed for the weekend – take your pick! It’s the peak of summer patio season now. You can’t go wrong with seeking out all the excellent rooftop bars and outdoor patios to soak in this fantastic summer Montana weather.

No matter what direction you wanna get outta town, you can’t go wrong. Lots of summer weekend activities and events are happening not only around Missoula, but all the way up the Flathead and the Bitterroot valleys, east to Phillipsburg and Anaconda, and out west past Alberton. If you’re headed up to Whitefish and Glacier, there are some outstanding pit stops to make along the way.

Get out & enjoy our locally-owned bars & restaurants with Montana grown / made food and beverages – they need your business! Try a new local brew! Support our local artists and vendors at the area markets. Take the family for a brisk outdoor hike – all the trails are waiting. Conditions are perfect just about everywhere for mountain biking. Summer fishing and floating is at its peak. Catch a classic movie screening or a stand-up comedy night. Stretch that big brain at one of the local trivia nights. Sing your favorite karaoke song, or catch a live music show. Enjoy safely and responsibly.

Please confirm event details at the source before you go. Last minute changes are common, especially due to weather and holidays. With each event listing, we try to include a web page or event link with more information you can check for changes.

“People take pictures of the Summer, just in case someone thought they had missed it, and to proved that it really existed.”
– Ray Davies

Do you have a Western Montana event coming up that you would like to have included on The MUG? Click HERE to submit your event!

THURSDAY, August 14

FRIDAY, August 15

- Advertise w/The MUG -

SATURDAY, August 16

SUNDAY, August 17

- Advertise w/The MUG -

Please confirm event details at the source before you go. Last minute changes are common, especially due to holidays and weather. With each event listing, we try to include a web page or event link with more information you can check for changes.

Do you have a Western Montana event you would like to have included on The MUG? Click HERE to submit your event!

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