Weekend Events Guide

Billings hosts its annual summer street fair this weekend with events running from 10 a.m. Saturday through 6 p.m. Sunday along Montana Avenue.

Global news of shipping disruptions and distant conflicts has left many residents looking for local ways to spend time outdoors with neighbors rather than following hourly updates. City data shows a 22 percent rise in downtown foot traffic during similar July weekends last year, when organizers added extra food stalls and seating along the avenue.

The fair centers on the 100 block of Montana Avenue in the historic district, where vendors set up starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. A separate music stage operates at the Billings Depot on 1st Avenue North from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. both days, featuring regional bands booked through the Downtown Billings Partnership.

Market and music lineup

Saturday draws focus to the Montana Avenue stretch between 27th and 29th Streets, with more than 80 craft and produce booths. Sunday shifts emphasis to family programming at the same site, including a 2 p.m. children’s art workshop run by the Yellowstone Art Museum staff. Entry to the fair grounds remains free, though individual food items start at $6 and concert wristbands cost $12 in advance.

Attendance at last year’s comparable event reached 4,800 people across the two days, according to city permit records. Organizers expect similar numbers this weekend and have added extra portable restrooms near the Depot stage.

Practical details

Parking fills quickly on Montana Avenue by mid-morning, so attendees should consider the free shuttle that runs every 15 minutes from the MetraPark lot on 6th Avenue North. The partnership website lists any last-minute changes due to weather.

Residents planning to attend should arrive early for prime seating at the Depot stage and check the partnership calendar for any updates posted by Friday evening.