County Fair Guide

Western Montana Fair

Missoula, Montana

📅

2026 Dates

Jul 31 – Aug 8, 2026

Duration

9 days

👥

Size

large

🕰

Founded

Since 1879

By the Numbers

Missoula's Western Montana Fair set an attendance record of 150,000 in 2023, a 33% jump from the year before, according to a City of Missoula report. Running since 1879, it's one of the state's oldest fairs.

Source: NBC Montana

Highlights

Expect livestock judging, 4-H and FFA competitions, carnival rides, major grandstand entertainment, local food vendors, and the vibrant university town community spirit of western Montana's cultural hub.

Western Montana Fair Overview

Held annually in Missoula, the Western Montana Fair is a nine-day August celebration in the Garden City at the confluence of five valleys, drawing large crowds from western Montana's university and outdoor recreation community. First held in 1879, it's carried on as a Montana agricultural tradition for well over a hundred years.

Good to Know

Missoula is one of the West's premier outdoor recreation and arts cities — the University of Montana, the Clark Fork River, and access to four national forests and Glacier National Park are extraordinary.

Heading to Western Montana Fair?

Our complete packing list covers what actually makes a difference — sun protection, footwear, and the small things people forget until they need them.

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