Bozeman Events
If you are planning to visit Bozeman within the next calendar year, there are some events that would be worth planning your trip around. Montana is full of exciting festivals, fairs, shows and exhibitions, and these can provide an interesting and fulfilling counterpoint to any trip you might be taking.
If you enjoy cinema, then do not miss the Hatch Film Festival, which will take place this coming October 2nd-7th 2007. The location this year (this will be the fourth annual) will be in the charming downtown Bozeman area. The festival is dedicated to up-and-coming artists and will be showing screenings of ten groundbreaking films, a program of short films, ten feature films and a variety of concerts and musical ensembles. A closing ceremony and awards night will be hosted on the final night of the festival, a tribute to the artistic achievement of the participants. All of this is excellent, and a lot of fun, but if you are a true film buff, then you will appreciate the true purpose of the Hatch Film Festival: inspiration and mentorship of new film artists by experienced professionals. The true mission of the Hatch Film Festival is to bring the creative expression of a new generation of filmmakers to fruition.
If films aren’t your cup of tea, then perhaps a festival dedicated to other creative arts would be an alternative. Regardless, a stop by Bozeman during the days of August 3rd-5th 2007 would be a stop well made, as the annual Sweet Pea festival of the arts will be taking place. As a prelude to the festival, a Sweet Pea Ball takes place July 28th and a food festival called the Bite of Bozeman takes place on the first of August. Sweet Pea Festival of the arts involves a get together of makers of fine folk arts and crafts as well as dance, theatre, and music to help inspire and support the artistic community of Montana. With a multitude of crafts and art for sale, tons of great performances, and no shortage of great food to sample, the Sweet Pea Festival of the arts is a sure bet for just about anyone.
For connoisseurs with an experienced palette or those new to the complex and worthwhile world of wine, the Wine Classic celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the Museum of the Rockies by hosting a tasting of over 100 fine wines from around the country and light appetizers and deserts. The event will also feature a silent auction and the $150 price tag seems slim when you consider that every penny of the proceeds benefits the Museum of the Rockies. The event will take place on July 14th 2007 from 7-11pm – an excellent way to enjoy fine wines and food as well as show your support for the museum.
On a different note, those looking for some true, wild-west entertainment should be sure to drop by Bozeman during April 10-13th 2008 for a hang-on-to-your-hats event: the Montana State University Spring Rodeo. Competitors from colleges and universities around the country will be gathering in Bozeman to compete for the privilege to go on to the rodeo finals; this event will be a full on time, with food, music and of course, all the general rodeo events you would expect.
For more information on these events and for a detailed event calendar for Montana, visit http://travel.state.mt.us/ tripplanner/events/, where you can find out about all the exiting happenings in Bozeman this year.
