Top Events in Missoula, Montana | Summer 2025 Guide
Experience Missoula summer 2025 with top events like Zootown Festival, Western Montana Fair, Marathon Weekend & free Symphony in the Park concerts!
Zootown Festival
A brand-new music & adventure festival at the Missoula County Fairgrounds on July 4–5, 2025 headlined by Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, and more—a true party with excursions and camping options.
Missoula PaddleHeads Baseball Games
Starting their season around May 20 with promotional themed nights, family-friendly entertainment, and regular games through the summer months.
“Missoula Among Top 5 Cities in America with Highest Sports Participation Rates.”
Missoula Symphony in the Park
The Missoula Symphony’s Symphony in the Park returns to Caras Park on August 17, 2025, offering a free, family-friendly evening under the stars—beginning with food trucks, an instrument petting zoo, and entertainment from 5–7 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. concert featuring Strauss waltzes, a Beatles medley, and more.
ZooTown ArtsFest
Celebrating local artists with 150+ booths at UM’s Oval on June 7–8, featuring crafts, painting, woodworking + more.
Missoula Marathon Weekend
The Missoula Marathon Weekend is a three-day running celebration held June 27–29, 2025 in Missoula—featuring events like the Tony Banovich 5K, Kids Marathon, half‑marathon, full marathon (Boston‑qualifying, flat and scenic), a festive expo, post‑race party, and community-focused activities woven into the fabric of town life.
“Best Race-cations: Missoula, Marathon”
KidsFest in Caras Park
The annual Kids Fest in Missoula is a free summertime celebration held at Caras Park featuring carnival games, arts and crafts, interactive booths, raffle prizes, live entertainment, and family-friendly fun that delights both kids and the young at heart.
Western Montana Fair & Rodeo
Runs August 5–10 with free daily admission, featuring livestock shows, carnival rides, live music, the PRCA Stampede Rodeo and Xtreme Bulls competitions, and family-friendly community events.
River City Roots Festival
The 19th annual River City Roots Festival hits Downtown Missoula on August 22–23, 2025, offering two days of free live music, a fine‑art show, kid‑friendly events, a community 4‑mile Roots Run, and local food vendors in the heart of the city.
“Missoula Among 15 Most Underrated U.S. Cities Worth a Visit.”
Missoula Funk Festival
The annual Missoula Funk Fest brings a vibrant, donation-based funk celebration to Silver Park on July 3, 2025, with live local bands, vinyl DJs, food trucks, yard games, beverages, and a laid-back community groove atmosphere.
Recurring Events in Summer 2025
downtown tonight and maker’s market
Free family event. Enjoy live music, food vendors, a beer garden and activities for kids. Thursdays 5:30pm-8:30pm. June - August. Caras Park, Downtown Missoula.
“Missoula, Montana: Best Farmers Market 2022”
first friday
Browse downtown galleries, museums and businesses to see new exhibits and the latest creations of local artists. First Friday of the month 5-8 p.m. Downtown Missoula.
Missoula Outdoor Cinema
Watch beloved children’s movies, quirky independent films and cult classics on a huge screen under the stars. Sunset Fridays July - August. Headstart School, corner of Worden Ave. and Phillips Ave.
Out To lunch
Montana’s longest running festival features live music and over 20 food vendors. Wednesdays 11-2pm. June - August. Caras Park, Downtown Missoula.
Summer Band Concerts
The Missoula City Band plays free weekly summer concerts at Bonner Park. Wednesdays 8pm, late June - late August. Bonner Park, corner of Ronald Ave. and Hastings St. University District.
ten spoon vineyard and winery wine tastings
Taste award-winning wines, enjoy live music and bring a full picnic basket! Children and well-behaved dogs welcome. Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays 4-9 p.m. April - October. Ten Spoon Vineyard.
Whether you're visiting for the music, the rodeo, a marathon, or just the magic of Missoula’s vibrant events, the real hidden gem lies just 25 minutes away at The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins. Nestled in peaceful forest surroundings, our off-grid, pet-friendly cabins offer the perfect balance of adventure and tranquility—complete with stargazing nights, a one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt, and the kind of digital detox your soul has been craving. After soaking up the city’s energy, come home to nature, breathe deep, and let the forest work its magic.
Step Back in Time: Visiting Garnet Ghost Town Near The Hohnstead
Discover Garnet Ghost Town, Montana’s best-preserved mining town just 40 minutes from The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins. Explore historic buildings, enjoy scenic mountain views, and bring your pup for a pet-friendly day trip into the past.
Did you know Montana’s best-preserved ghost town is just a short, scenic drive from your cabin?
If you’re staying at The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins, you’re already soaking in the quiet magic of Montana’s forests—but did you know that just down the road is one of the state’s most fascinating historical gems? Garnet Ghost Town, nestled in the mountains of western Montana, is a must-visit for history lovers, hikers, photographers, and curious travelers alike.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting this unforgettable piece of the past.
What is Garnet Ghost Town?
Garnet was a booming gold-mining town in the 1890s, once home to over 1,000 people. But when the gold ran out, so did the miners—and by the 1940s, Garnet was mostly abandoned. Today, it stands as Montana’s best-preserved ghost town, with original log cabins, saloons, and general stores still standing in eerie, beautiful silence.
Wander through more than 30 historic buildings and imagine life in a frontier town, surrounded by nothing but mountains and trees.
How to Get There from The Hohnstead
The drive to Garnet Ghost Town is part of the adventure. It’s located about 40 minutes from The Hohnstead, with forested roads and scenic views the whole way.
From Montana Route 200: Turn south at the Garnet Range Road located between mile markers 22 and 23, about 30 miles east of Missoula. Follow the Range Road for approximately 11 miles to Garnet where the parking area is located.
Note: The last few miles of road are gravel and seasonal. It’s best visited May–October (and 4WD is helpful in spring or fall). Always check road conditions before heading out.
Why It’s a Great Day Trip from The Hohnstead
Easy to pair with a half-day hike or picnic
Dog-friendly! Leashed pets are welcome to explore with you
Offers a break from total solitude without venturing into a big town
Great for photographers, families, and history buffs
Cool temperatures and forest shade make it enjoyable even in summer
Easy pairing with a trip to the lakes (Holland, Seeley, Inez, Rainy, Salmon, or Placid Lakes with kayaks or Sup available for rent from The Hohnstead).
“Named one of America’s coolest ghost towns by
Travel + Leisure”
What to Do at Garnet
Take a self-guided tour through the preserved buildings
Play guessing games (inside the main building as well as at the Visitor Center) to see what old objects were used for
Visit the Garnet Visitor Center (summer only) for maps, info, and souvenirs
Explore nearby trails like the Warren Park Trail, Sierra Mine Loop Trail, or Placer Trail
Attend seasonal events like guided history walks or ghost tours (check ahead). Check Garnet's Facebook page for more.
Bring a picnic and enjoy lunch in the designated picnic areas
Admission is subject to change, but it was $10 during our last visit in Summer 2024. Bring cash!
Return to Comfort at The Hohnstead
After a day of walking dusty trails and peeking into the past, come back to your private glamping cabin to relax, stargaze, and unwind. Maybe even tell a ghost story or two around the fire...
Whether you're into Montana history or just looking for a unique side adventure, Garnet Ghost Town is the perfect local gem to explore during your stay.
Plan Your Stay
After exploring the rugged history of Garnet Ghost Town just 40 minutes from The Hohnstead, come home to our peaceful, pet-friendly glamping cabins nestled in the forest—where you can unwind off-grid, enjoy stargazing under Montana’s clear skies, and recharge with our adventurous scavenger hunt. Make your day trip even more memorable by ending it surrounded by nature’s calm and comfort at The Hohnstead.
Explore Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in The Wild in Lincoln, Montana
Do you enjoy art and being outdoors? Then you'll love Blackfoot Pathways Sculpture In The Wild in Lincoln, Montana a 26 acre peaceful forested museum under the open skies.
If you had 20 acres in rural Montana and wanted to somehow unite international artists under one mission, how would you do it?
Welcome to Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in The Wild in Lincoln, Montana, where rich cultural, environmental and industrial heritage of the Blackfoot Valley is celebrated through contemporary artworks by various artists in residency in about 3 weeks time.
Located about one hour away from The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins and 1.5 hours from Missoula, Montana, Sculptures in The Wild is a wonderful, pet-friendly (on the leash) and free park, where you can take a walk, have a picnic, and enjoy the works of over a dozen international artists who created various sculptures made of natural and industrial materials.
26 acres of forested land have been allotted for this artistic endeavor and every time I’ve visited, it has been so peaceful and serene, with very little human traffic, making me feel like the place was built just for me.
You’re able to explore the space on your own time, walking in any direction on easy to traverese trails.
There are maps in the beginning to guide you in the direction of specific sculptures, but I prefer to let mystery and curiosity guide me every time I go.
Some of the artists include Jaakko Pernu (Finland), Jorn Ronnau (Denmark), Steven Siegel (USA), Chris Drury (UK) and Patrick Dougherty (USA). Since Sculptures in The Wild is a residency program with an annual changeover, you’re likely to see some new pieces of art regularly.
For me, one of my favorites is called Hill and Valley by Steven Siegel from USA. His art work has been there since 2014 and it’s still an impressive site - 30,000 pounds of newspaper, 400 pounds of nails, and 28 pine lodge poles.
It just makes me ask one question: How?
There are no specific open hours, just dawn to dusk, my favorite time was during Golden Hour.
So go ahead, grab your pet and some picnic lunch, and check off this Top 15 Places To Road trip as named by Sixt Magazine in 2023.
If you enjoy the peaceful nature of Sculptures in The Wild, you’ll definitely enjoy staying at The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins, about one hour away in Bonner, Montana. We’ve got 5 cozy, peaceful cabins for you and your pet to enjoy and if you’re an artist yourself, ask us about our own Artist Fellowship Program.
