Montana’s longest-running open rodeo series, held weekly at the Blue Moon Arena in Columbia Falls. Rodeos typically run Thursday nights, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. and the rodeo starting at 7 p.m. Events include bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc, barrel racing, team roping and steer riding. The arena is at 167 Half Moon Road, behind the Blue Moon Nite Club.

The full 50-mile road over Logan Pass opens once plow crews finish clearing snow, and the park doesn’t announce an opening date in advance, so the date shown here is an estimate. Since 2010, the road has opened around June 26 on average, and as late as July 13. Vehicles over 21 feet long or 8 feet wide aren’t allowed between Avalanche Campground and Rising Sun, so plan to drive it in your tow vehicle or take the park shuttle.

A three-day country, Americana and bluegrass festival held each July at Big Mountain Ranch, a 350-acre working ranch just outside Whitefish. Music runs across two stages set in natural amphitheaters on the ranch, and a full rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing and bronc riding runs all weekend. The lineup mixes big-name headliners with up-and-coming acts and local Montana musicians. The festival is all ages, and many attendees stay in nearby Whitefish, Kalispell or Columbia Falls.

The biggest event in Columbia Falls, running Wednesday through Sunday in late July. The week includes a parade and carnival, a barn dance, a car show, a rodeo and three-on-three basketball. The best-known event is the wild horse drive, where cowboys run horses through town from Columbia Heights to the Blue Moon. There are also 5K and 10K races, a community concert, and arts, crafts and food vendors.

Whitefish’s annual arts festival, held over three days in early August at Depot Park downtown. More than 100 local artists and artisans bring their work, mostly from northwest Montana, with some from Oregon and Idaho. There’s food, live music from local musicians and activities for kids, and admission is free. Around town, Glacier Bank serves free huckleberry ice cream and the Moose Lodge hosts a huckleberry pancake breakfast.

Five days of fair at the Northwest Montana Fairgrounds in Kalispell in mid-August. It features three nights of PRCA rodeo, outdoor music, exhibits, carnival rides and fair food. The fair has been running for more than 100 years.