BILLINGS, MT — Remember that feeling as a child when summer was winding down? Your parents would take you to one last town fair and, even while you were having fun, you could almost feel the season slipping away. When I learned the MontanaFair would be in Billings from August 8–16, that memory came rushing back. So I made a pact with myself: embrace my inner child and make it a point to visit.
This time, with no first-day-of-school jitters looming, I let myself cut loose a little (responsibly, of course). And with such a packed lineup of entertainment, it wasn’t hard to do.
On the big stages, headliners included rapper Flo Rida, comedian Gabriel Iglesias, and country stars Russell Dickerson and Niko Moon. The smaller stages kept the energy high with bands like Huckleberry Road, The Junebugs, and America’s Got Talent comedy–stunt performer Matt Baker. The fair closed in true Montana fashion with a PRCA pro rodeo at the brand-new outdoor arena at MetraPark.
Between the concerts and the cowboys were carnival rides, 4-H displays, local vendors serving up treats, and more. I didn’t make it to every single day, but over four evenings, I got just the right balance of music, food, rides, and rodeo.
Kicking it off Flo Rida style
If you’d told me I’d one day be at a Flo Rida concert in Montana, I wouldn’t have believed you. But that’s exactly what happened. Growing up, some of my favorite memories at school dances involved belting out his debut single Low with friends — shouting the famous line, “Apple Bottom jeans, boots with the fur!” It was a crowd favorite then, and it still was years later, as I stood with new friends on the floor of MetraPark Arena on August 8.
Flo Rida — born Tramar Lacel Dillard — proved to be a crowd pleaser. And by the end of the night, I was convinced we should be best friends.
Throughout the set, he pulled the audience in: inviting fans on stage, encouraging first-time concert-goers to dream big, thanking the crowd for showing up, and even stepping off stage to trade fist bumps (including one with me!).
By the time the lights came up, my cheeks ached from smiling and singing. For a few hours, I felt like a teenager again.
Midweek at the Fair: Agriculture, food, music, and games
After a music-filled weekend, I returned midweek to soak in a little bit of everything: food, agriculture, music, and carnival games.
Inside the exhibit halls, the 4-H projects immediately caught my eye. I loved seeing the winning baked goods, the table décor finalists, and displays that ranged from the art of tying a handmade fly to detailed presentations on horses.
In the barns, chicks were hatching, young cowboys and cowgirls showed their steers, and there were shows for dogs, sheep, alpacas, and llamas.
And then, of course, came the food — because what’s a fair without it? My first indulgence was a burger from Luscious Layers, a Billings food truck and two-time winner of the Best Burger Food Truck Battle on the Yellowstone. The bun was soft and steamed, the patty juicy with crisp caramelized edges. I ordered the little burger, and honestly could’ve eaten twenty.
Next stop: the Bourbon Chicken stand, owned by Patrick O’Brien of Great Falls. The scent of charcoal and the sizzle of the grill drew me in, and the skewer with jasmine rice was smoky, simple, and satisfying.
The food didn’t stop there. I tried corndogs, Indian tacos, and — the most surprising flavor combo — Mexican street corn from It’s Roasted, a Billings food truck run by Gabriel Espino and Celeste Rocha. I went for the Cheetos elote, topped with mayo, cotija cheese, hot Cheetos, and butter. It was crunchy, creamy, spicy, salty, tangy — basically, it hit every taste bud at once.
Both nights ended differently — one with carnival games, the other with live music as the sun set behind the fairgrounds.
Drawing the Fair to a Close with Rodeo Billings
MontanaFair saved its grand finale for the arena, wrapping up with Rodeo Billings at the brand-new MetraPark outdoor arena. On Thursday, Aug. 14, Governor Greg Gianforte cut the ribbon to officially open the facility — and from that moment on, the action never let up.
For three nights, the arena buzzed with PRCA rodeo as some of the sport’s best put on unforgettable performances. I caught the sold-out final night alongside some of my favorite Billings locals (pictured in the gallery below).
The highlight for me? Watching saddle bronc rider Sage Newman of Melstone, Mont. — ranked fifth in the world — set an arena record with an 88.5-point ride on Hell on Hooves. And that was just one moment. The night had it all: bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and, of course, bull riding.
When the arena lights dimmed, I wandered over to the carnival with friends and, after a little peer pressure, climbed onto the Zipper (yes, the ride that sounds like it’s about to break and whips you around in circles). I laughed until my stomach hurt and ended the night with powdered sugar on my fingers from a funnel cake.
From big-name headliners to local chefs, cowboys, cowgirls, and families just taking a break after a long week, MontanaFair felt like the whole community coming together to celebrate summer’s close. And it reminded me of something important: you’re never too old to channel your inner kid.
With love,
Abby Paige