Whitefish Trail Hootenanny time
Depot Park during the Whitefish Trail Hootenany in 2023. (Photo provided by Cynthia Ingelfinger)
The annual Whitefish Trail Hootenanny, a celebration of the Whitefish Trail and local conservation lands is coming to Depot Park on Friday, Aug. 23. The festivities will run from 5 - 9:30 p.m. and include live music, activities for kids, food trucks, local craft beer and a raffle. All ages are welcome and participants are encouraged to walk or ride their bikes to the event. All proceeds of the event, organized by Whitefish Legacy Partners, directly benefit the Whitefish Trail.
“The Hootenanny brings the community together at the end of a busy summer to celebrate the Whitefish Trail and our local open lands,” said Whitefish Legacy Partners Director of Development Cynthia Ingelfinger. “It combines music, community and fundraising for a great cause.”
Three live bands will take the stage, including well-known, local contemporary country performers Badger Hound at 5:30 p.m., Flathead Valley's own 10-piece funk powerhouse 20 Grand at 7 p.m., and Them Coulee Boys, an Americana band that blends folk, punk, bluegrass and rock & roll will round out the night.
Separate tickets are required for the after-party at the Great Northern Bar & Grill will be $20 in advance and $25 at the gate, with kids 12 and under free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.whitefishlegacy.org or in person at Glacier Cyclery & Nordic, Sportsman & Ski Haus Whitefish, and in front of Blackstar Brewery on Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 4-7 p.m. The after-party doors open at 8:30 p.m. with 20 Grand playing at 10:30 p.m.
The fundraising event is made possible by title sponsor First Interstate Bank and event sponsors BNSF Railway, IV Element, Glacier Restaurant Group, Malmquist Construction, National Parks Realty, and Edward Jones Financial Advisor Joel Pemberton. Music is sponsored by The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Great Northern Bar and Grill, and 101 Central. Kids’ activities are sponsored by the Whitefish Bike Retreat and Stumptown Art Studio, and Company. Food trucks and local craft beer, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic beer and other beverages will be available for purchase.