FishFest welcomes summer with shopping and festivities

The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce is hosting the third annual FishFest, a community event promoting shopping and local businesses, on Saturday, May 17. 

The day begins with the WAVE’s Whitefish Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 5K at 8 a.m. With over 1,300 runners registered in 2024, the race will be sure to pack the streets. 

The FishFest features a shopper's crawl with sales and prizes. Shoppers who collect 10 stamps from any of the 15-plus participating businesses can enter a raffle to win prizes. Stamp cards can be picked up at any business and no purchase is required to collect a stamp when visiting a business. Cawdrey Gallery is hosting the final stop and collecting the filled stamp cards. Participants can get a free fish fine art print and enter into a raffle for bigger prizes. There will also be free scoops at Clydesdale Creamery.  

There is an inaugural Baker block party hosted in the American Bank parking lot from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., with a live DJ, Clydesdales, face painting, games, ax throwing and treats.  

There will be a chance to get hands on and creative with fish block printing at Stumptown Art Studio. It will be a fun activity for all ages to make a keepsake.  

There are several other patio parties and food trucks downtown throughout the day, including at Revel Real Estate, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., and into the evening at Craggy Range, where there will be a summer kick-off party with live music from 2 - 9 p.m. featuring Michael Boucher, Miller Campbell and Tomara. Drink specials include $2 PBR Tallboys and $6 pints from Bias Brewing. 

At Slow Burn Records, Joel Welle, “The Flathead Dude,” will perform songs and tell stories, with guitar and vocal backing by Dusty Mane. The free performance, with a suggested donation of $5, will be from 2 - 3 p.m. 

For more information call the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce at (406) 862-3501or visit: business.whitefishchamber.org/events