Big Sky Artisan Festival

Join us for the 2023 Big Sky Artisan Festival on Saturday, July 22nd, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Len Hill Park, located in the Big Sky Town Center. The festival features a wide variety of artistic mediums, such as painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, and other fine handmade products. Food and drink vendors will also be on site.

The Big Sky Artisan Festival is a celebration of fine artisans and craftspeople in beautiful Big Sky, Montana. A gateway town to Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky is a popular tourist destination. It offers world-class fly fishing, amazing hiking and outdoor recreation, fine dining and shopping, and the renowned Big Sky Resort. Aside from being a recreational hub, Big Sky has become a center of arts and culture in Southwest Montana.

The income generated from artist fees and donations during the Artisan Festival help us sustain our art education programs!

NEW THIS YEAR!

Stage Performances

To create an authentic festival vibe and to celebrate other forms of art and culture, four 30-minute performances will be performed throughout the day at the Big Sky Artisan Festival! The culturally-rich dynamics brought to the stage will showcase a diverse range of talent and artistic means.

We are excited for performances by:

African Student Association Dance Showcase - Get ready to embark on a vibrant cultural journey as the African Students Association (ASA) at MSU presents an extraordinary African dance expose! Join us for an exhilarating celebration of African culture as we strive to educate and promote a deeper understanding of the diverse traditions and customs that make up the African continent.
Country Line Dancers - Get ready to kick up your heels and embrace the spirit of country music and dance with Western Roots! Join us for an exciting evening of high-energy fun as we present a beginners' Line and Swing Dance course that will have you swinging and twirling on the dance floor in no time.
Sizzling Salsa - This talented group of Latinos will provide dance lessons and a lively performance while teaching the crowd about traditional Latin dances such as Salsa, Merengue, Cha-Cha, and Bachata.
Leo Davis - Prepare to be transported to a time long ago as Leo Davis, a respected Blackfeet tribesman, takes center stage to share the captivating story of Big Sky and its rich history. Through the art of storytelling and son, Leo Davis will paint a vivid picture of the land's past, unveiling its deep connection to the Blackfeet tribe and their ancestral traditions. Adding to the experience, Leo Davis will also present a unique opportunity to own a remarkable piece of history. A bear robe, meticulously crafted with deep cultural significance, will be available for auction. This sacred item represents the rich heritage of the Blackfeet tribe and serves as a testament to their reverence for nature and the spiritual connection to the land.

Artist Raffle

The Artisan Festival serves as a fundraiser for the Arts Council of Big Sky's Art Education programs. We offer numerous Art Education programs in our community and at our BASE Art Studio, where we host year-round pottery courses, kid's ARTventure classes, specialty workshops, and community art classes. What makes us unique is that we are the only art education program in Montana to offer a Contribute-What-You-Can fee for all of our classes, making art education accessible for all.

Many Artisans participating in this year’s Festival have generously opted to donate pieces of their work so that we can fundraise further for our Education program! We will be packaging art pieces together for four different raffles throughout the day.

Tickets are $5 each and available for purchase at the info booth. Winners will be announced at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Beer & Mimosa Garden

To add to the fun of the Festival, we’re opening a beer and mimosa garden from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.! All proceeds from the beer garden go towards funding the live performances on the stage fit into the Festival’s schedule.

Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Mimosas and Beer will be served for $6. Limit 3 drinks per person! IDs checked at the Garden Entrance.

Festival Schedule

9 a.m. - Festival is open to the public
10 a.m. - Food trucks and beer/mimosa garden opens
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Performance by the African Student Association
11 a.m. - Round 1 raffle winners announced
12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Performance by the American Indian Council: Blackfoot Storytelling and Song
12:30 p.m. - Round 2 raffle winners announced
1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.- Performance by Sizzling Salsas and Dance History
2 p. m. - Round 3 raffle winners announced
3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Country Line Dancing performance
3:30 p.m. - Round 4 raffle winners announced
5 p.m. - Festival ends