Enjoy a wide variet of festivities
throughout the year in Central Montana

Lewistown is the star of Montana, not only because of its central location and beautifully contrasting geography, but because of its unique way of weaving together varying cultures.

Predominantly an agricultural community, Lewistown has also carved out a place in the state’s performing arts festivities.

First there is the long-time celebrated Cowboy Poetry Gathering which with every passing year increases in numbers and talent, calling poets from throughout North America.

Then there are the traditional Community Concerts offered to area residents throughout the year along with performances from The Dance Syndicate, Hobson’s eccentric community theater famously known as “The Garage Theater” and original theatrical groups “The Spring Creek Players” and "Main Street Stage Productions." The Big Spring Bluegrass Festival offers yet another cultural experience in the local area. And through the cooperation of area churches, the Easter and Christmas seasons are highlighted with drama through annual cantata performances.

For those wanting to learn more about the rich history of the Lewistown area, tours are available from a husband-and-wife team dressed to the hilt in period costume. And one can't really get a feel for Central Montana until they have experienced the annual Chokecherry Festival, Utica Days and What the Hay contest held each year during the weekend after Labor Day.

Central Montana’s Cowboy Poetry Gathering will celebrate its 15th year as the oldest state cowboy gathering held in the nation.

Attracting poets from Canada and throughout the United States, the gathering provides the perfect backdrop for poets to tell stories, experiences and dreams using the creative medium of poetry.

Sponsored by the Lewistown Area Chamber of Commerce, the gathering has only one criteria – the material has to be cowboy centered.

People also have the opportunity to listen to live performances of Western music and bid on Western art.

There are musical and poetry sessions offered every hour all day long. People also have the opportunity to browse through the art and gear show at the centermark at the Yogo Inn.

“If you’ve never attended one of these gatherings before then it’s a must do,” said J.R. Strand, executive director of the Lewistown Area Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering that will take place in Lewistown, call Strand at (406) 538-5436.

The Garage Theatre was founded in August 1998 from the combined efforts of area residents Sarah Stevenson and Lisa Carman, both who have extensive professional musical theater backgrounds.

Recognizing a need for an avenue where local talent could be shared, Stevenson and Carman embarked on setting a great theatrical precedence in Central Montana.

The Garage has been a huge success among area artists and performers, as well as the public.

Stevenson and Carman are excited about the theater’s future and invite anyone who may be interested in performing, attending or making a donation to the theater to call (406) 423-5690.

Community Concerts have proven to be a long-time tradition in many of America’s towns and cities.

Capitalizing on some of the world’s talented musicians, dancers, instrumentalists, actors and philanthropists, Lewistown’s Community Concert Association has always provided the area with quality live entertainment.

Through the community concerts, area audiences are able to experience arts and the theater without having to travel to theater’s of the east and west coasts.

Tickets for the community concerts are sold annually and must be purchased in order to attend the events.

All performances will be held at the Fergus Center for the Performing Arts at the Fergus High School located on Casino Creek Drive.

Memberships can be purchased from the Lewistown Community Concert Association at 140 Carroll Trail.

For more information about Lewistown’s community concerts call (406) 538-9367 or (406) 538-3654.

Syndicate Productions, Inc. and Dance Syndicate is synonymous with style, grace and entertainment!

Home to the Dance Syndicate, Syndicate Productions, Inc. is located at 115 W. Main in downtown Lewistown (shhh, it’s the building where you can here all the laughing and toe-tapping fun).

Owner Janet Luciano brings several years’ professional dance experience to the heart of Montana as she teaches people of all ages the joy of dance and the celebration of the arts.

A non-profit organization, Syndicate Productions, Inc. provides arts and entertainment for the surrounding communities through education and, most importantly, through personal experience.

Focusing primarily on the youth and the developmentally disabled, Syndicate Productions is always looking to a year filled with performances.

Through music, dance, theater classes, workshops, summer camps, school tours and productions, Syndicate Productions hopes to provide a window beyond rural America into the world of the arts.

For more information about performances or how to sign up for a class, call (406) 538-3028. You can call this number to get performance dates and times.

The Spring Creek Players is a Lewistown-based theatrical group that was formed during the summer of 1998.

Specializing in melo-drama and western entertainment, The Spring Creek Players writes and produces all their material.

Originally started as an effort to attract people to downtown Main Street business, The Spring Creek Players was nothing less than a soaring success during its premiere season. Expanding at break-neck speed, The Spring Creek Players has in excess of 20 full-time members with a core group of approximately 12 performers.

During its first summer, every Friday afternoon The Spring Creek Players performed for audiences in the park behind Eagles Manor.

Riding the wave of their first two year’s success, The Spring Creek Players are again planning on writing, producing and performing another summer entertainment theater which will run from June through August.

For more information about The Spring Creek Players call Sarah Baxter at (406) 538-6408 or Carol Woolsey at (406) 538-8132.

Main Street Stage Productions debuted in 1999 during Lewistown's year-long centennial celebration with productions of "The Luck O' the Irish," a musical variety show presented on St. Patrick's Day, and "Centennial Story," an original musical telling the entertaining story of Lewistown's incorporation. Written by local playwright Mary Kay Stickroth, Centennial Story brought together a cast and crew of local talent ranging from school-aged to retired.

Co-founded by Stickroth and director Judy Byrne, Main Street Stage Productions is dedicated to the establishment of a permanent community theater in Lewistown. They provide entertainment to organizations such as conventions and tour groups and also offer a sound system for rent, including wireless microphones.

Whether it's a Wild West Show or contemporary performing arts, Main Street Stage Productions is interested in fulfilling local entertainment and sound system needs. For more information, call (406) 423-5461 or (405) 538-8838.

Want to enjoy some good ‘ol strummin’ and pickin’ - and best of all - listenin’ under the beautiful Central Montana sky? Then you’ll want to attend the Second Annual Big Spring Bluegrass Festival set for Sunday, July 2 at the Central Montana Fairgrounds.

Some of the nation’s top bluegrass bands will perform in the picnic grove behind the trade center. This “feel good” music is bound to lift your spirits and a talented line-up of musicians will have toes tapping along as they make magic on their fiddles, guitars, mandolins and banjos.

The festival includes a free bluegrass-playing workshop for musicians of all levels, as well as a host of arts, crafts and food vendors. Whether it’s a barbecued burger, Mexican food or fry bread, there’s something to tempt everyone’s taste buds - guaranteed!

The event was first held in July 1999 as a fundraiser for the Central Montana Foundation and Medical Center Foundation. Because of a lack of manpower, the reins have been handed down to the Montana Hope Project, a non-profit group of officers with the Montana Highway Patrol whose mission is to grant wishes of terminally or chronically ill children.

For more information about the festival, call (405) 538-HOPE.

Representing Capt. L. L. Williams Productions, husband-and-wife team Richard and Mary Kay Stickroth provide an entertaining tour of historic Lewistown. Dressed in period costume, the Stickroths combine facts with anecdotes about interesting characters and places from Lewistown's past.

The tour includes the top of the hill overlooking the unique landscape surrounding Lewistown; historic Main Street, where many of the original buildings still stand; and the Silk Stocking District, where the early civic leaders resided. A stop at the Lewistown Art Center, featuring local and regional artists, adds the final touch to the entertaining and informative tour.

A professional storyteller, Richard brings years of experience in historic interpretation. Portraying a miner or mountain man, he peppers Mary Kay's narration with humorous tales of the Old West.

For more information about Stickroths' historic tours, contact Capt. L. L. Williams Productions at (406) 423-5461 or via e-mail at rytngal@hotmail.com.

The weekend after Labor Day is cause to celebrate in Central Montana as the area hosts three events packed with fun and entertainment. First is the Lewistown Chokecherry Festival, a day-long celebration of the lowly Chokecherry including tons of good food, arts and crafts, talent performances and competitive events.

The excitement shifts to Utica the following day where Utica Days plays host to more arts, crafts and food vendors and local talent.

And rounding out the weekend is an event whose popularity is known across the country. Held in conjunction with Utica Days, the What the Hay contest features possibly the most creative uses ever seen for a bale of hay.

Locals of all ages take part in the fun, stacking, sculpting, molding and painting their bales into miniature works of art in an effort to out-do their neighbors. The finished products can be viewed along the "bale trail" for several days following the big event - a "must see" display for everyone visiting the area.

For more information about the Chokecherry Festival, call the Lewistown Area Chamber of Commerce at (406) 538-5436. For more information about Utica Days, contact the Utica Women's Club at (406) 423-5542. To find out more about the What the Hay contest, call the Utica Rod & Gun Club at (406) 423-5400.