One of Stevensville’s premier summer festivals has been scheduled for June 25th and 26th. Last year the festival was cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19. This year organizers will be taking some precautions to make sure that people can attend safely.
The signature event of the festival is the Ned Larson Memorial Chuck Wagon Cook-off. Wagons come from throughout the west to compete in preparing a full-course meal over an open fire. The meal is judged and then meals are offered for sale to the public. The Cook-off will take place at Priest Park, on the west side of town at the end of Ravalli Street. On Friday night, there will be a teen cooking competition. The Chuck Wagon Cook-off is made possible this year in part through a grant from the Montana Beef Council.
Another great event is the family-friendly street dance on E. Third in front of the Stevensville Hotel. This year Annalisa Rose, a valley favorite originally from Stevensville, is coming in from Nashville to do the evening show. There will be a beer garden, food vendors and bounce houses and other entertainment for the kids.
Other fun events include the expanded farmers market and craft sale, pony rides, and sidewalk sales. Stevensville Western Heritage Days coincides with the 50-Mile Garage Sale which also brings in thousands of people to the valley.
Stevensville Western Heritage Days is hosted by the Bitterroot Star with Project 59870 as the sponsoring non-profit organization. The event is paid for through business sponsorships. All proceeds will go to the Kids Backpack Programs at Stevensville and Lone Rock Schools. The Kids Backpack Program provides backpacks full of food for children experiencing food insecurity to make it through the weekends. In 2019, the Bitterroot Star was able to donate $5500 to the backpack program.
Vendor information can be found at www.bitterrootstar.com, click on Western Heritage Days. For sponsor information contact Liz Cook at 880-2007. For more information about the event, contact Victoria at 207-8793.