Inaugural FishFest takes over downtown Whitefish

Downtown Whitefish is celebrating the first-ever FishFest, an experimental event put on by the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, May 20.

Spurring sales for downtown businesses between the closing of the ski hill and the start of summer is one reason for the FishFest, but according to the Whitefish Chamber Executive Director Kevin Gartland, the main reason is to celebrate locals supporting locals.

Gartland said the FishFest has grown from a sales event to a community-wide event that is family-friendly.

While the town used to experience decreases in the amount of business during spring and fall, recent growth in the area leveled the shoulder season for the past few years, making Whitefish a buzzing community year-round. Gartland says that has recently changed, again.

“We started noticing the shoulder seasons were becoming shoulder seasons again last fall as business would drop off,” Gartland said. “We are trying to bring more business at this time of year to our members and forward the housing mission at the same time.”

One part of the FishFest is “Run the Fish,” as The WAVE’s Whitefish Marathon kicks off the day with the marathon, half-marathon and 5K races beginning at 8 a.m.

Some restaurants and cafes will be open early for the start of the race and other downtown businesses were asked to do something special for the “Shop the Fish” element of the FishFest.

Over 30 businesses are participating, offering 20% off discounts, hosting giveaways and running other special promotions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Some businesses will have contests and raffles with all proceeds going to Housing Whitefish, which is a nonprofit organization with a mission is to “maintain the spirit of Whitefish while strengthening the community and fulfilling the ongoing demand for affordable housing.”

The “House the Fish” element of the day includes a “Dice Run” organized by Third Street Market that involves 14 downtown businesses running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All the proceeds go to Housing Whitefish, as well.

“We’re trying to spur some awareness and education (for Housing Whitefish) — a brand new nonprofit that’s trying to provide community housing for us and give them some focus too,” Gartland said.

The Craggy Range will kick off the sunny season on their patio with live music later in the day and people are encouraged to “Dance the Fish” from 5-8 p.m.

“It's really a community event,” Gartland said. “Something fun to get together and see the people we live and work with before the craziness of summer arrives here in a couple of weeks.”

Ideas are already flowing for ways to improve the event for next time, so the chamber is expecting FishFest to become an annual event.

For more information on the event, visit www.whitefishchamber.org or www.facebook.com/WFFishFest/