It’s no small task to keep everyone entertained, fed and hydrated during these busy summer months! So, here's an invitation to act like a local. Yes, friends, Angry August has reared its hot and exhausted head. As I stand upon this virtual soapbox, I implore you to practice your patience and share your gratitude with the many hard-working business owners and service industry professionals as they dig in for these last weeks of this sweltering summer.

Let’s get right into how you’ll spend this week sipping brews, buying art and learning something new.

Whitefish is the …

It’s no small task to keep everyone entertained, fed and hydrated during these busy summer months! So, here's an invitation to act like a local. Yes, friends, Angry August has reared its hot and exhausted head. As I stand upon this virtual soapbox, I implore you to practice your patience and share your gratitude with the many hard-working business owners and service industry professionals as they dig in for these last weeks of this sweltering summer.

Let’s get right into how you’ll spend this week sipping brews, buying art and learning something new.

Whitefish is the sweet spot this weekend as we celebrate our Featured Event, Huckleberry Days Arts Festival. The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Whitefish Credit Union go all out to host their 35th year of this free family-friendly event. Join in the fun at Whitefish’s Depot Park on Friday, August 9th and Saturday August 10th from 10 am to 6pm and on Sunday August 11th from 10 am to 4 pm and wander the park for great food and fine arts and crafts vendors.

Kiddos will love face painting and balloon artists and Stumptown Art Studio offers an art project until 4pm on Saturday.

The whole town of Whitefish gets into the fun! Stop by either of Whitefish’s Glacier Bank locations on Friday for a free sweet treat of huckleberry ice cream. Bank employees start scooping at 11am until it’s gone.

Saturday, August 10th has the Wave hosting Swim the Fish with a ½ mile, 1 mike or 5k option. Or fill your belly at the Whitefish Moose Lodge Huckleberry Pancake Breakfast. Enjoy fresh hucks in your cakes thanks to the Whitefish Boy Scouts Troop!

It doesn’t get any more quintessential Montana summer than Whitefish’s Huckleberry Days Arts Festival!

Monday August 5th take a stroke and paint your own masterpiece at the Whitefish Community Center. This week artist William Haakon Ensign leads artists of any experience in how to paint what they see. Join in this fun and creative event each Monday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Who doesn’t love to combine learning and adult beverages? Sign up for one of many opportunities to learn how to make cocktails with Glacier Distilling Company in their hands-on instructional course and take home a bar glass. Come taste Montana and learn how to shake your stuff!

Bring forward your highest intention for the day at The Nook in Bigfork during their Community Sound Meditation on Wednesday August 7 for this half hour meditation starting at 8am. All are welcome and participation is donation based.

The Whitefish Community Library hosts a Summer Sing Along with our friend Deidre of the North Valley Music School on Thursday August 8th from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Deidre leads songs, chants and movement activities for kids of all ages. This free event is open to all.

Libby pulls out all the stops for their annual Riverfront Blues Festival happening on Friday August 9th and Saturday August 10th at Riverfront Park in Libby. Enjoy vendors, food and brews at this gorgeous location and watch a non-stop lineup of great music.

The Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce hosts a free outdoor movie at Marentette Park on Saturday August 10th featuring the movie Wonka. Come find your spot, picnic dinner in hand from 7 to 9pm and enjoy the evening with the movie starting around 9:30 pm. Concessions and fresh popcorn are available for purchase.

When Rotary clubs unite, you get the annual Great Bear Festival. Stop by Kalispell’s Depot Park on Saturday August 10th from 3:00 to 8:00 pm to sample more than 30 local and regional beers, hard ciders and wine. Several food trucks will be on hand to fill your belly and you are sure to see all your besties out and about for this great community event that supports many local and global charitable projects. Find tickets and VIP passes at FlatheadTickets.com

Meet me at the Wachholz College Center for a performance by a Girl Named Tom on Sunday August 11th at 7:30pm. These three siblings notably made history as the only group to win NBC’s The Voice. Tickets are still available to see this unique trio.

I’m totally craving some Huckleberry ice cream and a wander through Whitefish’s Depot Park for the 35th annual Huckleberry Days Arts Festival. Join me in the fun Friday through Sunday August 9th through 11th. I’m looking forward to having my caricature done with my kiddos. I think it would make a great holiday card! Thanks again to the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and the Whitefish Credit Union for hosting this fun and free event and for supporting this podcast.

Once again, I am your host Melissa Wells signing off on this week’s Local Events podcast brought to you by Montana’s best newspaper, the Daily Inter Lake.

Stop by dailyinterlake.com/events to see all the great happenings in Northwest Montana. You can always add your event for free to be included in our online and print calendars and on this podcast.

If you haven’t already, follow along with the Daily Inter Lake’s News Now podcast on YouTube or your favorite podcast app. I’ll be looking for your five start reviews!

Thanks for tuning in! I’ll see you out there!