The Sweet Pea Festival isn’t just packed into the first weekend of August, it actually begins in July with the annual juried art show running from July 13-August 6 at ERA Landmark on Main Street, followed by Chalk on the Walk on July 31. Artists of any ability are encouraged to show up for a box of chalk from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Jacobs Crossing lobby at 424 E Main St. and in Downtown Businesses with a Chalk on the Walk poster in their windows; then get to work chalking downtown sidewalks all day long. Look for professional chalk artist Bill Spiess in front of US Bank!

August 1 brings the Bite of Bozeman from 5:30-8:30 p.m. to historic Main Street in downtown Bozeman. The Bite includes entertainment on every downtown corner as well as food and drink offerings from over 40 area restaurants and food vendors. Sweet Pea does not obtain an open container waiver for this event. All adult beverages must be consumed within the establishment from which they were purchased to avoid being ticketed by the Bozeman Police Department.

Thursday, August 2 get downtown again for Music on Main sponsored by the Sweet Pea Festival. Local seven piece group Cole & The Thornes will fill the streets with their Soulful reggae and R&B infused tunes. Music on Main is FREE each Thursday night in the summer and has been voted as one of the top 5 Bozeman’s Choice annual events and places for people watching and annual event for several years in a row.

Friday, August 3 at 3:30 p.m. the festival gates open at Lindley Park and Sweet Pea kicks off with art, food and music, dance, theatre and family stage performances. This years main stage Friday night act is Big Head Todd & The Monsters!

Saturday, August 4 commences early with the Sweet Pea Run and kids run leading the Sweet Pea Parade down Main Street. The parade is a great way to start an August Saturday before you walk to the park (Lindley Park for Sweet Pea and Bogert Park for SLAM). The parade will get going at 10:05 a.m., gates to the festival open at 10 a.m. Children’s activities will run throughout the festival in Lindley Park, as well as theatre and children’s performances on multiple stages. Nine dance and ballet troops will perform over the weekend! For a full list of arts and entertainment go to https://sweetpeafestival.org/sweetpea-events/

Running along side the 41st annual Sweet Pea Festival is the 8th annual SLAM Fest (Support Local Artists and Musicians), returning to Bogert Park, August 4 & 5. Artists from around the state of Montana in all mediums will exhibit their work in the park, while performers grace the stage for 2 days of fabulous Montana entertainment.  SLAM hosts a wide variety of culinary options, along with a selection of Montana-made spirits and brews for patrons 21+ years old in the SLAM Libations garden. 

Get your Montana art and culture fix at SLAM; it’s FREE, and awesome! Keep up with updates for SLAM at https://www.facebook.com/SLAMFestivals/ or check them out at https://slamfestivals.org/

Both Sweet Pea and SLAM are very dependent on local volunteers pulling together to make sure the festivals are amazing. Both festival websites have all volunteer positions listed and online sign up available. If you would like to volunteer at Sweet Pea (and receive free admission) go to http://sweetpeaafestivalofthearts.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/ to see all of the opportunities! SLAM volunteers sign up here: http://slam.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=26145. See you at the festivals!