MontanaFair 2024 will be one of the biggest years ever

BILLINGS — Saturday the 17th was the last day of MontanaFair 2024. But it will go down as one of the biggest and busiest years yet.

According to Michaela Woempner, the coordinator of MontanaFair, about 250,000 people visit the MontanaFair every year.

“We grow every year. Yesterday, I think, the parking spaces were full. We had no parking spaces left. So that’s huge,” says Woempner.

Although the numbers have not yet been officially announced (and are not expected to be announced until midnight on Saturday), rumors are rife that this year will break records.

“I know (attendance) will be big. We’re setting new records every day, and I know we’re going to set another record for the entire week overall,” Woempner said.

So this Saturday marked the end of the fun rides, games and delicious fairground treats. But the fairground staff is already preparing for 2025, which will be the fair’s 110th anniversary.

Woempner said: “I’m already looking forward to 2025. So I’ll be ready tomorrow. Then we can get started.”

One of the community’s most popular aspects at the end of the fair is the annual 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) livestock sale.

There, the juniors can show off the farm animals they raised last year.

MTN spoke to two of these children about their experiences in livestock farming.

“And now we are keeping Bluey (her lamb) and selling it at the sale today,” says Addi Vogel.

“I really enjoy riding carousels, but what I like most is just sitting in my hammock with the pigs,” says Addis’ brother Corbin.

Not only is the livestock sale a great experience for the children, it can also be very cute to watch the animals sleeping and eating.

Even though it is the last time for the celebrations, there is still a lot to do.

Woempner told MTN: “(The end of the year is) a little bittersweet. I’m sad. I know my team is excited… You know, we have other concerts to look forward to. They’re ready to jump into other things that Metra Park has to offer.”

The fair will be open until midnight on Saturday, after which attendance and revenue will be calculated to determine how record-breaking this year was.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply