Montana 250th Commission awards $100,000 to fund 40 events for America’s 250th in 2026

MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana organizations are getting a financial boost to help communities mark America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

The Montana 250th Commission announced the recipients of its Event Sponsorship Program, awarding $100,000 to 40 organizations across the state.

The funding is intended to support community celebrations recognizing the Semiquincentennial.

The commission said the sponsorships will fund events, activities and programs that honor the anniversary while engaging communities throughout Montana.

“From parades and fairs to concerts and historical reenactments, these events will bring Montanans together to celebrate our shared heritage and the freedoms we cherish,” said Commission Chair Chris Averill. “We’re thrilled to support community organizations across the state as they create memorable experiences that connect Montana’s story to America’s 250-year journey, on July 4th and beyond.”

“The Commission is grateful to the Legislature for the funding, and to Governor Gianforte for signing HB 2 into law,” said Averill. “We continue to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely on activities that recognize the tremendous history of America, Montana, and our Tribal Nations; that bring Montanans together in celebration of America’s founding; and that educate Montana students and the general public on U.S., Montana, and Tribal history and government and our shared civic responsibility.”

Event Sponsorship Recipients:

• Cascade County Historical Society (Great Falls) – Cottonwood Festival – $5,000
• Belt Performing Arts Center (Belt) – The Belt Performing Arts Center Presents Oh, That Dreadful Tea! A Musical about the Boston Tea Party: A Community Celebration for the 250th Anniversary of the United States – $5,000
• Livingston Area Chamber (Livingston) – Historic Livingston Roundup Parade – $5,000
• Blaine County (Chinook) – Blaine County Fair – Veterans and Elders Tribute Exhibit – $5,000
• Helena Symphony (Helena) – Helena Symphony Season 72 Opening Night ~ America 250 – $5,000
• Flathead County Fairgrounds (Kalispell) – Honoring Veterans at Rodeo – $5,000
• Town of Denton (Denton) – Pies, Parades & Pyrotechnics – $5,000
• American Legion Auxiliary Border Unit 73 (Kevin) – North Toole County 250 Celebration Mural Project – $5,000
• Town of Plentywood (Plentywood) – Various July 4 community programs and activities for America 250 — $5,000
• Friends of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula (Missoula) – 1776 Speaker Series AND 4th at the Fort on 4th of July – $4,000
• Special Olympics Montana (Great Falls) – Special Olympics Montana’s Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary! – $4,375
• Department of Montana Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4042 (Bigfork) – Celebration of Independence 1776-2026 – 250 Years of Military Service and Freedom – $3,608.93
• The Judith Mountain Players (Lewistown) – The History of the Declaration of Independence – $3,500
• Southeast Montana Area Revitalization Team (Baker) – Fallon County’s Fourth of July Celebrations – $3,500
• Townsend American Legion Post 42 (Townsend) – American Legion Semiquincentennial Flag/Banner and Independence Day Event – $3,000
• Fergus County Fairgrounds (Lewistown) – Central Montana Fair – $3,109.07
• Miracle of America Museum (Polson) – From Minutemen to Desert Sands, 250 Years of Heroes – $2,950
• Montana Veterans Memorial Association (Great Falls) – Memorial Day Ceremony – $2,500
• Powder River Historical Society (Broadus) – Battle of Powder River Commemoration – $2,500
• Augusta Area Historical Society (Augusta) – South Fork Roundup of Cowboy Poetry and Music – $2,400
• Museums Association of Montana (Great Falls) – Montana’s Museums: Revolutionary New Beginnings Conference – $2,300
• Quality of Life Corporation (Colstrip) – Colstrip Days – $2,000
• Mission Valley Choral Society (Polson) – Mission Valley Choral Society’s Spring Concert Weekend – Theme: “Let Freedom Sing” – $1,500
• Mineral County Fair (Superior) – Mineral County Fair – $1,500
• Virginia City Preservation Alliance (Virginia City) – Forgotten Heroes – $1,500
• Town of Plains (Plains) – Fire Hydrant Painting – $1,300
• Old Glory Landmark Committee (Helena) – Children’s Activities – $1,000
• City of Boulder (Boulder) – Fourth of July Celebration in Veterans’ Park – $1,000
• Crazy Peak Cattle Women Inc. (Big Timber) – Big Timber 250 Celebration – $1,000
• Shields Valley Schools (Wilsall) – Red, White, & BBQ: Celebrate the 250th Independence Day in Shields Valley – $1,000
• Western Legacy Center, Incorporated (Whitehall) – 250 Year Birthday Celebration – $1,000
• City of Three Forks (Three Forks) – Community Cookout and Flag Giveaway – $1,000
• The Extreme History Project (Bozeman) – A Commonplace for Independence: Making Meaning at America’s 250th – $800
• Lewis & Clark Lodge Post No 3831 Veterans of Foreign Wars (Pony) – VFW Community Picnic – $750
• Kalispell Lions Club (Kalispell) – Distribute Miniature US Flags to Kalispell Area First Graders “Flags for First Graders” – $700
• Butte Silver Bow Quilt Guild (Butte) – Butte Silver Bow Quilt Guild Biennial Quilt Show “Quilting through Time 1776-2026” – $700
• Wheatland County (Harlowton) – “Happy Birthday, America!” 4th of July Parade – $507