The 70th National Folk Festival in Butte, Montana July 11-13, 2008

A message from Governor Brian Schweitzer and his wife Nancy, the honorary co-chairs of the 70th National Folk Festival Executive Committee.

VIEW THE GOVERNOR'S GREETING

The National Folk Festival features performances and demonstrations by over 250 of the nation’s finest musicians, dancers and craftspeople. It will feature 25 Artists/groups on seven stages including a dance pavilion dedicated to participatory dancing, a family stage with performances appealing to both the young and the young-at-heart, and a Montana folklife stage. In addition to the performance stages, there are several themed festival areas: the Montana Folklife Area, the Family Area, two Festival Marketplaces and the Festival Food Courts.

The National Folk Festival is a large, FREE outdoor event. The Butte, Montana festival site will be located within the nation's largest National Historic Landmark District. Open air and tented sites will provide a variety of performance venues ranging from intimate stages to amphitheater size. The Amphitheater Stage, which offers a panoramic view of Butte and the surrounding mountains, is being developed on the site of the historic Original Mineyard, with its dramatic deep shaft mine headframe that is a remnant of Butte’s days as an underground copper mining center.

Festival dates:	July 11-13, 2008
Hours of operation:	Friday - Sunday
Schedule of performances:	SCHEDULE

Festival Marketplaces

Up to 50 traditional artists and craft vendors from across the state will be hosted in the festival’s two marketplaces: the Montana Arts Marketplace and the adjacent First Peoples’ Marketplace that will feature Native American artists and craftspeople.

Food and Drink Vendors

Up to 25 food and beverage vendors will serve ethnic food representing the cuisine of natives and immigrants to the region as well as festival food favorites such as ketttle korn, funnel cakes and fresh squeezed lemonade.

Free to All

Admission throughout the three-day event is free to everyone.

Festival Music Sales

Throughout the festival there will be opportunities to purchase the recorded music of the performing artists who may also be available to sign CDs after their performances near the CD sales booths.

Festival Merchandise

At assigned booths, festival goers can purchase festival merchandise, too.

Information Booths

Strategically placed booths will be available for directions and answers to all questions. Try to stump the volunteers with any questions you can think of about the festival, the community of Butte and the state of Montana.

Beer Sales

Beer will be available for sale by the cup at special booths and imbibing areas.

Volunteer Registration

Volunteers who sign up in advance can check in at the volunteer registration booth to get their assignments. Opportunities still abound for volunteers, (only 500 or so more are needed) to help complete a variety of tasks to help put up, operate and then tear down such a large festival site. To volunteer, go here.

About Montana and Butte

Butte is fast becoming known as Montana’s Festival City. Located between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks at the crossroads of two major Interstate highways, I-15 and I-90, the National Folk festival will join Butte’s busy festival season that begins early in February with the world’s loudest and shortest Chinese New Year's Parade followed by one of the nation’s most famous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in March, Evel Knievel Days in July and the Montana Irish Festival during the second weekend of August.