The Ultimate Western Art Week Experience Itinerary!

6 PM

Use your VIP Pass to gain early access to Footprints on the Trail show and artists. Refreshments provided! You’ll go through the lobby, from room to room, and into the conference spaces for this show. Get through what you can (you can always come back). Our not misses for this show: Lee Tisch Bialczak landscapes, Eric Reese’s night sky photography, and Jack Cantrell’s wildlife. There are 31 artists in this show.
Holiday Inn, 1100 5th Street South

WHEN YOUR BELLY RUMBLES
It’s time to relax and enjoy the evening. You’ll have many options for dinner. For your first night, try 5th & Wine. Seasonal local ingredient menu that pairs well with their immense wine selection.
5th & Wine, 214 5th Street South

9 AM

Fuel your day! We’d like to suggest breakfast at Tracy’s Diner. The portions are large and the burrito is worth sharing.
Tracy’s Diner, 127 Central Avenue

10 AM

Make your way to the Wild Bunch Art Show! Check out L’Oschner’s agate jewelry, Janet Móczár-Buti larger-than-life landscape paintings, Lois Huntzicker’s graphite wildlife, and all the additional artists in the open space of the conference room.
Hampton Inn, 2301 14th Street SW

NOON

Make your way to the March in Montana Show to preview the items that will be auctioned on Friday and Saturday. Make a note of the items you want to make your own. Stroll through the other vendors, each in their own booth.
Elk’s Lodge, 500 1st Avenue South

1 PM

The first of its kind at Western Art Week and a true Montana partnership; Montana’s own Willie’s Distillery will be doing a tasting at the Great Western Show. The art of crafting cocktails meets. . . well, all the other art!
Montana ExpoPark, 400 3rd Street NW

2 PM

Give your eyes a break and grab some appetizers at Mighty Mo Brew Co and if you’re so inclined, they sell great local beer there too.
Mighty Mo Brew Co, 412 Central Avenue

5 PM

Get your ticket and take in The Russell Art Preview Party where you can get a first-hand look at all the art being auctioned by The Russell.
C.M. Russell Museum, 400 13th Street North

6 PM

Head over to Out West Art Show and Sale and watch as 12 artists take the stage and in one hour, finish a work of art that will be auctioned at 7 o’clock. All of the 84+ artists are amazing, but tonight, you might want to pay particular attention to the vibrant colors used by Abby Pittman and how DG House brings her animals to life. After the auction, roam from room to room to check out all the art. The show closes at 9 PM.
Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Road

WHEN YOU’RE READY TO WIND DOWN

Check out the craft cocktails and extensive collection of German beer at KellerGeist. This spot has a cult following and is very quaint. You’re sure to make some new friends.
KellerGeist, 111 Central Avenue

9 AM

Grab a coffee (or a smoothie) and a kouign amann (don’t worry, if you say it wrong, they’ll still know what you want) from Electric City Coffee House and Bistro. They have great art on the walls, and you guessed it, it’s for sale!
Electric City Coffee House and Bistro, 319 Central Avenue

10 AM

You’ll need a ticket to get into The Russell’s Art in Action event. Much like last night at the Out West Art Show, you’ll get a chance to watch artists create a piece of art that will then be auctioned. Fall in love with a piece and you can bid to try and make it your own.
Meadow Lark Country Club, 300 Country Club Boulevard

11 AM

You are geared up for bidding now, so grab your list of favorite items from yesterday and head to the March in Montana Auction!
Elk’s Lodge, 500 1st Avenue South

1 PM

Try your hand at creating some art of your own at Studio 706 Spring Show and the Bead a Buddy event. When you are finished with your creation, check out all the art from local Great Falls artists.
Great Falls Civic Center, 2 Park Drive South

2 PM

Grab lunch at Great Falls’ newest spot, The Station District Bar and Eatery. It’s a food hall-style restaurant where ordering can be done on a kiosk or from your phone at 4 different restaurants. Take in the views of the Mighty Missouri River (art in itself) and enjoy an adult beverage if you wish.
The Station District Bar and Eatery, 119 River Drive North, Suite 002

3 PM

Head back to the Quick Finish at the Out West Art Show and Sale. You’ll get to see 12 new artists finish art that will be available in the auction at 4:15. Who do we think you should pay particular attention to? Whitney Weidow – she’s a feisty lady and has an old heart, capturing images from years gone by. Cody Kuehl is truly unique with his hint to comic books in his art.
Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Road

5 PM

Get a ticket in advance for The Russell First Strike Auction. You’ll have the ability to bid on contemporary Western Art in an event full of music, food, and action. Remember, in Great Falls, we bid ’til it’s ours!
Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Road

6 PM

The Great Western Show has Pollo Loco Live! A Western Art Week favorite Pollo Loco’s music is a bit Americana, Folk, and Country. VIP’s get front-row seating!
Montana ExpoPark, 400 3rd Street NW

9 AM

Dr. Lanny Real Bird, Crow tribal member, discusses “hand talk” and language revitalization as part of The Russell show. This is a really special opportunity, he was the sign language consultant on HBO’s Lewis and Clark mini-series. We don’t want to oversell it, but you will LOVE what you learn during this session.
Montana ExpoPark, 400 3rd Street NW

10 AM

Do the Rock Art Hike at First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park Art Show! It’s the original art. You’ll need to pre-register for this and it will cost you $4 – but the ranger-led hike talking about pictographs and petroglyphs is so worth the price.
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, 342 Ulm Vaughn Rd, Ulm MT

NOON

Explore the varied artwork of the Kuka Family. The descendants of Blackfeet artist King Kuka maintain his legacy with some of his art, alongside his children’s creations at the First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park Annual Art Show and Reception.
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, 342 Ulm Vaughn Rd, Ulm MT

1 PM

Explore the artists at Best of the West Show. There are more than 41 artists at this booth-style show and our must see suggestions are Lance Boen’s amazing leather art, the Montana Water Color Society’s collective of artists, Kira Fercho’s thick and juicy oil paintings, the sculptures of Roy Hinz, and the turquoise jewelry of Sister Montana Jewelry (made by 3 sisters).
Montana ExpoPark, 400 3rd Street NW

2 PM

Flaunt your VIP Pass as you head to the reserved seating, just for you, and enjoy the Indigenous Fashion Showcase at the Celebration of Native Plains Artists Show. Check out all the Indigenous artists in this booth-style show afterward.
Montana ExpoPark, 400 3rd Street NW

4 PM

We know The Daddy of ’em All is trademarked for the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, but if it wasn’t, we’d say that about THE RUSSELL AUCTION! This is THE event that kicked off Western Art Week 57 years ago. If you secure your VIP Premier Pass, this event is included! You can buy it separately, but there is special pricing with the VIP Premier Pass. This year’s auction contains the largest selection of Charlie’s work. . . ever!
Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Road

8 PM

Make a lasting impression by adding something to the community art piece at Footprints on the Trail. This artwork will include elements from everyone all day. Doing it near the end, you’ll get a chance to see what the final piece might be. You can always come back to the Holiday Inn in the future because it will be on display there year-round.
Holiday Inn, 1100 5th Street South

9 PM

A trip to Great Falls is only complete once you’ve sung along with Joel Corda and watched the mermaids swim at the Sip ‘n Dip Lounge. Music and Mermaids end at 10.
Sip ‘n Dip Lounge, 17 7th Street S

10 AM

You’ve earned BRUNCH! There are many options, but we suggest 5th & Wine for this final day of Western Art Week. The suspended driftwood horse is a piece of art from Western Art Week!
5th & Wine, 214 5th Street S

11 AM

Explore the variety of Art from the 47 artists at the Legends West Show. We’d call your attention to photography of Craig Edwards who features much of his day-to-day life in agriculture, Diana Roen who paints amazing landscapes with soil (yes, folks, dirt), and the wood carvings of Carmen Luna.
Montana ExpoPark, 400 3rd Street NW

2 PM

Western Art Week has come to a close. Book your room before you leave, we’ll see you next year, March 18-22, 2026.