TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Tickets are now available for the Big Sky Country State Fair! Get them while they're hot!
Four youth walking towards a ferris wheel at the Gallatin County State Fair

Careers/About Us

Learn more about the Fairgrounds
Our Mission
To provide an enjoyable, safe, year-round, and multi-use public facility, emphasizing opportunities in entertainment, education, agriculture, and recreation that enhances partnerships in building a stronger community.
stands and  a ferris wheel at the Gallatin County State Fair

What We Do

The Fairgrounds is a true center for activities and events that enhances partnerships and brings the community together. Our multi-use public facility operates year-round, providing a safe and enjoyable space to host events of all kinds. From sports, educational, and agricultural events to wedding receptions, class reunions, and commercial functions, our facility can be adapted to meet all your event needs and create a memorable experience.

Carnival Request for Sealed Proposals

Big Sky Country State Fair Carnival
The Big Sky Country State Fair is looking for a Carnival concession operator to provide the carnival operations for the annual 5-day Big Sky County State Fair in Bozeman, Montana, occurring the third Wednesday every July, for a contract period of three (3) years starting in 2025.

PROCUREMENT TIMELINE

Bid question deadline:               February 19, 2024
Bids due:                                     March 4, 2024 4pm
Bids open:                                   March 5, 2024
Contract recommendation:       March 12, 2024
    


The bidding documents may be found below or by requested from the office of:  


Gallatin County

Caitlin Quisenberry    

Gallatin County Fairgrounds
Bozeman, MT 59715
caitlin.quisenberry@gallatin.mt.gov
 
Big Sky Country State Fair Carnival

Fairgrounds Community Visioning Open House

Exhibit Building 1
Gallatin County Fairgrounds Hosting Community Visioning Open House

As a central, multi-purpose space that our community has used to gather for over 100 years, the Gallatin County Fairgrounds is an important cultural destination and asset for our region. In order to continue holding that honored space in the lives of our community, we're embarking on a community visioning and master planning process to understand how to best update and utilize this space in perpetuity.
Join us for the Gallatin County Fairgrounds community visioning open house on Thursday, Feb. 29. The event will be from 5-7 PM at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds (901 N. Black Ave. in Bozeman) in Exhibit Building 4. Light refreshments will be served!
This is a first step in the planning process and will focus on understanding the public's diverse perspectives related to existing strengths, challenges and experiences at the fairgrounds, as well as needs and ideas for the future.
Questions? Contact Caitlin Quisenberry, fairgrounds director, at caitlin.quisenberry@gallatin.mt.gov or 406-582-3270.
Exhibit Building 1

Our History

Gallatin County Fairgrounds (GCF) has been serving the community since 1902 and the first Fair was held on the grounds in 1903. The property was purchased by a group of Bozeman pioneers in 1898 from the University of Syracuse with the express purpose of creating a regional Fairgrounds.

The property is currently comprised of 26 buildings on 78 acres surrounded by the City of Bozeman. Downtown lies a few blocks to the south, Walmart and the major shopping corridor along North 7th is immediately west, major hotels are within the immediate vicinity, and direct access onto I90 is right around the corner.

Historically, the Fairgrounds has served as a gathering place for the agricultural community and as host to the summer and winter fairs. Those roots still play a prominent role at the Fairgrounds today as the Gallatin Valley has grown and urbanized, and other uses and groups of people have become equally as prominent.

Increasingly, sports such as ice hockey, baseball, and the shooting range draw as much interest as 4-H and rodeo. The local 4-H continue to have their year-end shows to finish their projects.

Our recent history shows that the name of our Fair has changed over the years from GallaCo to Gallatin County Fair and in 2016 to Big Sky County State Fair.

The story of the Fairgrounds mirrors the story of Gallatin County: new and vibrant uses have begun encroaching on the more traditional agricultural uses and some of those agricultural uses have begun to move.
A girl and her mother holding a toddler are watching the Gallatin County State Fair
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