The festival consists of 3 days of music, arts and crafts, theater, dance and the always entertaining Sweet Pea Festival Parade. Really, the party lasts all week including the Sweet Pea Ball on the previous Saturday, Chalk on the Walk on Tuesday and Bite of Bozeman on Wednesday. And, yes, there is a Sweet Pea Flower competition with the winner announced at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. We went in early Saturday morning in time to catch the parade beginning at 10 am. 
The parade is preceded by a 5k and 10k run, and then promptly at 10 am the kids 1k run down Main Street kicks off the parade,. I think everyone in Bozeman and Gallatin County runs! There were 1100 kids in the kids run alone! Look no further for a postive role model for physical activity - Bozeman wins, hands down. I even caught one toddler running for all she was worth - breathing through her Binky!! 
Life long habits begin here.
The parade is preceded by a 5k and 10k run, and then promptly at 10 am the kids 1k run down Main Street kicks off the parade,. I think everyone in Bozeman and Gallatin County runs! There were 1100 kids in the kids run alone! Look no further for a postive role model for physical activity - Bozeman wins, hands down. I even caught one toddler running for all she was worth - breathing through her Binky!! 
Life long habits begin here.After the parade, the celebration moves to Lindley Park, one of the many public parks Bozeman offers.
The main thoroughfare is lined with food vendors, all good fare, but the absolute favorite is known as the 'Tater Pig. What's a 'Tater Pig?? Half a baked potato filled with a link pork sausage and topped with butter, sour cream, bacon bits and chives. Calories - who cares - "at 5000 feet, calories don't affect the human body", says one of the Chord Rustlers.
The Chord Rustlers are a barbershop chorus who sponsor the 'Tater Pig booth each year. This year they sold 7,200 'Tater Pigs and the proceeds benefited the Big Sky Youth Harmony Rendezvous, an a capella singing camp for kids.
The Chord Rustlers are a barbershop chorus who sponsor the 'Tater Pig booth each year. This year they sold 7,200 'Tater Pigs and the proceeds benefited the Big Sky Youth Harmony Rendezvous, an a capella singing camp for kids.We wandered through the arts & crafts booths, where about 100 artists display their work including visual art, woodworking, fiber arts, pottery, jewelry and metal work. Some of the best artists in the west are invited to this show, and I always manage to find one more thing I "need".
We wandered over to the Family Stage to catch the cowboy act, Shorty and Stretch, who sing, tell tall tales and yodel. The Trees West Stage featured a bluegrass band, Riverbend, a group of young guys who are just getting started in the bluegrass, or as they would say "New-Grass" genre.
A great day and tradition in Bozeman - one we look forward to every year.
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