Not a single car could get through 1st Ave East in downtown Kalispell on Saturday and no one seemed to care.

Fourteen portable basketball hoops lined the avenue between Center Street and 2nd Street East as roughly 340 participants ranging from ages 10 to 40 competed in the Kalispell Firefighters Association 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.

The unique setting has made for a popular festival that celebrates the charm of historic downtown Kalispell while raising money for several charities—something Kalispell firefighter and tournament director Mike Chappuis envisioned from the beginning.

“In a meeting, I happened to raise my hand and said ‘What about a basketball tournament? Or a 3 on 3?’ and everyone seemed to like it and that’s how it started,” Chappuis said.

“Originally, I was looking at a big parking lot (to host the tournament). All the line firefighters said, ‘No, let’s have it downtown so we can have a big community event and bring everybody downtown and try to help out all these businesses down here.’ It was a great idea.”

 Chappuis noted that the tournament, in its second year, has already seen exponential growth. The 62 team-mark from the 2013 tournament increased by 20 for Saturday’s competition as 82 teams participated in the event.

The tournament is fundraiser for several charities around the Flathead Valley and beyond. Chappuis was excited about the proceeds going to Operation Warm: Coast for Kids Foundation—a charity which will purchase brand-new American-made coats for kids in need in the Kalispell school system—as well as the American Cancer Society and more.

 The tournament also serves as an outlet for the areas youth in the summer months, something tournament participant Scott Keiter-Charles was excited to see.

Keiter-Charles works at the Parisi Speed School at The Summit Medical Fitness Center in Kalispell—a speed, agility, and strength training facility for athletes in the Flathead Valley. 

After competing in the adult coed and men’s divisions, the former University of Montana-Western football player had his eyes set on some of his students.

“This is my first time playing like this (in the heart of downtown),” Keiter-Charles said.

“It’s really fun, but it’s nice to get a lot of the kids out here. A lot of these kids around here, they’re looking for the summer basketball tournaments and those aren’t put on a lot. A lot of the gyms are taken up by the city leagues so it’s nice to give them an opportunity to play in the summer.”

The opportunity is being seized by plenty.

With each bracket crowning a champion, their name announced over the PA system as they walk into the middle of the avenue for photo opportunities, Chappuis’ idea for a fundraiser has exploded into an celebration for the areas athletes.

For one day, picturesque downtown Kalispell was engulfed by the love for the game of basketball and the community. The memories were everlasting, the benefits insurmountable.