Storm clouds darkened the sky at Depot Park just as the Whitefish Trail Hootenanny started last Friday.  

“The weather hit hard about 45 minutes in and we had to clear Depot Park because of lightning, rain and wind. I was hoping it would be fast moving and clear afterward, but we were never able to get going again,” said Cynthia Ingelfinger, Whitefish Legacy Partners director of development. 

Proceeds of the annual event go toward Whitefish Legacy Partners in supporting the Whitefish Trail and local conservation lands. It is usually their largest fundraiser of the year, but the rain brought a big loss.  

Whitefish Legacy Partners officials said that donating to the Great Fish Community Challenge will help make up for the lost revenue.  

“Please donate $25 or more to Whitefish Legacy Partners to help us win the Great Fish Community Challenge between now and Thursday to help us with the $10,000 Biggest Catch Incentive Grant,” Ingelfinger said.  

Legacy Partners said they are thankful for the army of volunteers who got drenched, the food trucks who stuck it out, and the musicians for their patience and understanding. 

As of Tuesday, the organization was still working out the details for seeing through the event’s raffle and selling merchandise.