Whitefish Food & Wine celebrates cuisine, community and the great outdoors

Whitefish Food & Wine is back for a second year Sept. 8–14 at Haskill Creek Farms.  

The festival showcases and celebrates the rising culinary and hospitality scene in the Flathead Valley, by creating opportunities for connection between guests and chefs, food and place and between the community and visitors who come to explore it.  

The week’s events include a mix of large-scale tastings, intimate dinners and outdoor adventures that highlight both the artistry of the kitchen and the beauty of the landscape. 

The festival centerpiece remains the Grand Tasting sessions, where attendees may sample more than 100 wines, craft spirits and regional brews. This year, the experience is elevated with an expanded Grand Tasting live stage, a fully equipped demonstration kitchen inside the tent where chefs will showcase their skills through interactive demos, collaborative cook-offs and masterclasses. The energy here is less about formal instruction and more about participation. Guests are encouraged to taste, ask questions and immerse themselves in the process. 

The outdoors will also play a starring role. Guests can take part in Sip & SUP, a paddleboarding excursion that ends with a lakeside wine tasting or join a guided hike culminating in a chef-prepared picnic featuring locally sourced ingredients. A highlight of the week is the Farm to Foraged to Table dinner by Veritas chef Michael Tolomeo, staged under the open skies of Haskill Creek Farms. Designed to honor both cultivated and wild foods, the menu reflects the unique character of the land itself.  

Evenings throughout the week are reserved for intimate wine dinners hosted across Whitefish. Visiting chefs collaborate with local talent to craft multi-course menus that spotlight seasonal Montana ingredients — from huckleberries and wild mushrooms to dry-aged meats and fresh trout — paired with wines selected to amplify each dish. These one-night-only experiences have become some of the festival’s most coveted tickets, offering guests the chance to enjoy memorable meals in settings ranging from cozy restaurants to scenic private venues.  

Beyond the food and wine, the festival also emphasizes community impact. In its inaugural year, it supported local nonprofits addressing food insecurity and youth education, ensuring that the excitement of the week translated into tangible benefits for the region. For 2025, new charitable partners will be announced, with benefit events built into the schedule. 

The festival is the vision of co-founders Whitefish-based entrepreneur Joe Hess and international event producer Ryan Heil. Their goal was to design an event that felt true to Whitefish while appealing to culinary travelers from across the country.  

Tickets may be purchased at whitefishfoodandwine.com. Tickets range in price from $125 to $235.