Bigfork prepares to celebrate 125 years of community

The Bigfork community will come together this spring to celebrate an important milestone. In 2026, Bigfork marks 125 years since the town was officially platted by the Sliter family in 1901. The anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the people, places and stories that shaped the village along the shores of Flathead Lake.

The celebration, known as Bigfork 125, will invite residents, visitors, students, historians and local businesses to take part in honoring the town’s past while looking ahead to its future.

The Sliter family played a central role in Bigfork's founding. When the townsite was platted in 1901, the area quickly became a gathering place for travelers, loggers, merchants and families building new lives in Northwest Montana. Over the decades, Bigfork grew into the vibrant arts and cultural community it is today, while still maintaining strong ties to its history and natural surroundings.

The Bigfork Art & Cultural Center is helping coordinate the community-wide anniversary effort. The goal is to bring together local organizations, historic sites, businesses and families for a day that celebrates both heritage and creativity. We encourage community-wide participation.

Several long-standing institutions are partnering in the event. The Flathead Lake Lodge, one of the region’s most iconic historic guest ranches, is participating in the celebration and sharing its long connection to the lake and valley. The Bigfork Inn, another historic gathering place in the heart of the village, will also take part in welcoming the community for the anniversary.

Members of the Sliter family are expected to participate as well, helping recognize the town's founding and the legacy of those early years.

The day will include a variety of activities throughout downtown and around Bigfork. These will include historical presentations, community storytelling, art and cultural activities, walking tours highlighting historic locations, student involvement, and collaborations with local businesses. Community partners and Tribal representatives are also expected to participate in honoring the area's deeper cultural history.

Organizers say the anniversary is about more than a single day of events. It is a chance for residents to reconnect with the stories that shaped the community and to share those stories with the next generation.

Students, artists, historians, and volunteers are already helping prepare materials and programs that will highlight Bigfork’s past, from early settlement days to the creative community that thrives here today.

Local businesses are also invited to participate by offering anniversary-themed activities, displays, or promotions during the celebration.

According to organizers, the spirit of the event reflects what has always made Bigfork unique: a small town that values history, creativity, and community.

More information about the celebration and ways to participate will be shared in the coming months. Community members with questions or ideas for participation are encouraged to contact the Bigfork Art & Cultural Center.