The Bigfork Whitewater Festival is celebrating 42 years of extreme whitewater action and community-oriented fun! This is the longest running event in Bigfork and is one that the entire Flathead Valley looks forward to each year. Participants come from around the world to race. Spectators are also a huge part of this festival, so be there to enjoy the races and other events held around town.

The last mile of the Swan River, known as the "Wild Mile", is a class IV section of whitewater. It is the perfect whitewater venue with a scenic nature trail paralleling the north side, giving spectators front row seats for some of the best whitewater action in the area. The Wild Mile also flows through downtown Bigfork, which offers a fun variety of restaurants, shops and galleries.

The Festival is this weekend, May 27th and 28th, with vendor booths along Electric Avenue and food vendors in front of Brookside Yard, here's a schedule of events.

Saturday:
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Event registration at Info Tent
10 a.m. Lower Slalom Race at Powerhouse and Steel Bridge
12:30 p.m. Mandatory Boater's Meeting at Start
1 p.m. Expert Slalom Start
Viewing at Big Rock via Swan Nature Trail

Sunday:
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration for Triathlon and Rafting Events
9:00 a.m. Triathlon starts at Swan River Bridge HWY 209
9:00 a.m. Down River Starts (Rafts followed by Kayaks)
11:30 a.m. 1st Round Raft Head-to-Head Heats
12:00ish Kayak Giant Slalom
2:30 p.m. Final Round Raft Head-to-Head heats
The awards ceremony will be held after the Rafting H2H at the Garden Bar. Get more info online or by emailing bigforkwhitewaterfestival@gmail.com. For more info on the Triathalon, please call Stan Watkins at 406-253-4103.

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