Downtown Billings really comes to life each summer; the street level businesses enhance their storefronts with seasonal flowers in their planters, the restaurants open their patios for service, and retail shops open their doors and stock up on Summer favorites. There’s so many ways you can enjoy all that our downtown has to offer. I hope you join me downtown this summer and that you enjoy some of these fun downtown activities listed below.
The downtown district has nearly 20 unique patios that open as soon as summer approaches. Each of the downtown patios offer an array of sights, sounds, flavors, and vibes. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to meet for coffee, soak in the afternoon sun for lunch, or sit in the extra sunlight after work, there’s a spot downtown for you. There’s a variety of spaces to choose from with views of new and old buildings, public art projects, retail, businesses, restaurants, bars, breweries, venues, residential properties of various kinds, and numerous historical landmarks.
Alive After 5 is Billings’ most anticipated summer concert series. The Alive After 5 concert series takes place at different downtown locations weekly, Thursday evenings from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in June and July. Come dance, connect with friends, make new friends, and listen to the live music. No matter the location, band, or weather an evening at Alive After 5 show is anything but dull. Admission is free to the weekly, outdoor, all-age concerts, however, those 21 and older, wishing to consume alcohol are required to purchase a $3 wristband. The weekly concert details are available on the downtownbillings.com event calendar.
There’s very little more enjoyable than taking a pleasant afternoon walk while enjoying a good ice cream treat. Big Dipper Ice Cream is a welcoming locally owned traditional ice cream shop. It’s at the corner street level of the historic Stapleton Building at 100 N. Broadway. With indoor and outdoor seating, weekly mouthwatering special flavors, freshly made waffle cones, all the toppings, and a menu full of the classics, The Big Dipper is a favorite for ice cream lover’s of all ages. Another unsuspecting downtown spot to satisfy an ice cream craving is Brockel’s Chocolates at 117 N. 29th Street. Brockel’s Chocolates offers locally made, hand-dipped ice cream bars, with options like vanilla, strawberry, peanut butter, and mint Wilcoxson's Ice Cream double dipped in milk or dark chocolate. These bars are so popular that the Brockel’s team makes sure to have them available for sale year round.
The Billings Strawberry Festival is Billings largest outdoor annual street festival with over a hundred vendors. This 9am to 4pm festival is free to attend and typically occurs on the second Saturday in July. The festival offers attendees an experience rich in arts and crafts, food-truck fare (from French Crepes, noodle bowls, to BBQ), and live street entertainment. Many of the downtown merchants and restaurants open their doors and put out tables and clothing racks to draw in the thousands of festival attendees who come downtown to explore, shop, and enjoy. In honor of the festival’s namesake, nearly half of the downtown merchants and festival vendors offer some sort of strawberry themed product or menu item. You will find strawberry scented hand crafted candles, strawberry themed hand sewn items, strawberry clothing and accessories, and strawberry food and beverage offerings. There’s pottery, jewelry, and more all with strawberries in mind. A full list of vendors, including those with strawberry offerings, is made available at the Skypoint information booth during the event itself. Find out more about this downton Signature Event on downtownbillings.com.
Spend your Saturday mornings, rain-or-shine, mid July through early October, downtown at the Yellowstone Valley Farmers market at the intersection of N. Broadway and 2nd Ave N. The market area is open from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Enjoy the best collection of local and regional freshly grown and harvested produce from over 60 market vendors. As you stroll through the market, you’re sure to find something for every meal (and snack) of the day. Market goers will experience a variety of live performers, and the scents from mobile food vendors. For more information on market dates and list of vendors, visit yvfm.org or follow the market on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Fridays are always fun downtown, whether it’s simply because you’re wrapping up the work week with a dinner out or because you’re attending a special event at one of the downtown entertainment venues, museums, or galleries. But the first Friday in August each summer is an extra special evening downtown known as ‘Summer Stroll’. Summer Stroll is designed to give the community and downtown merchants a chance to celebrate the final month of the Summer season together. It’s an evening where the community is invited to all come and visit various downtown businesses, retail shops, and other activated downtown spaces with extended hours and end of season deals. You can enjoy freshly drawn chalk masterpieces from the day’s Chalk on the Walk event, live entertainment, and an abundance of art at the various August ArtWalk locations. Details about this downtown Signature event will be shared on downtownbillings.com.
Story by Lindsay Richardson, the Communications & Outreach Director for Downtown Billings.
