Happy weekend, Great Falls! In today’s happening-today edition: An $800 million expansion, the Saturday morning market, and the summer solstice floating sound bowl + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New specialty access in town: Great Falls Clinic opened the Capital City Specialty Center in Helena, focused on orthopedic care led by Dr. Peter Hanson, with pulmonology outreach planned amid shifts in Helena’s orthopedic landscape -- see the specialty center plans.
Expanded stormwater planning: City commissioners approved a $12,000 change for Great West Engineering, expanding planning for a northeast Great Falls stormwater pond to reduce flooding, relieve the main interceptor, and support future development -- see the stormwater plans.
Montana makes a pitch: After Janicki Industries announced an $800 million Great Falls expansion, Gov. Gianforte urged Washington companies to expand here, citing 1,000 jobs in five years and more than 2,000 once complete -- get the expansion details.
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Quick mountain reset: Just under an hour away, Aspen Campground offers a no-fuss first-come-first-served escape to the Little Belts, with tall pines, cool air, and trails for days. Pack a camp chair, bring your favorite mug, and let your brain idle while the sky and fresh air do their thing.
Range day, upgraded: Whether you're dusting off the deer rifle or just want some plinking therapy, Great Falls Sports Shooting Complex has a 50-yard plinking range for rimfire and handguns, covered benches at 200 and 300 yards, plus skeet with the Sun River Skeet Club. Membership with a quick orientation keeps it friendly.
Craving the coast? When you want a break from beef and something that tastes like a mini seaside escape, Ocean Star Seafood Co delivers the goods with unfussy plates, shareable bites, and enough variety to keep your crew happy... even the one who swears they only eat burgers.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🛍 Saturday Morning Market @ Great Falls Civic Center | Saturday (6/20) at 8:30 AM – Take a stroll to the Civic Center for the Saturday Morning Market, a summer staple with over 170 vendors sprawled across three lots. Come for peaches and good coffee, stay for bumping into everyone you know, and somehow leaving with artisan pickles and a birdhouse.
🏛 38th Annual Lewis & Clark Festival @ Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center | Saturday (6/20) at 9:30 AM – Great Falls’ favorite time-travel weekend returns, with a riverside BBQ slinging bison burgers, then living-history camps, artisans, and the Grammy-winning Black Lodge Singers by Giant Springs. It’s exploration without the blisters, all in support of the Interpretive Center, and yes, the swivel gun still booms.
🏰 GFGS 3rd Saturday's - Fort Shaw History @ Great Falls Public Library | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Burnette Batista traces Fort Shaw’s past and its mark on life here today. Whether you grew up on campfire lore or skim museum plaques, here is the story behind our streets, surnames, and politics, told with the dry local insight you pretend you already knew.
🥂 Mimosas and Brats @ KellerGeist Pub Theater | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Think brunch is just avocado toast? Try Saturday mornings with award-winning mimosas and authentic German brats, the kind that make your grill jealous. Bring the kids, sip something bubbly, and pretend this counts as cultural enrichment, and a balanced breakfast.
🚚 Protech Steel Truck Show @ Drew Pagan Protech Steel | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – If you’ve been looking for a legal way to settle decades of horsepower gossip, the Protech Steel truck show has AWR Service rolling in with a dyno. Bring your hot rods, trucks, and bravado, then let the rollers decide whose bark actually has bite.
🍳 Father's Day Breakfast @ Great Falls Elks Lodge #214 | Sunday (6/21) at 9:00 AM – Skip the necktie routine and treat Dad to a proper Father’s Day breakfast with waffles, an omelet bar, and all the good stuff. He gets crispy edges, you get peace, coffee, and bragging rights. Locals know seats go quick, so reservations are wise.
🧘 Summer Solstice Floating Sound Bowl @ Electric City Water Park | Sunday (6/21) at 6:30 PM – Nothing beats a mellow float with singing bowls to welcome the solstice, especially outdoors. For $25 you get deep breaths, Big Dipper ice cream with vegan, gluten-free options, and the smug satisfaction of calling dessert self-care. Cheaper than therapy, quieter than family. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The Great Falls report Weather forecastToday — High: 84°F — Low: 51°F — Precip: 10% Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tomorrow — High: 72°F — Low: 46°F — Precip: 16% A slight chance of rain showers between noon and 3pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North northwest wind 3 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. This house is wildThis rare circa-1910 Sears & Roebuck kit home blends historic charm with smart modern updates, including a 2024 kitchen renovation, 2025 main bath refresh, and new main-floor flooring. With five bedrooms, a finished basement, a covered deck, hot tub, mature landscaping, and a heated 4-car shop plus 2-car garage, it is packed with personality and practicality.
Take a peek inside → | | |