BOZEMAN — The annual Sweet Pea Festival is in its 42nd year and going strong.
As many as 15,000 people are expected to attend this year. It's a weekend of music, arts and crafts and activities for people of all ages to enjoy.
Saturday’s festivities began with five and 10k races in Bozeman, followed by the kids' run down Main Street. Shortly after was the parade, which is one of the largest and most popular in the state of Montana.
Peggy Kimmet, a Bozeman local, said the parade is about community and brings residents together.
“All the organizations come together and work to make this community,” said Kimmet. “This parade is a good celebration of all those parts of the community.”
Lindley Park opened for the weekend festivities late Friday afternoon. Inside the venue were artists and vendors from across Montana, as well as different parts of the country.
“Basically people from the community started this festival, and all these years the community has been supporting it,” said Kris Olenicki, executive director of the Sweet Pea Festival.
“And in turn, Sweet Pea supports the community as well because when we make money, we just put it back into the community as far as giving sponsorships and arts education and grants to other arts organizations.”
The Sweet Pea Festival is filled with arts and crafts, music and dance, a flower show, and of course, some tasty treats.
Madi Lapp was the winner of the Sweet Pea Festival poster contest and was signing posters this afternoon.
“I definitely want to check out the music, definitely want to go see all the artists,” said Lapp.
The Sweet Pea Festival continues throughout the weekend. All money raised from the event goes towards festival operations, as well as the arts and special projects in the community.
Gaby Krevat
