fairgrounds
Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds events – Helena, MT
A 160-acre county fairgrounds on Custer Avenue with a 36,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall, grandstand and arenas, home of the Last Chance Stampede and Fair every July.
98 W Custer Ave, Helena, MT 59602 · Official site
Upcoming at Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
Nothing listed for today. Listings refresh every morning (last update 2026-09-15).
About Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
The Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds cover 160 acres at 98 W Custer Ave on Helena's north side, a site the county says has been a gathering place since the late 1800s. The main buildings are the 36,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall, the Entry Hall, a Multi-Purpose Building, the Cool Alley indoor arena, the grandstand and outdoor arena, horse stalls, picnic shelters and a campground. The county runs it as a year-round rental venue for trade shows, concerts, markets, dog and horse shows and community gatherings, and it is the home of the Last Chance Stampede and Fair in the last week of July.
The entrance is off West Custer Avenue and parking is inside the grounds; event organizers set any parking rules and fees for the fair and concerts. The fairgrounds office is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (406-457-8516) and closed weekends and federal holidays. Admission depends on the event: the Last Chance Community Pow Wow is free, the Holiday MADE Fair charges up to $10, and Stampede rodeo and concert tickets sell through AXS. The Helena Bighorns play at Steed Arena, the former Helena Ice Arena, which has its own address at 400 Lola St.
What happens here
- Last Chance Stampede and Fair, the county fair and rodeo with grandstand concerts (66th edition July 21 to 25, 2026, with Travis Tritt and Daughtry booked)
- Helena Holiday MADE Fair, a market of local artists and makers in the Exhibit Hall each December (December 4, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m.)
- Last Chance Community Pow Wow in the Exhibit Hall each September (27th annual, September 25 to 27, 2026, free)
- Helena Gun Show weekends in the Exhibit Hall (August 14 to 16 and November 6 to 8, 2026)
- Sleeping Giant Mayhem demolition derby and touring concerts such as Hairball in September
- Horse shows, dog shows, trade shows and 4-H events through the year, plus shelter and campsite rentals
Good to know
- Check the event's own page for parking and gate times; the fairgrounds office does not staff weekends.
- The Exhibit Hall is the indoor building used for winter and shoulder-season shows, so most December and February events are there rather than in the arenas.
- Stampede concert tickets are sold through AXS, not the fairgrounds office.
Annual events at Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds FAQ
- What events happen at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds?
- The Last Chance Stampede and Fair in late July is the biggest, with rodeo and grandstand concerts. The Exhibit Hall hosts the Last Chance Community Pow Wow in September, gun shows in August and November, and the Helena Holiday MADE Fair in December, along with trade shows, horse and dog shows and 4-H events during the year.
- Where is the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds and where do I park?
- The fairgrounds are at 98 W Custer Ave in Helena, MT 59602, on the north side of town. Parking is on the grounds through the Custer Avenue entrance; for the fair and concerts, follow the organizer's posted parking directions and expect fees for some events.
- When is the Last Chance Stampede and Fair?
- It is held the last week of July at the fairgrounds. The 66th annual Stampede and Fair ran July 21 to 25, 2026, with rodeo performances and concerts in the grandstand; tickets for those are sold through AXS.