As a non-profit, our ability to put on great programs for the community depends upon grant awards, the generosity of our local community, and on building meaningful and lasting relationships. We are delighted to announce that our organization has been awarded a $25k economic impact and destination event grant from the Department of Commerce for this year’s Gold Rush Days festival! See the press release here!
Thank you to The Department of Commerce. Your $25k grant award will help cover numerous event expenses germane to putting on (with the help of so many others!) a fantastic city-wide festival for our community and visitors.
About 2025 Gold Rush Days & What’s in Store for the Community this May!
Gold Rush Days celebrates Helena’s rich gold mining history, showcasing the diverse cultural influences brought together during the gold rush era through reenactments, historic demonstrations, and storytelling. With activities designed for all ages, the event is family-friendly, offering something for history buffs, kids, and families alike. The event fosters community engagement and supports local businesses, while preserving and educating visitors about the city’s unique historical and cultural legacy.
Building on the success of Gold Rush Days in 2023 and 2024, this year’s festival will celebrate: (1) the history of Helena in engaging, interactive, and community-building ways, (2) the history and beauty of Last Chance Gulch (and all of the businesses and people that bring such vitality to it), and (3) the unique role of Reeder’s Alley in our community & sense of place it offers, historically (as Helena’s oldest intact piece of early Helena and hub for cosmopolitan thinking/activities) and today (as a place of community, living history, and joy).
The festival will offer activities in the downtown and Reeder’s Alley area for people of all ages including gold & sapphire panning, Pioneer Cabin Living History & Tours, historic walking tours, live music & beer gardens, quick draw art auctions, Montana history movies, Stories from our Elders, Pioneer music, Can Can Dancers, hands-on craft activities & games for kids, a gold nugget hunt, and more!!!
Merlin is working with/on a festival committee dedicated to making this event a success.
Shout out to our fellow committee members (and orgs): Laura Langdon, Katelyn Griepp (Helena Indian Alliance), Damain Boudreau (PureView Health Center), Zachary Coe (The Foundation for Montana History), Elena and Ramon Ramos (REDS), Christina Lipetzky (REDS), Abigail Dolan (Helena BID), Neil Sauter (Sauter Balloons), Emma Mangum (Someday Design Studio), and Heather Lay. Thank you also to AshLy Tubbs (our grant award manager from the Office of Tourism at the Department of Commerce); we’re stoked to be working with her!
As was the case in 2023 & 2024, we are excited to continue our work with numerous community partner organizations and people in the downtown area that help to make this festival such a fun event for all!
Shout out to Gold Rush Days community partner orgs: Montana Heritage Commission, Visit Helena, Ten Mile Creek Brewery, Lewis & Clark Brewing, Blackfoot River Brewing, The Windsor & Lobby at the Iron Front, Holter Museum of Art, Lewis & Clark Library, Doubletree by Hilton Helena Downtown, Sanford & Son Auto (our gold & Sapphire Panning crew!), and Reeder’s Alley businesses! And, of course, many thanks to the amazing Jodi Delaney for her tireless work and advocacy for bringing history to life!
~ Stay tuned for the event schedule & more on our Gold Rush Days Facebook event page! ~
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