Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off

05/05/2026

Back yard pitmasters and professionals alike are invited to compete!
9th Annual Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival is back, bigger and better than ever!
Bring the family and meet friends! Come to Historic Down Town Deer Lodge and experience a day filled with fun, food, art, music, brews, and much more!
There's a lot going on this year.
> Great Food - Contestants sell samples of their delectable creations.
> Fun Run - Hoofin' it on the Ranch takes you on a 3k, 5k, or 10k adventure through the enchanting Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Hosted by Powell County Parks Board.
> Brew Fest - Indulge in craft beers from around the region, hosted by Mount Powell Tap Room.
> Live Music - Enjoy the unique rock stylings of Montana Deluxe. Montana Deluxe has been making music since 2005, expressing its love of American roots music, from Surf, to Country, Soul, Gulf Coast Swamp Pop, Blues and Jazz and Rock and Roll. The band originated as the "house" band at Butte's Silver Dollar Saloon. Bryant McGregory and Bill Dwyer have been constants in an evolving band line up. Montana Deluxe has hosted the notorious after hours jam at the Montana Folk Festival for close to 25 years. They have played with literally hundreds of visiting festival performers including most recently members of Cyril Neville's band.
> Deer Lodge Chalk Art Festival - Feed your soul with art, as artists of various age and ability express themselves in a temporary median for your enjoyment.
> Vendors - Local vendors show off their wears as you peruse their bountiful booths for treasure.
🍗Cook off begins at 6pm July 24th with meat inspection.
🍗Judging starts at 10:20am July 25th.
🍗Event is open to the public from 12 to 4pm.
🍺Brewfest serves from 12 to 4pm.
🛍 Various vendors will be featured from 12 to 4pm.
🏃🏽‍♂️Hoofin' it on the Ranch Fun Run starts at 8am.
🎨Deer Lodge Chalk Art Festival- Artists can start as early as 6am, and have until 4pm to complete their work. Prizes will be awarded for 1st thru 3rd place. All ages are invited to participate. Entry is $15 and comes with a 12 piece box of vibrant Ambrite chalk. Entry can be purchased ahead of the event (with choice of location), or at the time of the event.

For more information, official rules, vendor and cook applications or to register online, https://www.discoverdeerlodge.org/ and click the "Events" tab at the top of the screen select "Cookin' on the Clark Fork", or go to 9th Annual Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival and click the "Get Tickets" tab, you can also register by mail at PO Box 382, Deer Lodge, MT 59722, or contact Rian King-Chavez at 406-506-8280.

05/02/2026

It's official
9th Annual Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival returns Sat. July 25th, 2026!
🍗Cook off begins at 6pm July 24th with meat inspection.
🍗Judging starts at 10:20am July 25th.
🍗Event is open to the public from 12 to 4pm.
🍺Brewfest serves from 12 to 4pm.
🛍Various vendors will be featured from 12 to 4pm.
🏃🏽‍♂️Hoofin' it on the Ranch Fun Run starts at 8am July 25th
🎨Chalk Art Festival - Artists can start as early as 5am, and have until 3pm to complete their work. Prizes will be awarded for 1st thru 3rd place. All ages are invited to participate. Entry is $15 and comes with a 12 piece box of vibrant Ambrite chalk. Entry can be purchased ahead of the event (with choice of location), or at the time of the event.
For more information or an registration form visit 9th Annual Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival, https://www.discoverdeerlodge.org/events-calendar, you can also contact Rian King-Chavez at 406-506-8280 or Kirk Hayes 360-224-7289.

07/21/2025

We have several volunteer slots still open.

Tasty Tokens: 1 needed 4pm to 6pm

Beer Tokens: 2 needed 4pm to 5pm

Drink Trailer: 1 needed from 2pm to 4pm

Chalk Art: 1 needed from 8am to 10am

We also need help to breakdown at the end of the event, at 6pm. We have to move fast, so the streets can open back up, so the more is better.

06/22/2025

06/22/2025

Back yard pitmasters and professionals alike are invited to compete!

Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival is back, bigger and better than ever!
Bring the family and meet friends! Come to Historic Down Town Deer Lodge and experience a day filled with fun, food, art, music, brews, and much more!
There's a lot going on this year.
> Great Food - Contestants sell samples of their delectable creations.
> Fun Run - Hoofin' it on the Ranch takes you on a 3k, 5k, or 10k adventure through the enchanting Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Hosted by Powell County Parks Board.
> Brew Fest - Indulge in craft beers from around the region, hosted by Mount Powell Tap Room.
> Live Music - Enjoy the unique rock stylings of Montana Deluxe. Montana Deluxe has been making music since 2005, expressing its love of American roots music, from Surf, to Country, Soul, Gulf Coast Swamp Pop, Blues and Jazz and Rock and Roll. The band originated as the "house" band at Butte's Silver Dollar Saloon. Bryant McGregory and Bill Dwyer have been constants in an evolving band line up. Montana Deluxe has hosted the notorious after hours jam at the Montana Folk Festival for close to 25 years. They have played with literally hundreds of visiting festival performers including most recently members of Cyril Neville's band.
> Corn Hole Competition - Show off your skills and compete against some of the best in the region.
> Deer Lodge Chalk Art Festival - Feed your soul with art, as artists of various age and ability express themselves in a temporary median for your enjoyment.
> Vendors - Local vendors show off their wears as you peruse their bountiful booths for treasure.
🍗Cook off begins at 6pm July 25th with meat inspection.
🍗Judging starts at 10:20am July 26th.
🍗Event is open to the public from 12 to 6pm.
🍺Brewfest serves from 12 to 6pm.
🛍 Various vendors will be featured from 12 to 6pm.
🏃🏽‍♂️Hoofin' it on the Ranch Fun Run starts at 8am.
New!!!
🎨Deer Lodge Chalk Art Festival- Artists can start as early as 6am, and have until 4pm to complete their work. Prizes will be awarded for 1st thru 3rd place. All ages are invited to participate. Entry is $15 and comes with a 12 piece box of vibrant Ambrite chalk. Entry can be purchased ahead of the event (with choice of location), or at the time of the event.
For more information, official rules, vendor and cook applications or to register online, visit discoverdeerlodge.org and click the "Events" tab at the top of the screen select "Cookin' on the Clark Fork", or go to Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival and click the "Get Tickets" tab, you can also register by mail at PO Box 382, Deer Lodge, MT 59722, or contact Rian King-Chavez at 406-506-8280.

05/17/2025

Calling all cooks!
Professional and backyard pitmasters alike are invited to compete!
Are you a virtuoso of the grill, the Picasso of the pig, a Barron of brisket? Have you been told your your grill skills could pay the bills?

Come have some fun in the sun at the 8th annual Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival !
Top prizes and lots of fun!

For more information, official rules, vendor and cook applications or to register online, visit discoverdeerlodge.org and click the "Events" tab at the top of the screen select "Cookin' on the Clark Fork", or go to Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ Cook-off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival and click the "Get Tickets" tab, you can also register by mail at PO Box 382, Deer Lodge, MT 59722, or contact Rian King-Chavez at 406-506-8280.

The 8th Annual Cookin’ on The Clark Fork BBQ Cook-Off, Brewfest, and Chalk Art Festival Saturday, July 26th, 2025 Main Street, Historic Downtown Deer Lodge, MontanaPlease purchase entries for Cooks and Vendors Below! Physical forms can also be found here:Cooks Entry FormVendor ApplicationRules and...

04/06/2025

It's official Cookin' on the Clark Fork will return July 26th, 2025, with a new addition to the event!
🍗Cook off begins at 6pm July 25th with meat inspection.
🍗Judging starts at 10:20am July 26th.
🍗Event is open to the public from 12 to 6pm.
🍺Brewfest serves from 12 to 6pm.
🛍Various vendors will be featured from 12 to 6pm.
🏃🏽‍♂️Hoofin' it on the Ranch Fun Run starts at 8am.
New!!!
🎨Chalk Art Festival - Artists can start as early as 6am, and have until 4pm to complete their work. Prizes will be awarded for 1st thru 3rd place. All ages are invited to participate. Entry is $15 and comes with a 12 piece box of vibrant Ambrite chalk. Entry can be purchased ahead of the event (with choice of location), or at the time of the event.
For more information or an registration form visit discoverdeerlodge.org, you can also contact Rian King-Chavez at 406-506-8280 or Terry Jennings at 406-498-4877.

06/28/2024

With incredibly heavy hearts Discover Deer Lodge must announce the cancellation of this year's Cookin' on the Clark Fork BBQ & Brewfest event due to unexpected circumstances in the lives of our organizers.

We appreciate everyone's understanding and patience as we work through this difficult decision and lend support to those organizers currently in need. Registered vendors/entries will be contacted in the coming weeks and refunds will be issued.

We look forward to seeing everyone for next year's event on July 26, 2025!