Made in Montana Trade Show Heads to Helena Fairgrounds in March 2026

The Made in Montana Trade Show for Food and Gifts opens this morning at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds on West Custer Avenue, kicking off two days of Montana-made products ranging from shelf-stable foods and personal care items to home goods, clothing, and gifts.

Today, Friday March 13, the fairgrounds floor is reserved exclusively for wholesale buyers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Retailers and merchants from across the state are expected to browse booths from over 250 participating companies, according to the Montana Department of Commerce, which organizes the annual event. Wholesale buyers who have not yet registered can do so through the Commerce Department's buyer registration page.

Saturday's public showcase runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 98 West Custer Ave., with free admission and free parking. The Department of Commerce says the Saturday floor typically draws more than 5,000 visitors. Local radio outlet 94.5 Max Country has described the public day as featuring "over 100 different vendors," a figure that diverges from the Commerce Department's count of 250-plus companies; both figures reflect the show's considerable scale either way.

The trade show is part of the state's broader Made in Montana program, which the Commerce Department describes as helping Montana businesses develop and market their products both inside and outside the state. Related certification programs, including Grown in Montana and Native American Made in Montana, are also part of that umbrella effort to highlight authentically Montana-made goods.

Exhibitors at this year's show were required to attend both days, a standard condition of participation. The application window for companies seeking to exhibit closed in October 2025, and the Commerce Department's selection process is not first-come-first-served.

The Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds can be reached at 406-457-8516. A separate event listing phone number, (406) 841-2757, appears on regional tourism listings for the show.