Red Lodge Cowgirl Showdown: Western Fashion, Country Music, Dance, and Poetry
Fall in Red Lodge is one of my favorite times of year. It's cool and crisp, and most of the summer-season tourists are gone. Skiers aren't skiing yet, and it's a great time for folks in the Billings area to come "play tourist" for a day. The aspens are popping, and Beartooth Pass is still open (typically through mid-October, check MT511).
October 4th and 5th provide an extra incentive to visit RL, with the Montana Cowgirl Showdown, hosted by the Carbon County Historical Society. The 2nd annual, two-day event showcases Montana's most talented Cowgirls in four categories:
- Poetry
- Country Music
- Western Fashion
- Dance
Cash prizes are awarded in youth and adult age groups, and one Montana Cowgirl will win a Finalist spot on Montana's Got Talent, held in Whitefish, MT, in the spring of 2026.
A successful return of the Festival of Nations.
Becky Van Horn, Carbon County Preservation Officer, reported that the 2025 Red Lodge Festival of Nations was an overwhelming success. The Carbon County Historical Society was thrilled, as the event hadn't been held since 2017.
Read More: The Cost of Food in 1863 Montana is Mind Blowing
If you love Montana history, Red Lodge is a great place to start.
It was a favored land of Indigenous people, and became an interesting Montana melting pot when explorers, settlers, ranchers, and miners came West; most passing through, but some putting down roots at the foot of the beautiful Beartooths.
When we last spoke with Van Horn, she indicated that they have lots of entries for the Cowgirl Showdown in all categories except Country Music. So... if you're a singer-songwriter, this might be your break. The winner of Montana's Got Talent is awarded $3,000, an opening act spot with a national touring act, and more.
Inside the Action: Moments from the Red Lodge Rodeo
Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor