Business Bites: The Fire Truck; Spark! open to public; Cottonwood Festival revived; Arts on Fire t-shirt design contest deadline; JAWS dive-in movie; Toby’s House progress; and more
The Fire Truck
Fire Pizza has launched “The Fire Truck” serving from its existing menu.
The truck has a wood-fired oven and will serve the same great scratch-made food.
Grady Costello, owner, said that The Fire Truck will operate around town week to week and is open for booking for catering and events.
This week, the truck is at the Heidelberg on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It will be at Benefis on Mondays.
Costello said he’ll post updates of locations on Facebook.
For questions and booking, email firepizzagfmt@gmail.com.
Spark! Children’s Museum opens to public
Spark! Children’s Museum of Montana is now open to the public in their new location at 201 2nd Ave. S.
The museum will be open for public admission during July on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Spark! Children’s Museum opens June 13 to members
Admission rates for July are:
- museum members: free
- non-members, ages 2-99: $5 per person
- children under 2: free
- military with ID: $4 per person
- Museums for All, with photo ID and matching EBT card: $3 per person
“Our vision has always been to create a place where children can learn through exploration,
families can connect, and our community can come together to inspire the next generation,” Jaclyn Worstell, director, said in a release. “Opening our doors to the public marks an exciting milestone, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to experience all the museum has to offer.”
JAWS Dive-In movie
Great Falls Park and Recreation is showing ‘JAWS’ at its Dive in Movie at the Electric City Water Park on July 17 from 7-9 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own floats, but limited floats will be available at the park.
The concession stand will be open, so leave your coolers and outside food at home.
Cost is:
- $10 for adults
- $7 for youth
- $30 for a family of four (two adults/two kids)
Slides at Electric City Water Park reopened; neighborhood pools, splash pads open June 13
Downtown Night Market
The next downtown night market is July 17 from 5-9 p.m. on the 400 and 500 blocks of Central Avenue.
Streets will close at 3 p.m. for the market.
Cottonwood Festival returns
The History Museum and Research Center has revived the Cottonwood Festival, which is set for July 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum.
This festival occurred for nearly 20 years from 1987 to 2006, but was discontinued due to the cost and coordination required. There were close to 5,000 attendees in the past.
The revival of the Cottonwood Festival is a special event in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday and the Cascade County Historical Society’s 50th anniversary as a way to reflect on and learn about traditional lifeways, according to the museum.
The festival will include 15 artisans and demonstrators bringing history to life with flintknapping, blacksmithing, beadwork, ceramics, gold panning, bison tipis, beaver hats, wood carving, historic dolls, quilting, native games and more.
“This festival doesn’t just entertain, it protects and preserves our heritage while sparking curiosity in the next generation. As we mark the semiquincentennial, there’s no better time to reflect on where we came from. It delivers cultural enrichment for every resident and fuels real community pride for America’s 250th,” according to the museum.
Food trucks will be onsite.
The festival is free and open to the public. It’s being funded by a grant from the Montana 250 Commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Arts on Fire t-shirt design contest
The deadline for the 2026 Arts of Fire Festival t-shirt design contest is July 18.
Cascade County K-12 students (including homeschoolers) may submit a design.
Contestants must include the completed contact form to be eligible.
Contestants may enter up to three designs for consideration but will only be eligible for either first or second place.
An entry waiver must be received with all entries to be considered.
The design must be black line art only.
The artist must also sign their work.
Artwork should be original and creative to will be printed on t-shirts for this year’s festival. Designs with very thin lines are difficult to screenprint; make sure your design is clear and bold.
Learn more and download the full entry form at https://www.the-square.org/
Grant supports speech and hearing program
The Great Falls Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic received an $11,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana to support its early intervention speech and hearing outreach program.
“The Blue Impact grant allows our therapists to provide speech and hearing screenings directly within the community and to ensure children receive appropriate follow-up care when concerns are identified,” Molly Beck, executive director, said in a release.
Speech and hearing services are critical to reducing barriers to access and promoting the early identification and treatment of speech and hearing disorders.
The grant will strengthen the clinic’s ability to support childcare providers through education, resources and consultation, empowering them in their role as children’s first teachers and helping to foster healthy communication development from an early age.
BCBSMT’s Blue Impact grant initiative invests in and collaborates with community organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs that address the social and economic factors impacting health and wellness in Montana.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Montana raised $60,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Montana is celebrating a successful fundraising season after raising more than $60,000 through its Cash for the Kids Raffle and Golf Fore Kids’ Sake tournament.
The funds will directly support the organization’s mentoring programs, helping connect more local youth with caring adult mentors across Central Montana.
The annual Golf Fore Kids’ Sake tournament brought together 33 teams that included title sponsor Uptown Optimist Club of Great Falls, community members, businesses, and sponsors at Eagle Falls Golf Club.
During the tournament, Garrett St. Aubin hit a hole-in-one, winning $30,000 toward a new vehicle courtesy of City Motor Company.
“It was a great tournament and hitting a hole-in-one made for a memorable day,” Aubin said in a release. :If you’re thinking about playing next year, I’d definitely recommend signing up.”
The Cash for the Kids Raffle also generated tremendous community support, and the winners were drawn at the golf tournament.
- First Prize ($10,000): Ticket #4141
- Second Prize ($2,000): Ticket #4174
- Third Prize ($1,000): Ticket #0703
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Montana currently serves youth throughout the region by matching children with volunteer mentors who provide friendship, encouragement, and guidance. The organization is recruiting caring adults willing to become Bigs and help ignite the potential of the next generation.
Learn more about becoming a Big, supporting the organization, or making a donation here.
Montana Youth Symphony includes Great Falls musicians
Sixty-five of Montana’s most talented young musicians take the stage at the University of Montana’s Dennison Theatre at 3 p.m. Aug. 2 for the Montana Youth Symphony’s first-ever performance in Missoula.
In its fourth year, the Montana Youth Symphony brings together 65 musicians from communities across the state for an intensive week of rehearsals, mentorship, and music-making. Orchestra members range from exceptional high school musicians to emerging young professionals already beginning careers as performers.
This summer’s program includes six musicians with Great Falls area ties:
- Hayley Bouchard, cello
- Scotlen Brown, bassoon
- Adam Elkin, tuba
- Bayley Ginnaty Mickolio, viola
- Jessica Putnam, horn
- Anthony Rangel, percussion
The concert will be led by internationally acclaimed conductor Sir Donald Runnicles, who collaborates with the Montana Youth Symphony every year. Runnicles serves as music director of the Grand Teton Music Festival and chief conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic, and regularly appears with leading orchestras and opera companies around the world.
The program opens with the world premiere of Summit by Missoula-based composer Chris
Valian, the winning composition in the Montana Youth Symphony Composition Competition
The concert continues with Jean Sibelius’ stirring Finlandia and concludes with Johannes Brahms’
Symphony No. 1.
The Montana Youth Symphony provides its summer festival experience at no cost to participating musicians. Meals, travel, and housing throughout the festival week are provided by the organization, ensuring that talented musicians can participate regardless of financial circumstances.
Toby’s House progress
The Walsh Group and its community partners are making progress on the construction of the new Toby’s House Crisis Nursery.
The building exterior is nearing completion, with the standing-seam metal roof, exterior siding, windows and exterior utility installations now complete.
Inside the facility, crews have completed installation of the in-slab radiant heating system and the attic dry-pipe fire sprinkler system. Interior wall framing is currently underway, with electrical, HVAC, fire sprinkler, communications, and security rough-in work scheduled to begin this week, according to The Walsh Group.
New Toby’s House facility construction underway, donations being accepted
The project is on schedule for a move-in celebration in late August.
The Walsh Group would like to recognize and thank the following partners whose expertise, generosity, and commitment have helped advance the project:
The company thanked the following sponsors and partners on the project:
- Jimmy and Debbie Filipowicz – principal sponsor
- Nelson Architects – architectural and life-safety design
- TD&H Engineering – civil, structural, and electrical engineering, plus surveying
- Central Plumbing & Heating – HVAC and plumbing design, under-slab plumbing, rough-in work
- Emerald Fire – fire sprinkler design and system rough-in
- United Materials – foundation excavation, subgrade prep, site grading, concrete work
- Central Excavation – underground utility installation and foundation backfill
- Terracon – soil and materials testing
- Liberty Electric – underground and temporary electrical services
- Guy Tabacco Construction – truss installation, roofing, drywall
- Baker Electric – heated floor system installation
- EquipmentShare – construction equipment rentals
- The Tool Box – construction tools and project support
- Johnson Madison Lumber – trusses, lumber, building materials
- Protect Steel – roofing underlayment and standing-seam roofing materials
- Paradise Fence – security fencing and playground design
- Pacific Steel – rebar
- M&D Construction – overburden recycling and solid waste disposal
- Steel Etc. – recycling and hauling
Lewis and Clark Cross-Country Convoy
The Military Vehicle Preservation Association 2026 Lewis and Clark Cross-Country Convoy is making a stop at the Walmart parking lot on Aug. 1.
The public is invited to attend.
The convoy includes about 60-70 participants and 40-50 privately owned historic military vehicles representing military history from World War I through recently retired military vehicles.
Convoys travel about 120–150 miles per day at about 35 miles per hour, following many of America’s earliest and most scenic roadways during a journey lasting 20–30 days.
Each stop serves as a static display, allowing the public to view these historic vehicles up close and learn about their significance and service to our nation.
The convoy is expected to arrive at the Walmart parking lot between 4:30-5:30 p.m. Aug. 1.
American Legion Post Malmstrom 341 will be hosting the convoy participants for a spaghetti Dinner at about 6 p.m. at 2900 9th Ave. S. at the United Spirit Community Church.
Contact Kim Kay McCarty Martin, post adjutant, at 701-260-2833, for more information.
Got a business bite? Email it to jenn@theelectricgf.com with “business bite” in the subject line and the details in text form in the email.
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