The Electric is celebrating what makes Great Falls Great and unique with its local businesses and places.

The focus is on local businesses, but we know some have locally owned franchises.

It’s the seventh annual contest and The Electric is turning nine this summer.

We’ve kept most of the same categories as last year, with a few new ones.

This year, we used the same format as our first year, with every category as a write-in. The business/person/place/item/activity with the most votes wins.

This contest was created and curated entirely by The Electric. It’s free to participate and no business is asked to pay anything, nor do we place ads within our contest. Businesses are encouraged to share the contest and ask their fans to vote, but that’s entirely up to them.

Voting was open Aug. 14-21.

Here are your 2026 Great Falls Greats winners:

Best Restaurant: Magpie

Best Bar: Magpie

Best Coffee Shop: Crooked Tree

Best Bakery: Hempl’s

Best Dive Bar: Sip ‘n Dip

Best Greasy Spoon: Tracy’s Family Diner

Best Local Shop: Hometana

Best Brunch: Magpie

Best Breakfast: Tracy’s Family Diner

Best Breakfast Burrito: Magpie

Best Waffles: Tracy’s Family Diner

Best Event: Great Falls Farmers’ Market

Best Group Activity: Plinko at Digital Karma

Best Trivia: Magpie

Best Pizza: Fire Pizza

Best Fries: Magpie

Best Steak: TIE: Rib and Chop House and Beef N Bone

Best Burgers: Roadhouse Diner

Best Food Truck: Purple.Gold

Best Fried Thing That’s Not Fries: coconut cauliflower at Magpie

Best Ethnic Food: Xóchitl

Best New Local Restaurant That Opened 2024/2025: Xóchitl

Best Tacos: Magpie

Best Barbecue: Smoked.

Best Burrito: Magpie

Best Lunch Spot: Magpie

Best Doughnuts: Hempl’s

Best Pie: Double Barrel Coffee House Cafe

Best Milkshake: Ford’s Drive In

Best Cupcakes: Cakes by Carr

Best Desserts: Frosted Goose Bakery

Best Happy Hour: Dante’s

Best Margarita: Xóchitl

Best Bloody Mary: Elevation 3330

Best Caeser: Magpie

Best Specialty Cocktails: KellerGeist

Best Craft Beer: Mighty Mo

Best Wine Selection: 5th and Wine

Best Local Brewer: Mighty Mo

Best Seasonal Beer: Mighty Mo

Best Mimosa: Magpie

Best Bartender: Larry Phillips at KellerGeist

Best Non-Coffee Drink: Soda Station

Best Specialty Coffee: Crooked Tree

Best Barista: Jesse at Al Banco

Best Women’s Boutique: GRAE + CO

Best Quirky Gifts: TIE: Hometana and Dragonfly Dry Goods

Best Home Goods: Pizazz

Best Florist: My Viola

Best Photographer: Matt Ehnes

Best Maker Space: TIE: The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers and Brush Crazy

Best Specialty Classes: Pizazz

Best Bookstore: Cassiopeia Books

Best Butcher Shop: Central Avenue Meats

Best Local Clothing Store: Daydream Boutique

Best Thrift Store: Goodwill

Best Outdoor/Recreation Store: Bighorn Outdoor Specialists

Best Pet Store: Fetch

Best Tattoo Place: Digital Karma Tattoo

Best Date Night Spot: Magpie

Best Dog Friendly Spot: Magpie

Best Girls Night: Magpie

Best Patio Sitting and Sipping: Magpie

Best Workout/Gym: The Peak

Best Salon/Barber: Wicked Hair Co.

Best Museum: C.M. Russell Museum

Best Art Gallery: C.M. Russell Museum

Best Local Band/Musician: Midnight Fistfight

Best Place for Dancing: The Wild Hare

Best Kids Activities: honey hippo. Play Cafe

Best Golf: Anaconda Hills Golf Course

Best Walking/Running Route: River’s Edge Trail

Best Hike: Sluice Boxes State Park

Best Picnic Spot: Giant Springs State Park

Best Scenic Photo Spot: Giant Springs State Park

Best River Activities: Floating

Best Instagrammable Location: Downtown murals

Best Selfie Spot: Downtown murals