This Montana Town Looks Like a Christmas Card—And ‘Elves’ Decorate It Each Year With 10,000 Feet of Garland and Lights

Like most towns in MontanaBigfork is a place you can go to relish the great outdoors. There’s hiking, biking, camping, and fly fishing—plus your pick of water activities in the summer, thanks to its enviable position on Flathead Lake and proximity to the Swan and Flathead Rivers. That said, Bigfork is also a place with its own unique identity, one with strong ties to the holidays.

“Bigfork, especially during the holiday season, feels like a postcard brought to life,” Rebekah King, the executive director of the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce, tells Travel + Leisure. “As an unincorporated community, Bigfork is quite literally built by volunteers—from the Bigfork Elves who hang over 10,000 feet of lights and garland each winter, to the parades and festivals Bigfork is known for.” For decades, the Bigfork Elves have spent the Saturday before Thanksgiving turning the town into something out of a Hallmark movie. It’s a day of red Santa hats, warm drinks, sweet treats, and all things jolly—and it results in Bigfork’s transformation into “Montana’s Christmas Village.”

If you’re hoping to experience a small-town holiday, Montana-style, this is the place to go. But no matter when you arrive for your Bigfork adventure, King has a few pieces of advice: “Take your time, talk to the shop owners and restaurant servers, appreciate the space you are in, and maybe try to leave it better than you found it.” With her words in mind, here’s how to plan a trip to Bigfork, Montana.

Where to Stay

Bridge Street Cottages

A delightful home-away-from-home experience awaits at Bigfork’s Bridge Street Cottageswhere guests can book one of the 13 unique accommodations. “The cottages are right downtown on the Swan River; you can walk to everything and really get into the spirit of Montana’s Christmas Village,” says King.

Mountain Lake Lodge

“Mountain Lake Lodge is four miles south, but it is one of my top picks because the outdoor hot tub overlooking the lake is a magical place to relax on a snowy night,” says King. The 30 cozy fireplace suites come with all the amenities—free Wi-Fi, a coffee maker, and a deck or patio—and guests can take advantage of the continental breakfast, exercise room, and laundry services.

Best Things to Do

Ring in the holidays.

The holiday season in Bigfork starts in November. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Bigfork Elves decorate the town, with an annual tree lighting following suit. “The tree lighting really kicks off the holiday season in Bigfork and, more than any other event, truly makes you feel like you have stepped into a Hallmark movie,” says King. “The Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts hosts ballets and plays, there is music, bonfires, and pictures with Santa.”

Even if you miss the big day, there is still plenty of holiday magic to soak up throughout December. “My favorite part of the holiday season in Bigfork is that it can’t be enjoyed without intention. Bigfork runs on its own pace, almost like island time, and you can’t help but slow down,” she adds. “There are no box stores, just shopkeepers who handpick every item in their stores. I like to call it giving twice, once to your loved one you are making this purchase for, and then the gift of supporting the small businesses that make Bigfork so unique.”

Shop around downtown Bigfork.

“I think so much of the charm of Bigfork is in our historic downtown area filled with galleries, boutiques, and one-of-a-kind shops,” says King. She recommends spending a few hours just wandering around and popping into places like Eva Gates Homemade Preserves, Electric Buffalo Gallery, FoR Fine Artand Kehoe’s Agate Shop.

Make a road trip out of your visit.

Bigfork is less than an hour’s drive to the western entrance of Glacier National Park—making it the perfect launching point for all sorts of incredible park adventures, including driving the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road. But, says King, you may also want to plan out a road trip around Flathead Lake or along the Seeley Swan Corridor. “Stop at scenic overlooks, find incredible hikes at the end of forest service roads, explore local businesses, and sample local cuisine,” she says.

Come for the plays, films, and live music.

Bigfork’s other claim to fame, outside of its holiday festivities, is its fabulous arts and culture scene, which centers around the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. “From the Bigfork Summer Playhouse and Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre to ballet and film festivals, the BCPA is the anchor of downtown Bigfork, and there is always something happening on that stage,” says King.

Bigfork’s creativity can also be found in the live music scene. “I say this so often it almost feels like a broken record, but of all the amazing things in Bigfork, the sheer talent of our local musicians might be most impressive,” she adds. “In the summer, there is live music every single night; in the winter, Andy’s Crafthouse and Buffalo Saloon keep the music flowing. “

Attend small-town festivals.

Bigfork may be tiny, but its lineup of things to do is larger than life. During May’s Bigfork Whitewater Festivalthe longest-running event in town, rafters come to the area to race along the “Wild Mile,” a class IV section of whitewater and the last mile of the Swan River. Then in August, the Bigfork Festival of the Arts brings in more than 140 arts and crafts booths and over 6,000 attendees, all of whom come to shop, eat, drink, and listen to live entertainment.

Where to Eat and Drink

Saketome Sushi

“We have unexpectedly good sushi right in downtown Bigfork,” says King. She calls the menu at Saketome Sushi “creative,” and adds that “the fish is fresh.” Sip on a Flathead cherry mule or a hibiscus margarita while you’re deciding what to order for dinner.

Whistling Andy Distillery

While in Bigfork, those over 21 will want to stop in Montana’s oldest continuously operating distillery, Whistling Andy Distillery. For $15, guests can join a 20-to-30-minute tour, which includes a draft cocktail or a flight tasting.

Woods Bay Wine

King says Woods Bay Wine is “the perfect place to pick up some wine knowledge and a few bottles to take home.” The bottle shop is also part restaurant, with a menu of small plates that pair well with your chosen wine, as well as a dinner menu that changes weekly.

Birch Provisions

For breakfast, lunch, or a bit of shopping in Bigfork, stop in Birch Provisions. “They also have a retail space filled with all your charcuterie essentials and picnic basket provisions,” says King. Open daily, except Tuesdays, until 4 p.m., this is a great choice for a post-hike afternoon pick-me-up.

Flathead Lake Brewing Co.

Craft beer isn’t the only thing on the menu at Flathead Lake Brewing Co.’s Pubhouse. There’s also pizza, burgers, soups, salads, and incredible waterfront views from the open-air decks—best enjoyed in the summer months.

Best Time to Visit

For the quintessential holiday scene, you’ll want to visit Bigfork in December—but that’s certainly not the only time to embrace the small town’s charms. “Anytime after Labor Day is, in my opinion, the best time to visit. Glacier National Park is still open, the summer crowds have gone home, the weather is amazing, and the fall colors are beautiful,” says King. “Then, just as the last leaves fall from the trees, you wake up to a blanket of fresh snow on the ground, and it becomes a winter wonderland.”

If you plan to come in the summer months—July is peak season in the area—prepare to navigate around fellow visitors. “Remember to pack a little extra patience and make your reservations early,” King warns.

How to Get There

Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell is the closest airport to Bigfork. It’s about 35 minutes away, and you can rent a car on-site. Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) is another option, but it will require an additional two-hour drive to Bigfork. And if you’d prefer to arrive by train? Book Amtrak’s Empire Builder to the Whitefish Depot, then rent a car to drive the 45 minutes to Bigfork.

How to Get Around

Having your own car is going to be the best way to get around Bigfork. After all, when you’re this close to Glacier National Park, you’ll want the freedom to explore all of its hiking trails, glacial lakes, and stunning drives. However, you can also book shuttles and taxis through Mountain Shuttle.