DEMOS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Horse Packing: Friday, July 24th 3:00pm

Keegan Rumsey  joins us from Choteau with decades of experience packing horses and mules in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.  Come learn about how to manty a load and how to load a pack horse.  She currently owns and operates KR Equine, performing equine bodywork for horses and mules across Montana. She also sits on the Board for the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, stop by their booth to say hi!

Horse & Wagon Driving: Friday, July 24th 5:00 PM

Come check out how to drive a team of horses! JD Vukonich with his team of Suffolk horses will be demonstrating how to work a team pulling a wagon. JD is a long-time local cowboy who still feeds cows with a team in the winter months.

Crosscut Competition Practice Time: Saturday, July 25th 11:00 AM

Getting ready to enter the famous Red Ants Pants Crosscut Competition on Sunday? Now is your chance to get some practice, try out our saws, and find a partner if you still need one.  Did we mention there are great prizes? Beginners welcome and encouraged!

Meat Processing Saturday, July 25th 1:00 PM

Come check out Sierra Jepson of Butcher Solutions out of Three Forks.  She’ll demonstrate the bare bones basics of how to be your own butcher at home while cutting up a side of pork. Butchery made simple.

MSU Big Sky Timbersports:  Saturday, July 25th, 2:30PM

Check out the folks from the MSU timbersports club. They’ll be demonstrating traditional forestry skills such as the underhand chop, pee-vee log roll, and obstacle pole.

Nailed It! Carpentry 101: Saturday, July 25th 4:00 PM Saturday

One of our Red Ants Pants Foundation Timber Skills workshops is Carpentry 101*. Come join Cole Sommers and Anna Baker, two of our instructors. We know you know how to use a hammer, but have you ever competed in a nail-pounding race?? Beginners welcome! And of course, there will be prizes.

Historic Window Preservation: Saturday, July 25th 6:00 PM

Did you know that restored historic windows can be as energy efficient as new windows, and much cheaper? Preserve Montana is putting on a historic window preservation demonstration to show you how to repair the most common maintenance issue with old windows—glazing. Using traditional techniques and materials, the PMT restoration crew will provide a hands-on demo and answer any burning window questions you may have!

Crosscut Competition Preliminaries: Sunday, July 26th 11:00 AM

Presented by the Red Ants Pants Foundation, this festival favorite is back again! Come cheer on these folks as they saw their hearts out. Anyone over 18 years old may participate. Closed-toe shoes and gloves are required (we have extra gloves and chaps will be provided). Women’s, men’s, and co-ed divisions. Sign up at the demo area. Preliminaries are on Sunday at 11:00 AM. Finals are on Sunday at 2:30 PM.

Equine Dentistry with Mountain Valley Veterinary Services: Sunday, July 26th 1:00 PM

Come check out a demo on the importance of maintaining healthy teeth in a horse. Local vet Ben Bennett with Mountain Valley Veterinary Services out of Livingston will be teaching how to float a horse’s teeth.  He may or may not have an answer as to why it is called “floating” teeth. 

Crosscut Finals: Sunday, July 26th 2:30 PM

Presented by the Red Ants Pants Foundation, come cheer on these finalists. Winners of the Crosscut Competition will receive a weekend pass to the 2027 Red Ants Pants Music Festival. Buck yeah.

*The Red Ants Pants Foundation puts on Women’s Work Skills courses each year in White Sulphur.
Sign up at the Foundation tent! More info at www.redantspantsfoundation.org.

FILM SHORTS LAUNCH PARTY

Thursday, July 23rd 4:00 PM | $10 Suggested Donation

The Feeling of Home ⋅ Mother Range ⋅ The Women of White Sulphur Springs

This year’s short films reflect the mission of the Red Ants Pants Foundation. Together, these stories highlight themes of place, identity, and rural experience, while also uplifting the importance of developing leadership opportunities for women, supporting working family farms and ranches, and enriching rural communities. Your donation directly supports the programs of the Foundation.

*Films are also available for viewing at 10am Friday and Saturday

COMMUNITY GRANT PANEL DISCUSSION

Thursday, July 23rd 5:15 PM | Free

Join an engaging conversation focused on rural creativity, leadership, and community impact. This panel brings together inspiring voices from our Community Grant Recipients from across Montana.

Each year, with proceeds from the Red Ants Pants Music Festival, the Red Ants Pants Foundation awards grants to organizations and individuals whose projects further our mission pillar of enriching and promoting rural communities. To date, the Red Ants Pants Foundation has granted $20,000 to over 130 entities across nearly every corner of Montana!

Hosted in collaboration with Megan Torgerson, founder and host of Reframing Rural and a 2026 Community Grant recipient, the discussion will highlight a range of community organizations and initiatives from across the state.

NEW! CAMPGROUND AWARDS

Awards presented on the Side Stage, Sunday at 1:00 pm

Put your camp decorating skills to the test in celebration of our 15th anniversary–there will be prizes! Winners will be chosen for Best Overall, Best Ant Theme, and Funniest. Sign up to enter with Mikey at the Campground entrance tent. Winners will be selected by a jury of festival staff.

YOGA

Friday through Sunday at 9:00 AM

In honor of our anniversary, we have added a THIRD day of yoga!  Guided by Belgrade yogi Katie Mayfield, yoga will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings on the north side of the campground, just east of the path to the festival grounds. Bring your own water and mat, or connect directly with the pasture. In addition to yoga, Katie’s business Full Circle Wellness centers around mindfulness, healing and social emotional learning.

YODELING CONTEST WITH EMCEE SHINYRIBS

Friday, July 14th 1:30 PM

This is an event not to be missed! Kicking off the festival in style, come join our Friday headliner Shinyribs emcee our 15th Anniversary Yodeling Contest at the Side Stage! No experience required, come one, come all to share your talents yodeling your hearts out.  There will be prizes!

13th ANNUAL BEARD AND MOUSTACHE COMPETITION

Saturday, July 25th 11:00 AM

The thirteenth annual Red Ants Pants Beard and Moustache Competition will be the biggest competition to date! Owner/operator of Briggs Beard Co., Briggs Weyrauch, will host the event.

Compete in one of five categories: Best Moustache, Best Partial Beard, Best Full Beard, Most Creative Freestyle Beard, and Most Creative Craft Beard (for all those who are facial hair challenged). Get your beard brushed out, your moustache curled, or your own beard-like creation built.

Competitors will be judged on how well their facial hair enhances their overall appearance, style, and personality. In the freestyle categories the judges will be asked to consider originality as well as creativity.

Founded in 2020 in Missoula, Montana, Briggs Beard Co. continually strives to provide high-quality beard and body products while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact from seed to seal with every batch. Briggs’ specializes in natural beard and body oils and balms that are great for every skin and hair type. Winners of each category will be given a variety of prizes courtesy of Briggs Beard Co., check out their vendor booth near the side stage or their products at briggsbeardco.com!

PIE & PRAISE

Sunday, July 26th, 10:00 AM

Join members of Yoked Parish for pie and a welcoming time of worship to kick your Sunday morning off right. Bring a camp chair and meet at the Band Shell on Main.

RAFFLES

Thursday, July 23rd – Sunday, July 26th 

Guitar Raffle – Martin D-X2E –

This guitar delivers Molly Tuttle’s signature look and feel in an accessible, road-ready package. Inspired by her 1943 D-18, a vintage sunburst top, custom oval tuner buttons, and moon phase inlays bring Molly’s artistry and individuality to life. Purchase a raffle ticket anytime between Thursday and Sunday for your chance to take home this acoustic-electric guitar, valued at $999.99, and be sure to catch Molly live on the Main Stage Saturday night. The Martin Guitar Raffle will open on Thursday at the street dance and the winner will be pulled at 4:45pm on Sunday. Tickets are $10 each or three tickets for $20. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

Daily 50/50 Raffles – Once again, we’re bringing this classic raffle back. There will be one winner each day and 50/50 raffle tickets will only be entered to win on the date purchased, so make sure you get your ticket for each day! Half of the sales will go to the winner and the other half will go to the Red Ants Pants Foundation to support their mission-based programming. Tickets are one for $10 or three for $20. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

Our Foundation staff and Girls Leadership Program alumnae will be selling both types of raffle tickets throughout the weekend. Grab them at the street dance on Thursday (in front of the Red Ants Pants shop), or the Red Ants Pants Foundation Tent and 2 Basset Brewing Tent on the festival grounds Friday through Sunday. Please consider purchasing raffle tickets to show your support for the programs of the Red Ants Pants Foundation!

ANTBASSADOR LAUNCH PARTY

Friday, July 24th 3:00–4:00 PM

Have a drink on us and become an ANTbassador to join our committed community of monthly supporters who believe in the strength of women and rural Montana. Stop by to learn about membership rewards, connect with fellow supporters, and enjoy a drink on us!

GIRLS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – MORSE CODE BRACELET MAKING

Saturday, July 25th Noon–1:00 PM

Create your own Morse code bracelet at this free, hands-on activity! Meet Girls Leadership Program alumnae, hear their stories, and learn more about our leadership programs. Recommended for ages 8+. While everyone is welcome, this activity is intentionally designed for pre-teen and teenage girls to explore our leadership programs and connect with alumnae. 

WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER MEET-UP

Saturday, July 25th 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

To celebrate the contributions of wildland firefighters in keeping our Montana landscapes safe, healthy, and beautiful, the Red Ants Pants Foundation, American Wildfire Experience, and MYSTERY RANCH invite all current and former wildland firefighters—volunteer and career—to swing by the Foundation Tent, say “hello” and share a drink with us!