KIDS TENT & ACTIVITIES

We’ll have more info about our planned 2025 Kid Tent offerings and special events by early July…in the mean time we thought you might enjoy seeing what we offered in 2024 so you can get a feel for what to expect. Cheers!

Hey parents! Stop by the kids tent for fun, educational activities and crafts! For parents with wee ones, it is a great place to rest in the shade. Changing table, baby potties, and feeding area will be available.

This year we’re teaming up with the KGLT Kids, Montana Discovery Foundation, Shooting Star Saddlery, Thrive, and Women’s Foundation of Montana to provide more fun opportunities for kids to learn.

We are fortunate again this year to partner with Tree of Life Doula who is hosting a family care tent. Are you a new mom? Come settle into this clean, cozy, and accessible area to nurse and change your baby, right next to our Kids Tent. Kelli and her team are Certified Lactation Counselors as well as doulas, so don’t hesitate to bring your feeding or newborn questions!

Please note: the kids tent is not a babysitting service. This is not a place to drop off your kiddos. There is a clear view of the main stage from the tent, so stick around and listen while your kids are learning, playing, and crafting!

In addition to our special events below, join us for these fun activities from 3pm-6pm Friday, 11am-6pm Saturday, and 11am-5pm Sunday!
Face painting, book corner, coloring, and more fun hands-on art and learning activities!

KGLT Kids Songwriting Workshop

Red Ants Pants Music Festival is partnering with KGLT Kids to facilitate a songwriting workshop. The workshop offers youth songwriters a creative space to explore the magic of melody and lyricism. This fun, community-oriented activity is focused on providing kids ages 5 to 18 with tools to write and perform original poetry and music. Each songwriter will collaborate with local and touring musicians who will help shape the music and bring their songs to life. Registration is now FULL.

Selected projects will have the choice to perform on the Red Ants Pants Music Festival side stage alongside a professional musician.

We are thrilled to bring this new offering to the cow pasture this year thanks to the efforts and heart of Brian Kassay, your favorite fiddle player from Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, three-time performers at the Red Ants Pants Music Festival and winners of our 2015 side stage contest!  Brian is now the director of KGLT Kids, a teacher in the Bozeman School District, and continues to perform with his live looping project – learn more about all the great things Brian is bringing to Montana here: briankassaymusic.com.

Workshop Day 1 Schedule: Saturday, July 27th, 2024 9:15 AM
  • 9:15 a.m. – Meet at the Festival’s Main Gate (west side), pre-registration required (FULL).
  • 9:30-9:40 a.m. – Introduction
  • 9:40-10:00 a.m. – Developing song ideas
  • 10:00-10:20 a.m. – Crafting songs 
  • 10:20-10:30 a.m. – Debrief and share
Workshop Day 2 Schedule: Sunday, July 28th, 2024 9:15 AM
  • 9:15 a.m. – Meet at the Festival’s Main Gate (west side), pre-registration required (FULL).
  • 9:30-9:40 a.m. – Introduction
  • 9:40-10:10 a.m. Practice songs
  • 10:10-10:30 a.m. Practice performance 
  • 11:00-11:20 a.m. Performance on the Red Ants Pants Side Stage!

Montana Discovery Foundation

Together, the Montana Discovery Foundation and Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest teach students of all ages about nature and conservation. We aim to promote stewardship, understanding, and enjoyment of our natural surroundings through education. The Forest and MDF will provide ongoing activities, crafts, and education opportunities for kids of all ages throughout the weekend! Come to the kids tent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to participate in the following programs. To learn more about MDF, visit:  www.montanadiscoveryfoundation.org

Fire Science with Smokey!: Friday, July 26th, 2024 5:00 PM

It’s fire season in Montana! Come learn how to keep you and the forest safe from wildfires with National Forest Rangers and a special visit from Smokey Bear!

The Bear Necessities: Saturday, July 27th, 2024 4:00 PM

Forage like bears to learn about a bear’s favorite foods, how they eat, and how people change the way bears live.

Junior Ants: Sunday, July 28th, 2024 2:30 PM

During Sunday’s activity we’ll learn about different bugs and what makes them special – then create a delicious snack anthill!

Shooting Star Saddlery

Dedicated to making the finest, heirloom-quality saddles, chaps, gun leather, and personal items from the finest leathers available. Out of Niarada, MT, Jeff Morrow builds everything from custom saddles to guitar covers…just ask Corb! www.shootingstarsaddlery.com

Kids Leather Stamping Class: Sunday, July 28th, 2024 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Learn about the fun and art of leather stamping with one of our longest-serving Festival vendors! Jeff will lead kids eight-years-old and up in a great project to create their own stamped leather bracelets.

Thrive

Thrive provides mentoring, education, and support for children and families so that everyone in our community has the tools they need to be successful. Our proven programs have been developed using evidence-based practices, adapted to meet local community needs, and rigorously evaluated to ensure program efficacy. https://allthrive.org/

Join the Band with Thrive!: Friday, July 26th, 2023 3:30 PM & Saturday, July 27th, 2023 2:30 PM

Swing by the kids tent to make a musical instrument.  Rachel and Andrea will have materials to make and decorate a DIY fun-sized banjo, tambourine, shaker, or drum.  All materials will be provided and we will have a stompin’ good time!

Women’s Foundation of Montana

The Women’s Foundation of Montana (WFM) started in 1999. Together with our donors, we play a vital role in improving the lives of women in our state through our foundation’s programs and grantees. Learn more at: http://wfmontana.org/.

What Can Ants Teach Us?: Friday, July 26th 6:30 PM & Saturday, July 27th 5:30 PM
What do you think of when you hear the word, “community?” Who are the helpers in your community? If you were a leader for a day in your community, what would you do? Join the Women’s Foundation as we observe an ant farm in action. We’ll discuss how an ant community works together, decorate our own paper ants, locate our communities on the Montana state map, and fasten our ants to the map. You’ll see a community of paper ants start to take shape on the Montana state map and leave in awe of how much we can learn from ants!

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

If you don’t see your question answered here or in any of our Festival Info, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d be happy to help in any way we can.