May in Northwest Montana is packed with can’t-miss events—and this episode of News Now’s Local Events guide has everything you need to plan your month. From the return of Whitefish Restaurant Week and Fish Fest to live music, theater, festivals, and outdoor adventures, we break down the biggest happenings across Kalispell, Whitefish, Bigfork, and the Flathead Valley.

Explore standout events like the Glacier Art Museum Gala at the Wachholz College Center, the adrenaline-filled Whitewater Festival in Bigfork, and community favorites like Spartan Race weekend, Montana Distillers Guild’s Spirits & Brews Fest, and Little Shop of Horrors on stage in Whitefish. Whether you're looking for food, culture, family-friendly activities, or nightlife, get connected to the best things to do in Montana this upcoming month.

Discover more about all the happenings mentioned in the episode at https://www.dailyinterlake.com/events. Lock in tickets before they sell out! Check out flatheadtickets.com for upcoming events.

Whitefish Restaurant Week is a weeklong celebration of the restaurants, chefs, and culinary talent on May 16 - 22, 2026. Throughout the week, residents and visitors are invited to enjoy special menus, try local favorites, and support the businesses that help shape our community. Learn more at explorewhitefish.com

Northwest Montana deserves strong news reporting. Your donation helps continue work like this possible. Learn more at dailyinterlake.com/support

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

This week on News Now, Daily Inter Lake reporter Taylor Inman breaks down the biggest headlines across northwest Montana - from public land debates and legal developments to environmental challenges and major event announcements.

The Flathead National Forest is weighing more than 1,000 public comments on its draft river management plan for the Flathead River system, as outfitters, conservation groups and recreation advocates debate how to balance access with protecting critical fish habitat.

In the Mission Valley, a fourth-generation ranch is battling an explosion of invasive tumble mustard weeds, raising concerns about wildfire risk, public safety and the challenges of enforcement after land annexation.

A federal lawsuit against the city of Whitefish alleging racial profiling during a traffic stop appears headed toward a settlement, following a judge’s decision to dismiss several key claims while leaving others unresolved.

Plus, the first signs of summer are arriving as roads begin opening in Glacier National Park, a new osprey monitoring effort highlights wildlife conservation in the Flathead Valley, and the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo announces a major headliner for 2026.

Northwest Montana deserves strong news reporting. Your donation helps continue work like this possible. Learn more at dailyinterlake.com/support

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

This week on News Now, reporter Taylor Inman is covering the biggest stories shaping northwest Montana - from Glacier National Park openings and major conservation efforts to a complex fraud case and community development projects.

Glacier National Park is beginning to open key roads for the season, including access along Going-to-the-Sun Road, as crews continue snow removal and infrastructure work ahead of peak summer travel.

A major land conservation milestone has been reached in the Flathead Valley, with more than 1,100 acres secured near Herron Park to create a continuous public recreation corridor between Foys Lake and Blacktail Mountain, preserving access and protecting the landscape from development.

In Whitefish, agencies are tackling persistent flooding caused by beaver activity using innovative, nonlethal solutions designed to balance infrastructure needs with ecological benefits. Plus, a new citizen science effort is tracking osprey populations across the region, giving researchers valuable insight into nesting habits and ongoing environmental threats.

In the Mission Valley, a long-awaited indoor ice arena project gets a major boost from a multimillion-dollar state tourism grant, bringing the community closer to a new hub for recreation and economic activity.

And in Lincoln County, prosecutors are pursuing a complex case involving an alleged $1.3 million scheme targeting a vulnerable adult in a multi-state investigation involving fraud, property transfers, and financial exploitation.

Northwest Montana deserves strong news reporting. Your donation helps continue work like this possible. Learn more at dailyinterlake.com/support

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.