Whitefish food, wine event celebrates innovative cuisine
One of Montana's top culinary events is growing.
After a soldout year in its debut last year, Whitefish Food and Wine is back for its second year Sept. 8–14.
The Whitefish food festival returns to Haskill Creek Farms with a program that’s bigger, bolder, and more immersive. What began as an ambitious idea to bring together local flavors and national talent has quickly evolved into one of the region’s most anticipated annual events.
The festival is the vision of co-founders Joe Hess, a Whitefish entrepreneur, and Ryan Heil, an event producer with decades of experience creating large-scale cultural gatherings.
Their goal was to design an event that feels true to Whitefish while appealing to culinary travelers from across the country. The result is a weeklong experience that blends world-class hospitality with Montana’s rustic charm and natural abundance.
The festival centerpiece remains the Grand Tasting Sessions, where you can sample from more than 100 wines, craft spirits, and regional brews. This year, the experience is elevated with an expanded Grand Tasting Live Stage, a fully equipped demonstration kitchen inside the tent where chefs will showcase their skills through interactive demos, collaborative cook-offs, and master classes.
Guests are encouraged to taste, ask questions, and immerse themselves in the culinary process. Montana’s outdoors also play a starring role. Guests can take part in “Sip & SUP,” a paddleboarding excursion that ends with a lakeside wine tasting, or join a guided hike culminating in a chef-prepared picnic featuring locally sourced ingredients. A highlight of the week is the “Farm to Foraged to Table” dinner by Veritas chef Michael Tolomeo, staged under the open skies of Haskill Creek Farms.
Visiting chefs collaborate with local talent to craft multi-course menus that spotlight seasonal Montana ingredients—from huckleberries and wild mushrooms to dry-aged meats and fresh trout—paired with wines selected to amplify each dish. These one-night-only experiences have become some of the festival’s most coveted tickets, offering guests the chance to enjoy memorable meals in settings ranging from cozy restaurants to scenic private venues
Beyond the food and wine, the festival also emphasizes community impact. In its inaugural year, the event supported local nonprofits addressing food insecurity and youth education, ensuring that the excitement of the week translated into tangible benefits for the region.
For 2025, new charitable partners will be announced, with benefit events built into the schedule to further strengthen the festival’s ties to the Flathead Valley community.