One spring day in 1863, six men looking for their next big gold strike found it in Alder Gulch, William Fairweather, Henry Edgar, Thomas Cover, Barney Hughes, Micheal Sweeney, and Harry Rogers left Bannack, attempting to meet and travel with James Stewart’s Yellowstone Expedition, to find gold and establish town sites along the Yellowstone. The six were two days behind the main party and trying to catch up. An encounter with a Crow tribe that left them considering the best route back to Bannack, led them up into the mountains away from the Madison River. Fairweather and Edgar slipped their gold pans into the cold creek waters beside the spot they picked for that night’s camp. They soon realized they had discovered a rich deposit of placer gold in what Edgar would name Alder Creek. Discovery Park in Virginia City just so happens to lie along Alder Creek.

June 8, 2024 will be the third year of this incarnation of The Vigilante Music Fest, which returns to Discovery Park for a full day of 100% Montana Music. Bring your blankets and chairs and come enjoy some of Montana’s best bands creekside under the Cottonwoods! As always the Vigilante Music Fest is Rain or Shine! You will find a relaxed family friendly atmosphere, food trucks, and a full bar!

This years festival lineup has featured artists: Tessy Lou & The Shotgun Stars, Montana’s hippie rockers The Fossils, local favorite Marcedes Carroll & Co, The honorable Mike Beck, Big Ol’, Montana Deluxe, The Degroot Family Band, Free Range, Eric Leadbetter, and The Nelson Girls.

Vigilante Music Fest is hosted by The Gravel Bar where you always hope you’re gonna stumble across locals bellied up at the bar, the aroma of burgers wafting through the air, a great local selection of tap beer, funky art on the walls, good tunes, friendly staff, a distinctly non-corporate vibe – you know, the bar of your dreams!

Be sure not to skip this annual event showcasing Montana’s finest. Tickets for the 2024 Vigilante Music Festival are on sale now at: https://events.sellout.io/Vigilante-Music-Festival. All tickets are $30 and the festival is general admission. No outside alcohol, no weapons, no dogs allowed.