The Whitefish Food & Wine Festival is back for its highly anticipated second edition, bringing an expanded lineup of chefs, wineries, and immersive culinary experiences to Montana’s stunning Flathead Valley. Taking place September 8–14, 2025, this year’s festival builds on the momentum of its 2024 debut, promising an elevated celebration of food, wine, and local hospitality.
Co-founded by 4x James Beard Award-winning Chef Todd English, Whitefish entrepreneur and real estate investor Joe Hess, and globally-renowned event producer Ryan Heil (Founder of Axcess Entertainment), the festival has rapidly become a premier destination for food lovers and wine connoisseurs across the country.
Set once again at the scenic Haskill Creek Farms, the 2025 event will showcase a robust program of culinary offerings. Guests can expect everything from intimate wine pairing dinners and sommelier-led tastings to the weekend’s marquee Grand Tasting Sessions. These immersive experiences will feature over 100 wines, live cooking demonstrations, head-to-head chef competitions, live music, craft brewers, spirit makers, and complimentary fare from the region’s top restaurants.
“Last year, we introduced a concept that fused world-class hospitality with the rustic charm and natural beauty of Whitefish,” says Chef Todd English, Co-Founder of Whitefish Food & Wine. “In 2025, we’re turning up the volume—more flavor, more experience, more adventure. Our goal is to deepen the connection between guests and the food, wine, and landscape that makes this region so special.”
Among this year’s standout features is the Grand Tasting Live Stage, a fully equipped kitchen in the main tasting tent where guests can watch live cooking demos, chef competitions, and culinary masterclasses. The festival will also offer nature-forward excursions such as “Sip & SUP” paddleboarding, wine-and-cheese hikes, and the open-air “Farm to Foraged to Table” dinner led by Veritas Chef Michael Tolomeo under the stars at Haskill Creek.
Exclusive ticketed pairing dinners at some of Whitefish’s top restaurants will pair guest celebrity chefs with local culinary talent to create once-in-a-lifetime meals. Grand Tasting ticket holders will receive keepsake wine glasses and enjoy unlimited samples alongside interactive sponsor activations and live performances.
Whitefish Food & Wine will also continue its philanthropic mission in 2025, with two charity beneficiaries set to be announced—each tied to special festival events.
With tickets now on sale, food enthusiasts and adventurous epicureans alike can look forward to a week of unforgettable flavors, experiences, and the unmatched charm of Montana’s culinary frontier.
For more information and tickets, visit whitefishfoodandwine.com.
