Alive after Five on Thursday and the Strawberry Festival mark the beginning of summer events in downtown Billings.
The Billings Youth Orchestra Fiddlers provided some of the entertainment under Skypoint at the festival, now in its 27th year.
Food and fair booths lined the streets of downtown Billings.
A 60-foot long strawberry shortcake was also part of the festivities.
As many as 7,000 people enjoyed the Strawberry Festival.
"People like to come out, see their friends,” said Natasha Potratz, director events for the Downtown Billings Alliance. “Definitely a great family event.”
And every year, a giant strawberry shortcake is part of the show.
“Our great 60-foot strawberry shortcake, the Chefs and Cooks of Montana are faithful to set this up every year,” said Potratz. “It’s a Billings tradition.”
Potratz said a national team recently worked with the Downtown Billings Alliance and the city of Billings to outline goals for the next 20 years in downtown Billings.
“That’s our whole mission is downtown revitalization and to promote and support local business downtown,” said Potratz. “And to make it a really fun place for Billings residents, kind of the heart of our city. We want everybody to be proud of it and enjoy it."
