The Sanders County Fair began in 1911 with a community horse race. Participants included ladies and gentlemen from the town of Plains, as well as from the reservation. For a number of years horse racing and horsemanship were a major part of the fair.
As the years passed, rodeos, carnivals and dances were added to the options provided to visitors and the parade during fair weekend became a favorite. Currently, the fair is in the top ten in the state of Montana and attracts visitors from throughout western Montana, northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Many of our part-time residents make sure they are present during fair time. In recent years attendance has been between 30,000 and 50,000 people. It is the only fair in western Montana that does not charge a gate fee. Parking passes are available on a daily basis ($5). Parking for camping and RVs is also available.