The Montana Folk Festival gets underway Friday. Don’t forget to bring these items.

The Montana Folk Festival will take over Uptown Butte this weekend with over 100,000 music lovers, artists, performers and vendors taking part in what has become the biggest festival of the summer in a city becoming well known for festivals.  Planning on coming?  Here are a few things you'll need to bring along.

SPARE CASH AND YOUR DEBIT CARD

The Montana Folk Festival is a world class event that takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to put on.  While organizers are proud to keep this a free event, please consider making a donation to the "bucket brigade" whose members will be making their way through the crowds taking donations.  Allow them the requested $25 donation when they come in your direction.  This is far less than you will pay for a ticket to just about any other live show and certainly not a festival of this magnitude.  You will also find an impressive array of food trucks and vendors on site as well as artisans from all over the world.  Be prepared if you want a souvenir and although there will be ATMs on site it is always a good idea to have a few dollars in your pocket as well.

SUNSCREEN, A PORTABLE CHAIR AND RAIN GEAR

A lot of the performers will be playing to full houses on some of the smaller stages so it's always a good idea to have a portable lawn chair in case you can't find a seat.  Also, the main stage at the Original does not have seating built in and it will be open to the elements, so come prepared with sunscreen and even rain gear since Butte weather is sometimes unpredictable and can change quickly.

TOILETRIES AND FIRST AID

Remember to pack a small first aid kit containing essentials like band-aids, pain relievers, allergy medication, and any necessary prescription medication.  It's also a good idea to include a water bottle and essential toiletries such as disposable wipes and hand sanitizer.