An Alive at Five concert crowd covered the Capitol lawn on Wednesday to celebrate the beginning of the Montana History Festival put on by the Montana Historical Society.

Thousands of attendees mingled on the grass, as children played with frisbees, footballs and more throughout the evening.

Multiple food trucks, including Cheddars Gourmet Grilled Cheese, Aloha Poke Bowl, Mountain Berry Bowls and others, were parked along Roberts Street in front of the Montana Heritage Center.

Local band Ten Years Gone supplied the music — primarily covers spanning the '70s to the modern day.

Tom Lang, of the Montana Trails Coalition, center, is interviewed by Ty Walker, frontman of Ty Walker and The Humanoids, left, and "Thumper," of Ty Walker and The Humanoids, on June 24 during Alive at Five and the start of the Montana History Festival on the Capitol Lawn. SONNY TAPIA, Independent Record

Alive at Five, Helena's annual summer concert series, was held in conjunction with the first day of the Montana History Festival.

The festival will run through June 28 to celebrate the Montana Heritage Center's full grand-opening.

Through Sunday, people going to the Montana Heritage Center's festivities can participate in free tours of the center, Capitol building and the Original Governor's Mansion.

Attendees sit across the Capitol Lawn on June 24 listening to Ten Years Gone during Alive at Five and the kickoff of the Montana History Festival. SONNY TAPIA, Independent Record

On June 27, continued tours will be offered along with workshops, a historic organizations open house in the Capitol Rotunda, traditional Native American games on the Capitol lawn, hands-on history activities for families, and Indigenous high tea and a fashion show.

Saturday evening on the Capitol lawn, Montana's America 250 celebration will kick off with a flyover and concert by Jack Gladstone and the New Horizons Brass Band.

Sonny Tapia is a photographer for the Helena Independent Record.