Events and Programming
Four Mile Bar is a locally owned roadside bar and grill rather than a purpose-built concert hall. Its programming blends occasional live country music with bar games, community gatherings, outdoor-recreation events and informal nightlife. Recent examples include a 2026 appearance by North Dakota-raised country singer-songwriter Savanah Benz, participation in organized darts and longstanding involvement with the Missouri River Catfish Clash.
The Catfish Clash is the venue’s best-documented recurring event. Since the tournament began in 2011, its Friday-night Calcutta, social and rules gathering have been associated with Four Mile Bar. The current tournament description says Friday festivities are held at the bar, while a report from 2025 specifically credits Four Mile with hosting the Calcutta, social and fisherman feed. Results confirm annual tournaments throughout 2021–2025, with the 16th edition scheduled for August 2026.
Other programming reflects Four Mile Bar’s connection to the wider Williston community. The bar operated a beer garden during Lewis and Clark State Park’s 50th-anniversary celebration in 2024, where MoonCats and Josey & the Whalers performed. Dawson’s 4 Mile Bar also provided the beer garden for the park’s 2025 Flannel Fest, featuring MoonCats and Ted & Kari. A 2024 memorial motorcycle run included the bar as one of its route stops.
In 2026, Four Mile also appeared as a shuttle pickup point for a major outdoor rock concert at the Stateline Casino, showing that its role sometimes extends beyond hosting: it can function as a gathering and transportation hub for regional entertainment. County records also show Dawson’s 4 Mile receiving permission to serve alcoholic beverages at a designated off-site special event in March 2026.
Archived public event records from 2021–2023 are limited, so a complete show-by-show performance list cannot be verified. The available record points to periodic live country acts and community events rather than a fixed weekly concert schedule. As of August 25, 2026, no reliable public announcement could be confirmed for a future on-site concert after that date or for 2027 and beyond.
Tickets and Booking
Four Mile Bar does not publish a permanent box-office schedule, standard ticket price range or formal seating inventory. Event admission appears to be handled individually, and many of its recurring activities—bar games, fishing socials, community stops and beer-garden service—are not conventional reserved-seat performances. No verified venue-wide presale program, membership presale or VIP system is publicly documented.
For a listed live-music night, use the accompanying event information as the authority on cover charges, door times and age rules. Do not assume that regular bar hours are the same as event doors. For a popular local act, arriving 30–45 minutes before the announced start is sensible because the venue has no published reserved-seat plan and recent listings say it does not accept ordinary reservations.
There is no dependable “typical ticket price” to quote without guessing. Some entertainment may be presented as a normal bar night, while a separately promoted special event may charge admission. Door sales, refunds and transfers should therefore be treated as event-specific rather than standard Four Mile Bar policies.
About Four Mile Bar
Four Mile Bar remains open and trading in 2026. Current state alcohol, tobacco and charitable-gaming records identify the business as Dawson’s 4 Mile Bar & Grill, trading as 4 Mile Bar at 14048 W Front Street. The local tourism listing also carries Four Mile Bar at that address and describes it as a locally owned bar four miles outside town.
The precise opening date is not established by a primary historical source. One business directory traces the operation to 1979, while firm documentary evidence places “The New 4 Mile Bar” in Williston by 2004, when its roadside sign encouraged customers to support local barley growers. The business was operating as DC Inc. doing business as The New 4 Mile Bar by the early 2010s.
By 2013, a national newspaper described Four Mile Bar as a recognizable landmark at the junction roughly four miles west of Williston during the Bakken oil boom. Older visitor accounts depict a friendly, informal tavern with pool, karaoke, lively music and an interior that retained a classic dive-bar character. Those accounts are useful history, although they should not be treated as a guarantee of the present layout or current policies.
A major operating transition occurred in 2025. Williams County approved a new beer and liquor application on July 15, and Darcy Dawson’s application recorded an August 1, 2025 deed or lease date. State records later listed Dawson’s 4 Mile Bar & Grill as the licensee, while autumn reviews began referring to the “New Dawson’s 4 Mile.”
Seating, Layout and Production
No verified public figure is available for Four Mile Bar’s legal capacity, floor dimensions, stage measurements or seated-versus-standing configuration. Current tourism, licensing and event records do not publish a seating chart, numbered seats, formal balcony, VIP room or fixed theater-style arrangement. Visitors should approach it as an informal bar setting rather than a traditional auditorium.
Recent listings identify bar games, while historical accounts mention pool tables and karaoke. For live music, standing areas and ordinary bar or table seating may change with the event. There is no documented “best seat,” but arriving early is the practical way to improve your choice of position. Avoid expecting an unobstructed elevated view comparable to a theater or arena.
No public technical rider identifies the house PA manufacturer, speaker coverage, monitor system, mixing console, microphones, backline, lighting fixtures, stage power, loading route or rigging capacity. Published listings likewise do not document permanent concert production upgrades. The room is therefore more appropriate to describe as a bar hosting occasional live entertainment than as a fully specified touring venue.
Getting There and Parking
Use 14048 W Front Street, Williston, North Dakota 58801 for current navigation. Older directories still show 12787 ND-1804, creating a genuine address conflict online. Current state licensing, food-service and tourism records consistently use 14048 W Front Street, so it is the stronger present-day address.
The bar’s out-of-town roadside setting makes driving, a taxi or rideshare the practical choice. No fixed-route public-transit stop at the venue is identified in published transportation information. Williston has rideshare availability and local taxi or airport-transfer services, while demand-response transit in North Dakota commonly requires advance arrangements.
Parking capacity, surface type, accessible-space count and event parking charges are not publicly documented. No routine parking fee is advertised, but visitors should not infer unlimited space during a well-attended live show or Catfish Clash gathering. Carpooling or arranging a sober ride is particularly worthwhile because the venue is outside the walkable downtown core.
Travelers arriving at Williston’s passenger-rail station or Williston Basin International Airport will need an onward vehicle. The rail station is at the foot of Main Street and has a pickup area, while airport transportation and rideshare service operate in the city. Four Mile Bar should not be treated as a practical walk from either terminal.
Inside the Venue
Four Mile Bar combines drinks, casual food, entertainment and charitable gaming. Current state records list it as an active gaming site, and the local tourism authority includes it in both food-and-drink and nightlife categories. Recent directory information also identifies cocktails and bar games.
Food is an increasingly visible part of the Dawson’s era. Recent guests have praised the burgers, daily food specials, Bloody Marys, staff and welcoming atmosphere. A March 2026 local survey of Williston burger recommendations produced especially strong support for Four Mile Bar. These reports indicate a bar-and-grill experience rather than a drinks-only room.
A recent directory showed daily hours of 11 a.m.–1 a.m., although kitchen hours, holiday schedules and event service can differ. No current public information confirms a coat check, permanent merchandise counter, guest Wi-Fi, charging stations or a dedicated event entrance. Visitors should bring only what they need and expect the simple procedures of a local bar rather than arena-style screening.
The Williston Fire Department’s December 2024 annual inspection recorded no issues during its on-site alcohol-license inspection. That report confirms a successful inspection at the time, but it does not publish occupancy, evacuation capacity or detailed accessibility specifications.
Nearby Food, Drinks and Hotels
Eating at Four Mile Bar is the most convenient pre-event option. Visitors wanting additional choices can find numerous restaurants in west Williston, including casual American, barbecue, pizza and roadhouse-style dining. Current local listings include Doc Holliday’s Roadhouse on 2nd Avenue West, Dabeno’s Bistro and Pizza Ranch on 4th Avenue West, and Refinery Kitchen + Bar on Jensen Lane.
Williston has a substantial hotel inventory, but the venue is not part of a dense, walkable hotel district. West-side options include the Grand Williston Hotel, Best Western Plus, Hawthorn Suites, Microtel, Candlewood Suites and Four Points. Plan on driving or arranging a ride between accommodation and the bar, especially late at night or during winter weather.
What Makes Four Mile Bar Special
Four Mile’s significance comes less from architecture than from continuity. It has functioned for decades as a recognizable roadside meeting place for rural residents, oilfield workers, anglers, travelers and Williston regulars. Its name and location became part of local directional language, and its roadside sign was promoting North Dakota barley growers more than 20 years ago.
The Catfish Clash relationship gives the bar a regional reach beyond ordinary nightlife. The tournament has brought competitors from North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming since 2011, with Four Mile serving as the social starting point before competition on the Missouri River. Its beer gardens, charity-run stops and concert shuttle role similarly connect the business to events held beyond its own walls.
No formal economic-impact study has been published for the bar. Its practical community impact is nevertheless visible in recurring event hosting, local food employment, charitable gaming, visitor spending and partnerships with recreation events. Recent reviews emphasizing staff familiarity and a family-like atmosphere suggest that its value to Williston is social as well as commercial.
Visitor Tips and Accessibility
Bring government-issued photo identification and confirm the age classification stated for the particular event. Four Mile Bar does not publish a universal concert age policy, bag policy, camera rule or dress code. Unless an event notice says otherwise, avoid large bags, outside alcohol and professional recording equipment. The setting is casual, but ordinary footwear suited to parking-lot conditions is preferable in snow, mud or severe weather.
No detailed ADA guide is publicly available. Verified information could not be found for step-free entry, door widths, accessible restrooms, lowered service counters, hearing assistance, reserved wheelchair positions or the number of accessible parking spaces. The successful 2024 fire inspection should not be interpreted as confirmation of every ADA feature. Visitors needing a specific accommodation should not rely on assumptions drawn from general venue photographs.
Common planning mistakes include navigating to the older Highway 1804 address, expecting formal reserved seating, assuming every music night is ticketed, or planning to walk from downtown. Use the current West Front Street address, allow extra arrival time for larger gatherings and arrange transportation before drinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Four Mile Bar in Williston still open?
Yes. Four Mile Bar remains licensed and active in 2026. State records identify the operator as Dawson’s 4 Mile Bar & Grill and the trading name as 4 Mile Bar. It also appears in current local tourism, nightlife and food listings. The Dawson ownership era began after county approval of a new license in July 2025.
What is the correct address for Four Mile Bar?
The best-supported current address is 14048 W Front Street, Williston, ND 58801. Some older business and chamber listings still display 12787 ND-1804. Because current alcohol, tobacco, food-service and tourism records agree on West Front Street, use that address when planning a visit rather than relying on an older directory entry.
What kinds of events does Four Mile Bar host?
The program includes occasional country music, bar games, darts, fishing-community gatherings and informal social events. Four Mile is closely associated with the Missouri River Catfish Clash’s Friday-night activities. It also provides beverage service at community festivals and has served as a stop or pickup point for motorcycle runs and regional concerts.
Are any 2027 events announced?
As of August 25, 2026, no reliable public announcement could be verified for an on-site Four Mile Bar event in 2027 or later. The Catfish Clash is an established annual relationship, but future editions should not be treated as confirmed until organizers publish their plans. The live event listing accompanying this guide should be used for newly added dates.
How do I buy tickets for a Four Mile Bar event?
There is no published permanent box office or standardized ticket-sales process. Check the specific event information for advance admission, door sales or cover-charge instructions. Some activities at Four Mile are ordinary bar nights or community gatherings rather than ticketed performances. Do not assume tickets are required unless the individual event announcement explicitly says they are.
How much do tickets usually cost?
No verified typical price range is available. Four Mile’s events vary from informal bar entertainment and tournament socials to separately promoted live performances. Pricing can therefore range from no separately advertised admission to an event-specific cover. Published research does not support quoting a standard minimum, maximum, VIP price or service-fee structure for the venue.
Does Four Mile Bar have reserved seating?
No numbered seating chart or formal reserved-seat system is publicly documented. A recent venue directory also says ordinary reservations are not accepted. Expect an informal arrangement of bar and table areas, possibly adjusted for entertainment. Arrive early if your priority is sitting, staying near friends or selecting a position with a clearer view of a performer.
What is the capacity of Four Mile Bar?
A verified capacity has not been published in tourism records, licensing documents or accessible event information. Floor dimensions and separate standing or seated capacities are also unavailable. Because guessing would be misleading, visitors should not compare Four Mile with a theater of a known size. Popular nights may feel busy even when the event is not formally described as sold out.
Is parking available, and does it cost anything?
No official parking map, space count or regular parking charge is published. The rural-roadside location is primarily reached by car, but visitors should not assume unlimited event parking. For a larger gathering, carpool where practical and arrive early enough to follow any temporary parking directions. Never leave a vehicle where it obstructs an entrance, exit or emergency route.
Can I reach Four Mile Bar by public transportation?
No fixed-route bus stop at the bar could be confirmed. Williston has rideshare, taxi and demand-response transportation, although availability can vary and some services require advance booking. Visitors arriving by passenger rail or air should arrange an onward vehicle. The bar’s out-of-town location makes walking from central Williston an impractical evening transportation plan.
Does Four Mile Bar serve food?
Yes. Current reviews and local coverage describe burgers, daily specials and bar drinks, with particularly positive attention given to the burgers and Bloody Marys. It operates as a bar and grill rather than a performance room with only packaged snacks. Kitchen service may finish before the bar closes, so do not assume the full menu remains available late at night.
Does the venue have pool, darts or gambling?
Recent listings identify bar games, and a 2026 organized-darts report includes a Four Mile Bar team. Historical reviews mention pool tables and karaoke, although those older accounts do not guarantee a current schedule. State records list Dawson’s 4 Mile as an active charitable-gaming site connected with the local American Legion organization.
Is Four Mile Bar wheelchair accessible?
No detailed accessibility statement could be verified. Public information does not specify step-free routes, accessible restroom design, wheelchair seating positions or accessible parking quantities. A 2024 fire inspection reported no issues, but that is not the same as a complete ADA assessment. Visitors should avoid assuming that every part of the premises has identical accessibility.
Is there a bag or camera policy?
No permanent venue-specific bag-size rule or photography policy is publicly posted in the records reviewed. Bring a small bag containing essentials and leave professional camera equipment, tripods and recording gear behind unless the event information expressly permits them. Outside beverages should not be brought into an alcohol-licensed bar. Special events may introduce stricter entry rules than normal nights.
Is Four Mile Bar a 21-and-over venue?
A universal age policy for every meal period and event is not publicly documented. Because Four Mile is an alcohol-focused bar with gaming, adults should carry valid government-issued identification and read the specific event’s age notice. Do not assume that a community activity or food service automatically makes every area or every evening open to guests under 21.
When should I arrive for live music?
For an ordinary music night, arriving 30–45 minutes before the advertised performance provides time for parking, identification checks, ordering food and selecting a place to sit or stand. Allow more time for the Catfish Clash social or another major gathering. Published sources do not identify a separate event entrance, formal lobby or guaranteed late-entry procedure.
Are hotels within walking distance?
Four Mile Bar is not located in a dense hotel district, and no nearby property should be assumed safely walkable at night. Williston offers many hotels, including west-side properties along 2nd and 4th avenues, but visitors should plan to drive or use a prearranged ride. Consider return transportation before drinking, particularly when rides may be limited late at night.
Why is it called Four Mile Bar?
The name reflects its traditional identity as a bar approximately four miles outside Williston. Current tourism material still promotes it as a locally owned establishment “four miles out of town,” while historical reporting described it as a landmark at a junction four miles west of the city. The name has endured through different operators and address conventions.
