📅 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16
❄️ Winter Fun Family Playgroup
🕒 3:30 PM | 📍 Missoula Public Health, 301 W Alder St
A free early-childhood playgroup for families with children ages 0–5, featuring snowman and snowflake crafts and a spirited round of holiday bingo.
🔗 https://missoulapublichealth.org/people/healthy-families/#groupevent
🪵✨ Blooms & Brews: DIY Traditional Yule Log Workshop
🕕 6:00 PM | 📍 GW Marks Exploration Center
Create your own traditional Yule Log using larch wood, holly, mistletoe, evergreen boughs, dried oranges, pine cones, cinnamon sticks, and three hand-dipped candles.
📞 (406) 258-4200
📅 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17
📚 Story Time for Diverse Abilities
🕐 1:00 PM | 📍 Missoula Public Library
An inclusive and relaxed story program geared toward teens and adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities.
🔗 https://www.missoulapubliclibrary.org/
🎬 Holiday Film: Elf
🕠 5:30 PM | 📍 The Roxy Theater
Buddy the Elf arrives at the Roxy for a community screening of this beloved holiday comedy starring Will Ferrell.
🔗 https://www.theroxytheater.org/
😂 Missoula’s HomeGrown Comedy Showcase
🕗 8:00 PM | 📍 The Roxy Theater
Featuring headliner Sugarbush, host Lynn Solomon, and nine local comedians: Tim Miller, John Budge, Krysta Campbell, Austin Valley, Aubrey Juden, Abi Gontarek, John Howard, and Susan Aswell.
🎟️ Standard theater admission
🔗 https://www.theroxytheater.org/show/missoulas-homegrown-comedy/
📅 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18
🎨🧣 Late Thursday: Ugly Sweater Holiday Party at MAM
🕔 5:00–7:00 PM | 📍 Missoula Art Museum
A festive night featuring live music by Geoff Taylor, a no-host bar, gallery exploration, and your most wonderfully terrible holiday sweater.
⭐ Members receive a private curatorial tour of the auction exhibition from 5:00–5:30 PM.
🔗 https://missoulaartmuseum.org/events
🎸 Shark Buffalo & The Spills — Benefit Concert for Watson Children’s Shelter
🕡 6:30 PM | 📍 FreeCycles
$10 entry
Supports summer programming at Watson Children’s Shelter, including a planned trip to the Hiawatha Bike Trail. Beer, wine, cider, and N/A seltzers available.
🔗 https://www.freecycles.org/
📖 Local Author Event: Gary Hawk
🕖 7:00 PM | 📍 Fact & Fiction Books
Gary Hawk shares Into This Radiance, reflecting on decades of paddling, observing, and writing about Flathead Lake.
🔗 https://factandfictionbooks.com/event/2025-12-18/gary-hawk-reading-and-signing
🎶 Benefit Concert for Tamarack Grief Resource Center
🕖 7:00 PM | 📍 Longstaff House
John Floridis, cellist Jennifer Slayden, drummer Ed Stalling, and guest vocalists perform to benefit Tamarack’s statewide grief support services.
🔗 https://www.tamarackgrc.org/
🕯️✨ Candlelight Crafting: Solstice Celebration of Light
🕖 7:00 PM | 📍 The Space DIY Studio
Craft handmade cards, mason jar lanterns, and seasonal décor in a warmly lit, candle-only environment. All supplies provided.
📅 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19
🌙🪴 Winter Solstice Market at Leaf & Quiet
🕓 4:00 PM | 📍 Leaf & Quiet
A cozy evening market with live jazz, warm beverages, plants, puzzles, and local artists including Bird Brain Creates, Gratitude Ceramics, Siren’s Song, and Yucca Moon House.
🔗 https://www.leafandquiet.com/
🎁 Nick of Time Holiday Pop-Up at Draught Works
🕔 5:00–8:00 PM | 📍 Draught Works Brewery
Nine local artisans offer last-minute, handcrafted gifts. Enjoy the holiday-lit market with a pint of Shreddy Day.
🔗 https://www.draughtworksbrewery.com/
👚🎶 Ugly Sweater Party at Cranky Sam Public House
🕔 5:00 PM | 📍 233 W Main St
Featuring the Bear Creek Boys, seasonal drinks, a sweater coloring contest, and prizes for the ugliest sweaters.
🔗 https://www.crankysam.com/
🕯️ Homeless Persons’ Memorial
🕠 5:30 PM | 📍 Caras Park
A solemn gathering honoring neighbors who passed away while unhoused in 2025. Includes speakers, an Honor Song by Benji Headswift and his son, and a reading of names. Hot cocoa and cookies provided.
❄️🕺 All-Ages Solstice Celebration & Dance Party
🕡 6:30 PM | 📍 Sacred Ally
$10
Dancing, intention-setting, singing, community games, and a candlelit solstice ritual. Guests are encouraged to wear white to honor winter light.
🔗 https://www.sacredally.love/
🎵 Benefit for Soft Landing Missoula
🕖 7:00 PM | 📍 Longstaff House
John Floridis, Jennifer Slayden, and Ed Stalling perform to support refugee resettlement and integration programs.
🔗 https://softlandingmissoula.org/
📅 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20
🎅 Christmas at The Jack Saloon
🕐 1:00–4:00 PM | 📍 The Jack Saloon, Lolo
Family fun including Santa, cookie decorating, bingo, face painting, s’mores, all-day food and drink specials, and live Christmas music by The Jive.
🔗 https://thejacksaloon.com/
🏃♀️✨ Light the Way 5K
🕕 6:00 PM | 📍 Fort Missoula Regional Park
A festive nighttime run with holiday lights, music, Christmas cookies, and hot cocoa at the finish line.
🔗 https://runnersedgemt.com/content/light-the-way-5k
🎶 Benefit Concert for Missoula Youth Homes
🕖 7:00 PM | 📍 Longstaff House
Featuring John Floridis, Jennifer Slayden, Ed Stalling, and guest vocalists Tom Bensen & Susan Israel in support of Youth Homes’ essential services.
🔗 https://www.youthhomesmt.org/
🎭 Desert Fantasy: A Christmas Fiasco
🕢 7:30 PM | 📍 UM Recital Hall
A joyful, chaotic holiday performance featuring UM faculty, students, and local performers.
🔗 https://www.umt.edu/music/
📅 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
🎄 Turner Farms Holiday Market
🕛 12:00 PM | 📍 Turner Farms
Holiday vendors, local gifts, grilled grass-fed beef and goat burgers, and a visit from Santa.
🔗 https://www.turnerfarms406.com/
🐴 FREE Downtown Carriage Rides
🕛 12:00–3:00 PM | 📍 Downtown Missoula
Rides depart from East Pine near Missoula Art Museum and Pearl Boba Tea. First come, first served.
🔗 https://www.missouladowntown.com/
🧸 Holiday Free Toy Store
🕛 12:00 PM | 📍 1221 Arthur Ave (This Old Frat House)
A community-run toy store offering toys, warm clothing, books, games, and children’s essentials at no cost.
🔗 https://thisoldfrathouse.com/
🎁 Kids Gift-Making Workshop
🕛 12:00 PM | 📍 AR Workshop Missoula
Kids choose four surprise handmade gift projects (ornaments, candle pouring, jewelry stamping, etc.). Includes cookies and hot cocoa.
🔗 https://www.arworkshop.com/events/missoula/519473
🤝 Benefit for Missoula Interfaith Collaborative
🕓 4:00 PM | 📍 Longstaff House
A community concert supporting MIC’s collaborative programs, featuring John Floridis, Jennifer Slayden, Ed Stalling, and guest vocalists.
🔗 https://www.micmt.org/
📅 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24
🎠 Free Carousel Rides on Christmas Eve
🕚 11:00 AM–2:00 PM | 📍 A Carousel for Missoula
A holiday tradition offering free rides for families and children.
🔗 http://carouselformissoula.com
📅 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27
✨ Glimmer Ball
🕖 7:00 PM | 📍 Westside Theater
A shimmering winter fundraiser filled with dancing, music, celebration, and community connection.
🔗 https://www.thewestsidetheater.com/glimmer-ball
📅 DECEMBER 30–31
🎨 Missoula on Main — Two-Day Arts & Culture Festival
📍 Citywide
Dance showcases, art activities, concerts, classes, cultural performances, family-friendly programming, and more across Missoula.
🔗 https://www.artsmissoula.org/
📅 NEW YEAR’S EVE — WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31
🎪 Carnivale! – Presented by KFGM & Weird Montana Records
🕔 5:00 PM | 📍 Heritage Hall
Record swap at 5 PM, punk rock speed dating at 6, followed by carnival games, bands, comedians, burlesque, tarot readings, vendors, face painting, and a costume contest.
💼✨ Starlight Reunion NYE 2026: Office Party
🕖 7:00 PM | 📍 American Legion Hall
A playful “office party” themed celebration with DJs, comedians, interactive performances, snacks, the Ghetto Gypsy, and a toast to 2026.
🎟️ $26 pre-sale | $30 door
🎵 Western Disco NYE Party at The Wilma
🕗 8:00 PM | 📍 The Wilma
Featuring Desperate Electric, Kyle Hunter & The Mountain Standard, and Charlie Apple.
🔗 https://logjampresents.com/
🍾🎉 New Year’s Eve at Plonk
🕘 9:00 PM | 📍 Plonk
Four-course prix fixe dinner (reservation required), live music by Reverend Slanky, dancing, and a midnight balloon drop.
📧 missoulareservations@plonkwine.com
🌙💃 2026 New Year’s Party at Sacred Ally
🕘 9:00 PM–1:00 AM | 📍 Sacred Ally
$25 | Sliding scale
A mindful, alcohol-free celebration featuring DJ Mystic Wolf, cacao bar, expressive movement, and community-centered intention-setting.
🔗 https://www.sacredally.love/events/2025/2026-new-years-party
🎧 New Year’s Eve Jamboree at Monk’s
🕘 9:00 PM | 📍 Monk’s
Featuring DJs Chaddabox and GoldenTroubles.
21+ | $5 cover
🤠 Tanner Laws Band NYE Party
🕤 9:30 PM | 📍 Sunrise Saloon & Casino
Country dancing, swing, party favors, and a lively midnight celebration.
🔗 https://www.sunrisesaloon.com/
