Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8, 2026
First Friday fills downtown with Indigenizing the ZACC, a gallery talk at the Missoula Art Museum and a steamroller making prints on West Broadway, and Saturday the Griz host Portland State at 1 PM for the Native American Heritage Game before Evan Honer plays the Wilma. Around all that, square dancers from across the West are in town for Dare to be Square West, Griz hockey skates against Washington State both nights, and Sunday brings a downtown chili cook-off and Swan Lake with a live orchestra at the Dennison.
Missoula
Friday
- First Friday, downtown and beyond, mostly 5 to 8 PM, free. November's art walk has more than two dozen stops; the highlights are below, and the Downtown Missoula Partnership keeps the full list.
- Indigenizing the ZACC 2026: Resistance, Resilience, Renewal, Zootown Arts Community Center, 216 W. Main, 5 to 9 PM, free, all ages. An evening of Indigenous art, an artist market, food and live music featuring Lil Mike and Funnybone. It begins with an MMIR Awareness Walk and smudging that leaves the library at 4:15 PM.
- First Friday at MAM: On Darkness, Missoula Art Museum, 335 N. Pattee, 5 to 7 PM, free. Registrar Margo Geddes gives a gallery talk at 5:30 on the show she built from the museum's collection, with music by The Dawn Patrol.
- The Art of Sovereignty opening reception, Cooper Room, Missoula Public Library, 455 E. Main, 5 to 7 PM. Open AIR's touring exhibition of Indigenous artists from across Montana opens with live projections by Buffalo Riot and stays up through November 28.
- Steamroller Printmaking, Missoula Beverage Collective, 1151 W. Broadway, starts at 2 PM. Six Northwest artists join Wild Montana for a steamroller printmaking session in support of the A River Runs Through It Act, with a food truck and drinks on hand.
- First Friday Starts at UM, Montana Museum of Art and Culture, 795 S. 5th St. E., 4 to 7 PM, free. Bateman Weaves and the MIBA Showcase are on view, with refreshments and a docent tour at 5 PM.
- Día de los Muertos ofrenda reception, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., 5 to 7 PM, free. Trini Fleming's altar honors the Rocky Mountain locust, a Montana native that went extinct in the early 1900s. Light refreshments provided.
- The House Has Many Hands, The Clay Studio of Missoula, 1106 Hawthorne St., 5 to 8 PM. Opening reception for ceramics by 13 University of Montana graduate and post-baccalaureate students; the show runs through November 21.
- More First Friday stops: Dana Gallery opens Where We Wander by Clay Pape and Ryan Shuman with music by Jack Sandberg, 5 to 8 PM; Radius Gallery is in the opening weekend of its 13th Annual Holiday Show; the Missoula Symphony office at 200 N. Higgins pairs Katie Seidenschwarz's photography with the Symphony Chorale and a preview of Carmina Burana, 5 to 7:30 PM; the Confluence Center hosts Sean Parson's multimedia Sonic Landscapes, 5 to 8 PM; The Landing at Caras Park features Plaid Beaver Company and Garden City Harvest, 5 to 8 PM; The Artists' Shop shows Julie Wulf's Montana Colors; Bob's Your Uncle, 812 Toole Ave., opens new work by Stephen Glueckert; and local veterans show their art at the American Legion on Ronan Street, all from 5 PM.
- Rally for the Burn, Goodworks Ventures, 129 W. Alder, 5 to 8 PM. The Great Burn Conservation Alliance's annual gathering has light bites, drinks, raffle items and the drawing for a Lochsa Lodge stay.
- Encore for MCS, Free Cycles, 732 S. 1st St. W., 5 to 8 PM, $5 suggested donation for adults, kids free. Missoula Community School's benefit has a pop-up kids' music class at 5:15, Missoula Mixtape playing hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s from 6 to 8, pizza, and student art for sale.
- Dare to be Square West kickoff, Western Cider, 501 N. California St., 5:30 to 9 PM. Lake Missoula Old Time opens its weekend of square dance workshops with music from Needle and Thread and Squirrel Butter, partner dancing, bingo and the Zeera food truck.
- Missoula Freestyle Jimmy Buffett Bingo Night, Missoula Senior Center, 705 S. Higgins, 6 PM, $18, $10 for kids 12 and under. Missoula Freestyle's annual fundraiser has bingo, silent and live auctions, margaritas and Cheeseburger in Paradise chili. Beach attire encouraged.
- Sole Mates, Caras Park, 6 to 8 PM, free. Run Wild Missoula's First Friday social run covers about three easy miles with rotating partners, then snacks and mingling.
- Fusion Fight League, Adams Center, 6 PM. A night of live mixed martial arts in the cage.
- Planetarium show: Down to the Core, Payne Family Native American Center, room 013, University of Montana, 6 and 7 PM. A 50-minute look inside the planets, the Sun and the biggest moons. Buy tickets online ahead through GrizTix; none are sold at the door.
- Griz hockey vs. Washington State, Glacier Ice Rink, 1101 South Ave. W., 7:30 PM, $10 standing room, $15 bleachers, $30 mezzanine, $7 students. First of two home games this weekend.
- UM Choir Concert, Dennison Theatre, 7:30 PM, tickets through GrizTix, students and anyone under 18 free.
- Twin Peaks, episodes 22 to 24, The Roxy Theater, 718 S. Higgins, 5:15 and 8 PM. The season two watch party repeats Saturday and Sunday at the same times.
- Annual Used Book Sale, Heritage Hall, 20 Fort Missoula Rd., through Sunday. The Friends of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula call it the biggest little book sale around. Hours are not posted, so call 406-258-3478 before you go.
Saturday
- Mount Jumbo Elk Ramble 15K, Hellgate Soccer Fields, 10 AM. Run Wild Missoula's trail race is the only organized race on Jumbo, held before the mountain's wildlife area closes to recreation on December 1 for the elk herd.
- Fall Bike Sale, Free Cycles, 732 S. 1st St. W., 10 AM to 5 PM. Ready-to-ride bikes are 20 percent off and warehouse project bikes are $15, with hundreds to choose from. Proceeds keep the open shop free.
- 406 Consignary kids' consignment sale, Big White Barn, Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. W., 10 AM to 5 PM, free entry. Clothes and gear for kids, teens and moms; a $3 charity donation gets you in at 9 AM. Sunday is half-price day, 10 AM to 2 PM.
- Jigsaw Block Printing Workshop, Workroom Montana, 3205 S. Russell St., 10 AM to 1 PM, ages 18 and up, register ahead. Guest artist K-Rad teaches multi-color linoleum prints made from a block cut into pieces.
- Monoprint Workshop: Personal Narratives of Land, Missoula Art Museum, 11 AM to 12:30 PM. Teaching artist Cameron Decker leads an all-ages printmaking session capped at 25; register ahead or drop in if there is room.
- Saturday Kids' Activity: Dinosaurs!, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., 11 AM to 1 PM. A drop-in program for kids and families.
- Paint Your Own Bath Bomb, Golden Leaf Studios, 2901 Brooks St., drop in noon to 4 PM Saturday and Sunday, tickets through the studio.
- Griz football vs. Portland State, Washington-Grizzly Stadium, 1 PM. The Native American Heritage Game, and the second-to-last home game of the regular season.
- Café Queer, Leaf and Quiet, 235 N. 1st St. W., 2 to 5 PM, free, for teens 13 to 18. Queer Prom hosts an afternoon of picking a plant and painting a planter for it, with drinks from Floreo Coffee.
- Swords and Sheaths Fantasy Book Club, FMC Books, 123 W. Main, 2 PM. This month's discussion is Poison Daughter.
- Santa's Arrival, Bass Pro Shops, 3650 Brooks St., 5 PM, free. An outdoor welcome with a tree lighting, treats, carriage rides and a plush giveaway for kids while supplies last. Free photos with Santa start Sunday.
- Family Clay Night: Fall Slab Dishes, The Clay Studio of Missoula, 6 to 7:30 PM, $35 per maker, $25 per helper, registration required.
- Evan Honer with Sam Burchfield, The Wilma, 131 S. Higgins, doors 7 PM, show 8 PM, $42 advance, $45 day of show, all ages. The Nashville-based indie-folk songwriter brings his It's An Even Longer Road tour to town.
- Griz volleyball vs. Portland State, Dahlberg Arena, 7 PM, $10. Fans can stay afterward for photos and autographs.
- Speed Dating and Relating, Sacred Ally Empowerment Arts Center, 7 to 10 PM, $30.
- Griz hockey vs. Washington State, Glacier Ice Rink, 7:30 PM, $10 standing room, $15 bleachers, $30 mezzanine, $7 students.
- Dare to be Square West evening dance, Governor's Ballroom, Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins, 7:30 to about 10 PM, $15 at the door. The public square dance that caps Saturday's workshops, which are sold out.
- Desert Fantasy in the Root Cellar, Leaf and Quiet, 7:30 PM, $10 at the door, all ages. Percussionist Jake Ransom's electro-acoustic band mixes vibraphone and marimba with drums, synths and live sampling.
- Erin Brockovich, The Roxy Theater, 8 PM Saturday and 3 PM Sunday. A weekend engagement of the 2000 Julia Roberts film, sponsored by the Montana Environmental Information Center.
Sunday
- Sip and Shop: A Homegrown Pop-Up Market, Garden City Harvest Community Barn, 1657 River Road, 11 AM to 3 PM, free entry. Local makers sell ceramics, jewelry, prints and art inspired by the farms and flavors of the valley, with drinks, treats from Tandem Bakery and Tagliare Delicatessen, and a raffle.
- Unseen Missoula walking tour with Missoula Villages, meets at the First Interstate Bank flagpole, 1 PM, registration required. The Screams and Spirits history tour is free for Village members and half price for nonmembers, and it ends at Cranky Sam.
- Sustainable Clothing Swap, Free Cycles, 1 to 4 PM. Trade, buy and sell clothing in all ages and sizes, with a swap bin for fast fashion.
- Burst the Silence, The Roxy Theater, 1:30 PM. Har Shalom screens the 90-minute musical fable about a father, a son and a Holocaust story finally told, followed by a Q&A with Rabbi Robbie, who wrote and performs in it. Ticket sales support Har Shalom.
- Japan Fundraiser, Montana Theatre lobby, PARTV Building, University of Montana, 2 to 5:30 PM. Students raising money for a study trip to Japan host food and snack games, origami, calligraphy, kimono and cosplay. RSVP on GrizHub.
- Cranky's Chili Cook-off, Cranky Sam Public House, 233 W. Main, 3 to 6 PM, $23.18 online with fees. Downtown restaurants each make a chili, and ticket holders sample and vote for the best in town while it lasts.
- Montana Piano Trio, Music Recital Hall, University of Montana, 4 PM. A one-hour concert from the UM School of Music.
- Zootown Punchline, CoBuild Montana, 5 PM. The first edition of a live comedy show and podcast with local comedians, a community open mic, and music from WAAWA and the Yam Jam Band. RSVP to perform or to claim a seat.
- World Ballet Company: Swan Lake with a live orchestra, Dennison Theatre, 6 PM, tickets from $51, ages 5 and up. The full ballet runs two and a half hours with intermission.
- Pub Sing at UM Flat, 633 S. 5th St. E., 6 to 8 PM. Lake Missoula Old Time's beginner-friendly singing jam of folk songs and sea chanties, sung without instruments. Bring lyrics to share.
- Dare to be Square West closing dance, Elks Lodge, 112 N. Pattee, Sunday evening, $15 at the door. The start time is not posted, so check with the organizers.
At the library: Friday brings Tiny Tales at 10:30 AM in the Imaginarium, Yarns and the Watercolor Painting Collaborative from noon to 2 PM, and the Young Adult Writers' Group at 3:30 PM, before the Art of Sovereignty reception in the Cooper Room at 5. Saturday starts with an MCAT Tour and Training at 10 AM and MakerSpace walk-in hours from 10 AM, then the Young Kids Dance Party at 11 AM, a free staged reading of No Winter's Tale, Montana playwright Gretchen Minton's eco-drama take on Shakespeare, at 11 AM on the fourth floor with a talkback after, a special Spanish/English Story Time for ages 4 to 8 at 11:30 AM, the Stop Animation Workshop for Kids from 1 to 3 PM, Saturday Tiny Tales at 3 PM, and the Missoula Reads Get-Together for 50-book challenge readers from 3:30 to 5 PM. Sunday has PainSavvy Health Literacy at 1 PM in the Blackfoot Room. The Missoula Events board also lists a talk on the plants of Rattlesnake Creek on Sunday at 2:30 PM, but the library's own calendar does not show it, so call (406) 721-2665 first. The library is closed Wednesday, November 11 for Veterans Day.
Brews and music
Friday
- Cranky Sam Public House: Marly and the Pocket, 6:30 PM, all ages. Funk and R&B for First Friday, with art by Joel Isaacs on the walls.
- The Rhino: Rhino Ross Art Night coloring contest, 7 PM, $10 entry with a drink ticket and supplies, 21 and up. Part of every entry goes to a local nonprofit, and the winner takes a $50 bar tab.
- The Old Post: Way Down North, 8 PM. An Americana duo from northwest Montana.
- Monk's: Goth Night with Academy Order, DJ Ordor Amoris and DJ Ginger Bat, doors 8 PM, music 9 PM, $10 advance, $15 day of show, 21 and up.
- Shapes Hi-Fi Bar: The Spills, 9 PM, free.
- Sunrise Saloon: 406, 9:30 PM to close, 21 and up.
- Top Hat: Borderline Lucid, doors 10 PM, show 10:30 PM, $5 at the door, 21 and up.
Saturday
- Missoula Beverage Collective: Milk Made, 11 AM to 1 PM. A coffeehouse set; bring a piece of fabric to print your own band merch.
- Sunrise Saloon: Trent Brooks Band, 9:30 PM, 21 and up.
Sunday
- Draught Works: the Slug Jones Trio, Sunday Night Jazz, 6 to 8 PM.
Weekly regulars: Sumac's hummus happy hour has Blue Moon Friday from 5 to 8 PM; OddPitch runs OffPitch karaoke Friday at 6 PM, bingo Saturday at 6 PM and the pinball tournament Sunday at 4 PM (sign up 3:45); Leaf and Quiet has Jazz off the Rails with UM jazz students Friday at 7 PM in the coffeehouse and its free open mic Sunday 2 to 4 PM in the Root Cellar; DJ Kris Moon plays the Badlander Saturday at 10 PM; karaoke goes Saturday at 9 PM in the Bowl Dog Lounge at Westside Lanes; Cranky Sam runs Sunday Funday game day from noon with a buy-one-get-one flight for tables that bring a board game; Dram Tuff trivia is at the Dram Shop Central Sunday at 6 PM and country karaoke at the Sunrise Saloon Sunday at 8:30 PM.
Lolo and south
Brews and music: The Jack Saloon, 7000 Graves Creek Rd., has karaoke Friday from 7 to 11 PM and The Benevolents on Saturday from 7 to 11 PM.
Frenchtown and the Mullan Road
The Frenchtown Broncs music program is the cause behind the Reddog Community Foundation's Thanksgiving Dinner Raffle, on sale now at $10 a ticket for a Thanksgiving dinner prize package. Proceeds go to instruments, repairs, travel and competition costs for student musicians.
Seeley-Swan
Saturday
- Seeley Lake Skatepark Association Bingo Night, Sullivan building and community hall, Seeley Lake, doors 4 PM, bingo 6 PM, ages 18 and up. Bingo, a 50/50 and raffle baskets that include raft trips, plane rides and 30 pounds of Daily's bacon, all to build the skatepark. Buy tickets ahead; organizers expect to sell out.
At the library: Swan Valley Branch Story Time is Friday from 11 AM to noon at the branch in Condon, 6811 Hwy 83, with a story and a craft for preschool through elementary ages.
Look ahead: Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, and the Missoula Public Library is closed. Montana Repertory Theatre's The Christians runs November 11 to 22 in Missoula churches, and the Big Sky Conference soccer tournament takes over South Campus Stadium with quarterfinals November 11, semifinals November 13 and the final Sunday, November 15 at 1 PM. The Mountain Running Film Festival is at the Wilma on Thursday, November 12. Friday, November 13 brings The Last Revel to the Wilma, the Lady Griz against Houston at 7 PM in Dahlberg Arena, an Old-Fashioned Tree Lighting at the Nine Mile Schoolhouse in Huson from 6 to 8 PM, and the start of the two-day Prairie Sisters Christmas Vintage Market at the fairgrounds. On Saturday, November 14, the Clark Fork River Market moves indoors to 208 Ryman St. for the winter, Railroad Earth plays the Wilma, Griz hockey wraps a two-game series with Boise State, and Griz football hosts Idaho State at 8:30 PM for Senior Day. The 125th Brawl of the Wild is Saturday, November 21 at noon in Bozeman.
Know of something we missed? Send your events to missoulacommons@gmail.com and we will add them.
