Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25, 2026
The Montana Film Festival fills the Roxy all weekend, Shakey Graves plays the Wilma Friday night, and the Missoula Symphony paints Pictures at an Exhibition at the Dennison on Saturday and Sunday. Add a free Trunk or Treat at the fairgrounds, the Skeleton Skedaddle in Silver Park, an apple-pressing showdown at Western Cider, comedian Zoltan Kaszas, a Lizzie Borden rock opera at the ZACC and the Fall Fest corn maze out past Frenchtown, and the costume box is going to get a workout.
Missoula
Friday
- Montana Film Festival, The Roxy Theater, 718 S. Higgins, tickets at the Roxy. Friday brings Baby Love at 5:15 PM (an MMA fighter and equine therapy, shot in western Montana), Drinking and Driving at 5:30, Test at 7:45, Honeyjoon at 8 and the Desperate Characters shorts block at 8:15. A free festival happy hour runs in the Roxy Lounge from 3 PM.
- Shakey Graves with Wild Pink, The Wilma, doors 7 PM, show 8 PM, $54 to $66, all ages. The Austin songwriter's Fondness, Etc. tour comes through downtown.
- Costume Making Party, Free Cycles, 732 S. 1st St. W., 2 PM, $5 suggested donation for the Free Cycles Forever campaign, all ages. Bring a project or start one with help from local fiber artists, swap clothes and crafts, and stay for a DJ set from 6 to 10 PM.
- Tour of the UM Zoological Museum, meet at the Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., 4 to 6:30 PM, $20 members, $25 non-members. Curator Katrina Derieg leads an insider's look at the Philip L. Wright Zoological Collection.
- Turner Farms pumpkin patch, 3515 S. 3rd St. W., noon to 7 PM Friday, noon to 6 Saturday, noon to 5 Sunday, free admission. The farm says a Friday Nights on the Farm evening with music and food trucks from 4 PM depends on the weather, so check before you go.
- Design Your Headstone Workshop, Garden City Monument Services, 1035 Ronan St., 6 to 8 PM, free, 18 and up, register ahead. The monument shop opens its doors for a Festival of the Dead workshop where you trace and collage your own headstone.
- Planetarium show: Our Cosmic Neighborhood, UM planetarium, Payne Family Native American Center, 6 and 7 PM, tickets through GrizTix only. A 50-minute tour of the sun and its planets with a Q&A afterward.
- Student Night at the Symphony dress rehearsal, Dennison Theatre, 7 PM, free for students and families. Watch the orchestra and violinist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu run the Masterworks program before the weekend concerts.
- Sensoria reading and signing, Fact & Fiction, 220 N. Higgins, 7 PM, free. Editors of the new nature anthology of essays and poetry read and sign, with Nick Triolo.
- Jason Dea West, Monk's, 221 Ryman St., doors 7 PM, music 8 PM, $18 advance, $23 door, 21 and up. Folk from the Way Back West tour with local support from Riddy Arman and O.T. Hollow.
- Do You See Me?, Westside Theater, 1200 Shakespeare St., 7:30 PM, tickets through the theater. Portland's Open Space dance company brings its national tour about a young man learning to be seen; it repeats Saturday at 2 and 7:30 PM and Sunday at 6 PM.
- Lizzie: The Musical, ZACC Show Room, 216 W. Main, doors 7 PM, show 7:30 PM, $25 general, $20 students and seniors, ages 16 and up. MissCast Productions' Lizzie Borden rock opera runs through Sunday, with a 2 PM matinee Saturday.
- Twin Peaks, episodes 16 to 18, The Roxy Theater, 5:15 and 8 PM, tickets at the Roxy. The season two watch party repeats Saturday and Sunday at the same times.
Saturday
- Clark Fork River Market, under the Beartracks Bridge, 9 AM to 1 PM, and Missoula Farmers Market, north end of Higgins, 9 AM to 12:30 PM. October hours for both downtown markets.
- Orchard Homes Harvest Market, Orchard Homes Country Life Club, 2537 S. 3rd St. W., 10 AM to 2 PM. Thirteen local farmers, bakers and makers with pumpkins, garlic, sourdough, honey and spooky treats.
- Missoula Trunk or Treat, YMCA parking lot at the Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. W., 1 to 4 PM, free, register ahead. Costumed trick-or-treating at decorated trunks, hosted by Impact Kids Camps.
- Missoula Health and Wellness Fair, University Center Ballroom, 11 AM to 4 PM, free admission. Demos, resources and giveaways from local health and wellness providers; Community Medical Center's lab screenings run $10 to $20 and need a 12-hour fast.
- Moon-Randolph Homestead open day, 1515 Spurlock Rd., 11 AM. The historic North Hills homestead opens its gate, with first-come tours during open hours.
- A Poetry Halloworkshop, Missoula Art Museum, 335 N. Pattee, 11 AM to 12:30 PM, all ages, register ahead (capped at 25, kids under 10 with an adult). Write about fear and fascination alongside the On Darkness exhibition.
- Pumpkin Painting for the Poverello, Draught Works, 915 Toole Ave., noon to 5 PM, $15. The fee covers a pumpkin and paint, and purchases support the Poverello Center's food programs. Fourth year running.
- Fall Wreath Workshop, Western Cider, 501 N. California St., 1 to 4 PM, sign up through Beverly Blooms. Dried flowers grown in the Beverly Blooms fields; materials included, spots limited.
- Griz volleyball vs. Weber State, Dahlberg Arena, 2 PM, $10. The only Griz home game of the weekend (football is off until October 31).
- Witch and Warlock Ride, Big Sky Brewing, 5417 Trumpeter Way, 2 PM. A 1.6-mile costumed bike ride to Missoula Animal Services with donations for the shelter, then back to the taproom for prizes.
- Pumpkin Carving Contest, OddPitch Brewing, 1200 W. Kent Ave., 2 PM, $10 per person, register ahead. Prizes for the top pumpkins; all ages.
- Spoon Carving Workshop, Missoula Handicraft and Art Center, 127 S. 4th St. W., Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 3 PM, 18 and up, register ahead. Two days of Swedish sloyd carving from a split log to a finished spoon.
- F.A.B.A. Live Art Content Protection Summit, The Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins, 9 AM. A day for artists and musicians on protecting and growing the value of their work; the free Masquerade Party after-party at Shapes Hi-Fi Bar starts at 8 PM with DJ BLCKAGUA and a mask contest.
- Mid Century Furniture Event, Missoula Used Furniture, 225 1/2 W. Front St., 11 AM. The monthly drop of European and American mid-century pieces, first come first served.
- Paint Your Own Bath Bomb, Golden Leaf Studios, 2901 Brooks St., drop in noon to 4 PM Saturday and Sunday, tickets through the studio.
- Montana Film Festival, The Roxy Theater, tickets at the Roxy. Saturday's lineup: Test at 2:30 PM, The New Old West shorts at 2:45, Animal Kingdom shorts at 3, Drinking and Driving at 5, Dark Matters shorts at 5:15, Chronovisor at 5:30, Baby Love at 7:30 and Act One at 7:45. The festival's Hip Strip Soiree follows from 8:30 to 11 PM at the Missoula Handicraft and Art Center with free drinks and food from Zeera.
- Zoltan Kaszas with Steven Rogers, The Wilma, doors 6 PM, show 7 PM, $43 advance, $50 day of show, all ages. Stand-up comedy; fully seated, first come first served.
- Masterworks 2: Pictures in Music, Dennison Theatre, 7:30 PM Saturday and 3 PM Sunday, tickets through the symphony. Carlos Simon's The Block, Korngold's Violin Concerto with Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Ticket holders can catch the pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM Saturday and 2 PM Sunday in the Music Recital Hall.
- Halloween Night Orienteering, southwest corner of the UM Oval, start anytime 7 to 8 PM, finished by 9, $15, $5 for first-timers, register ahead. Navigate campus after dark with a map and compass; beginner instruction, maps and loaner compasses provided, so bring your own headlamp or flashlight and a costume.
- United Way 95th Anniversary Gala, Hilton Garden Inn, 720 N. Reserve, 5 PM, tickets through United Way. The evening also honors outgoing CEO Susan Hay Patrick.
- Hoedown Showdown, Sunrise Saloon, 1101 Strand Ave., 7 PM, 21 and up. Country swing dance competition with cash prizes and custom buckles, then a DJ takeover.
- Jack Barksdale at Longstaff House, 601 Longstaff St., 7 PM. Texas folk and Americana from a songwriter who has shared stages with Hayes Carll and Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Sunday
- Skeleton Skedaddle 5K and Kids Pumpkin Run, Silver Park, 700 Cregg Lane, kids run (ages 10 and under, free but register) 10 AM, 5K 10:25 AM, 5K free through age 13, $10 ages 14 to 18, $17 for 19 and up, bib pickup from 9:15. Run Wild Missoula and UM physical therapy students want costumes, the creepier or sillier the better.
- Harvest Party and Apple Pressing Competition, Western Cider, 501 N. California St., afternoon, free Frito pies from early afternoon while they last, contest and DJ Coach Shane 4 to 6 PM. Teams of two race antique presses for the title of Head Apple Wrangler and a year of free cider. Entrants must be 21, wear a team uniform and sign up by 4 PM Friday; watching is all ages.
- Halloween All Under One Roof, Missoula Public Library, noon to 3 PM, free. The library turns into a ghost-land with trick-or-treating on the fourth floor and activities for all ages. Costumes encouraged.
- Return to the Earth: A Community Death Care Gathering, Free Cycles, 10 AM to 2 PM, $35 suggested on a $15 to $60 sliding scale, no one turned away. The Western Montana End of Life Collective demonstrates a home funeral, talks green burial and introduces Missoula's bicycle hearse.
- Revel: Sunday Song and Dance, Zootown Dance Collective, 2704 Brooks St., 10 AM to noon, $10 to $25 suggested, kids free. Live singing led by Barron and free dance DJ'd by Kristina, at the ZDC this week instead of Free Cycles.
- Small Memorial and Shrine Making Workshop, GoodWorks Place, 129 W. Alder, noon to 3 PM, free. Build a small shrine for the Festival of the Dead procession on Monday, November 2; bring copies of photos or mementos.
- Women-Led Car Maintenance Workshop, MUD Project, 1527 Wyoming St., noon, register ahead. Oil, fluids, tires, wipers and how to talk to a mechanic.
- Speed Puzzling Competition, Draught Works, noon to 2 PM, $30 per team of up to five, register ahead. Race the clock on a jigsaw with a pint.
- Masterworks 2: Pictures in Music, Dennison Theatre, 3 PM, tickets through the symphony (see Saturday).
- Bass trombone recital, UM Music Recital Hall, 3:30 PM. Brahms, Debussy, Hindemith and Tomasi from a former student of Chicago Symphony players.
- Montana Film Festival closing day, The Roxy Theater, tickets at the Roxy. The Missouri Breaks in 35mm at 2:15 PM, In Memoriam with Marc Maron and Lily Gladstone at 2:30, Honeyjoon at 2:45, The New Old West shorts at 5, Chronovisor at 5:15, the Microbudget Missoula shorts block at 7:30 and Act One at 7:45.
- Do You See Me?, Westside Theater, 6 PM, with a $25 Behind the Creative Process talk with choreographer Franco Nieto at 4:30 PM.
- Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics, MCT Center for the Performing Arts, 200 N. Adams, 6:30 PM, from $40 through Fever, ages 8 and up (under 16 with an adult). A string quartet by candlelight; a second program of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons tributes follows at 8:30 PM, from $39.50.
- Lizzie: The Musical, ZACC Show Room, doors 7 PM, show 7:30 PM, closing night.
- Kids Halloween painting class, Hearts Afire Pottery and Art Studio, 2426 W. Central, 5 PM, $30, ages 6 and up. Paint a little ghost with guided instruction and all supplies included.
At the library: Saturday's Story Time en Español: Día de los Muertos at 10 AM in the Imaginarium brings Guatemalan songs and dance from Mi Pequeño Bilingüe; the Young Kids Dance Party follows at 11 AM in MCAT and the Stop Animation Workshop runs 1 to 3 PM, both free. MakerSpace walk-in hours are Saturday 10 AM to 1 PM, with a Self-Hosting: Unplugging From Big Tech session at 3 PM. Sunday is the Halloween party above.
Brews and music
Friday
- Ten Spoon Winery: Andre Floyd and Owen Caufield, 6 to 8 PM, $5 cover, pizza 5 to 8.
- OddPitch Brewing: Rocky Horror karaoke with cast members from Missoula's Rocky Horror Show, 6 PM, 18 and up.
- The Old Post: Blue Moon, 8 PM.
- Union Club: Kyle Curtis and The Promised Land, 9 PM.
- Dark Horse: 90s and 2000s dance party with DJ Trini, 9 PM.
- Sunrise Saloon: Nashville 406, 9:30 PM.
- Top Hat: Senterline and Spirit Hotel, 10 PM, free, 21 and up.
Saturday
- Draught Works: Charla Bauman, 7 to 9 PM.
- Union Club: Big Mosquito, 9 PM.
Sunday
- Draught Works: Sunday Jazz Night with Loren Stillman, 6 to 8 PM.
Weekly regulars: Sumac's hummus happy hour has Travis Yost Friday at 5 PM; Leaf and Quiet hosts UM jazz students Friday at 7 PM and a free open mic Sunday 2 to 4 PM; OddPitch runs bingo Saturday at 6 PM and a pinball tournament Sunday at 4 PM; karaoke goes Saturday at 9 PM at the Dark Horse and the Bowl Dog Lounge at Westside Lanes, and DJ Kris Moon spins the Badlander Saturday at 10 PM; Cranky Sam runs Sunday Funday game day from noon (bring a board game for a buy-one-get-one flight); 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
Friday
- Karaoke at The Jack Saloon, 7000 Graves Creek Rd., Lolo, 7 to 11 PM, free. Kaleidoscope Entertainment runs the mic at the Lumberjack.
- Field of Screams, 1497 Hwy 93 N, Victor, dusk to 10 PM Friday and Saturday. Three haunts in one: Field of Screams, Gateway Manor and The Deadline.
Saturday
- Trekker Kids at Travelers' Rest State Park, 6717 Hwy 12 W, Lolo, 11 AM, free, for kids 10 and under and their families.
- Jeff Daniels at The Jack Saloon, Lolo, 7 to 11 PM. Live music at the Lumberjack.
- Zootown Karaoke at KT's Hayloft Saloon, 11885 Hwy 93 S, Lolo, 9 PM.
Sunday
- Trunk or Treat at the Daly Mansion, 251 Eastside Hwy, Hamilton, 2 to 4 PM. The mansion's listing still says details to come, so check before you drive down.
- Sunday patio music at The Jack Saloon, Lolo, 2 to 5 PM. The Jack's weekly patio session; no act was named for this week.
Frenchtown and the Mullan Road
Friday
- Missoula Fall Fest, Grass Valley Farms, 5280 Deschamps Lane, Friday 4 to 8 PM, Saturday 11 AM to 8 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM, $25, kids 3 and under free. Corn maze, hayride, barrel train and the giant hay slide are all included, with pumpkins in the patch sold separately. Turn at the big rooster.
- Hallo-Wine and Hitchcock, 9 Mile Schoolhouse, 18815 Remount Rd., Huson, 5 PM, 21 and up, tickets through the schoolhouse. Wine tasting, a costume party and a fireside double feature of The Birds and Psycho.
Saturday
- A Haunting on Porter Lane, 11620 Porter Lane, Frenchtown, 7:30 to 10:30 PM Saturday and Sunday, PG-13. The annual haunted house runs this weekend and next.
Bonner, Milltown and the Blackfoot
Friday
- Pop-up flu and COVID immunization clinic, Bonner Fire Station, 8511 Bonner Mill Rd., 3 PM. Missoula Public Health's countywide series stops in Bonner; walk-ins welcome, sliding fee scale.
Brews and music: the Missoula Events board shows nothing else in Bonner or Milltown this weekend. The KettleHouse taproom in Bonner keeps regular hours.
Seeley-Swan
Sunday
- Tap Into Soul with Solomon Jaye, Seeley-Swan High School, 450 Airport Rd., Seeley Lake, 3 PM, $18 adults, $15 seniors, kids under 18 free with an adult. 2 Valleys Stage brings contemporary music and tap dancing up the corridor.
At the library: the Missoula Public Library calendar shows no programs at the Seeley Lake or Swan Valley branches this weekend. Swan Valley story time returns Friday, November 6.
Look ahead: Warren Miller's Days Off kicks off ski season at the Wilma on Tuesday, October 27, and Griz soccer hosts Eastern Washington Thursday, October 29 at 3 PM. Halloween weekend stacks up fast: The Rocky Horror Show Live at the Wilma October 30 and 31, Griz hockey vs. Utah State October 30 and Utah October 31 at Glacier Ice Rink, MCT's Newsies Jr. October 30 to November 1, the WICKED Halloween Madhouse Masquerade at the fairgrounds on the 31st, the Halloween Party at The Jack Saloon in Lolo and the Seeley Lake Halloween Event at the Foundation Building at 5:30 PM. Sunday, November 1 brings a Día de los Muertos celebration at the Confluence Center, the Festival of the Dead procession steps off from the north end of Higgins at 6 PM on Monday, November 2 (gather from 5 PM), and Griz football returns home against Portland State on November 7 after playing at Eastern Washington on the 31st.
Know of something we missed? Send your events to missoulacommons@gmail.com and we will add them.
