Cliff’s Notes on Snow Conditions:
The rain has wreaked havoc with some of the ski resorts that opened last weekend. In a nutshell,
Snowbowl is open this Friday thru Sunday with limited chairs – be sure to look into conditions before going. Lost Trail is open daily for the holiday season thru January 5. Ski Discovery is 20% open and has been getting fresh snow all week, shooting to be open 7 days starting 12/20. Blacktail Mountain had a significant amount of downed trees and powerlines from the recent wind storms – not yet open, stay tuned. Whitefish Mountain Resort is open, a bit crusty in spots, looking more new snow through this weekend. Lookout Pass got hammered from the storm, but with their power and internet restored, will re-open at 9:00 am Sunday. Most of the area XC trails have been early-rolled and groomed; but the recent weather hasn’t done them any favors – not great at the moment. Many have an alarming amount of treefall that’s gonna take a while to clean up. Good news: Lolo pass got 14″ new snow on Friday 12/19, and will be updating grooming & trail conditions. Check The MUG’s comprehensive Western Montana Snow Conditions page for all the current snow conditions and road conditions, all in one place for our area hills and resorts.

Missoula Art Museum hosts their Late Thursday Holiday Ugly Sweater Party with live music by Geoff Taylor from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Thursday.

Meet up with TNR at 6:00 pm Thursday at the M Trail Parking Lot on the UM Campus at 6:00 pm to hike the Smokejumper Trail up to the top of Sentinel, and then down the M Trail.

Get down to Live Jazz with Chuck Florence, David Horgan and Beth Lo at 6:00 pm Thursday at The Old Post in Downtown Missoula.

Arrive early with your black-belt brainy buds for Trivia Thursday 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Sacred Waters Brewing in Kalispell.

It’s Bingo Night at the Kalispell Eagles Lodge FOE 234 Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Tommy Edwards is coming to entertain at Brannigan’s Pub in Kalispell this Thirsty Thursday starting at 6:30 pm.

Missoula author of “Into This Radiance” Gary Hawk appears at Face & Fiction Books in Downtown Missoula 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Thursday.

If wine makes you wiser, it’ll come in handy for Smarty Pants Trivia Thursday Nights hosted by David Crismore & Co. from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Waters Edge Winery in Kalispell.

Join your brainy cider-sippers for Thursday Night Trivia at Western Cider in Missoula from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Thursdays at The Rhino Bar in Downtown Missoula have Bingo at 7:00 pm.

Tom Catmull brings his own style of live Americana music to the murphy stage at Missoula’s Draught Works 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Thursday.

MPower Voices, an all-abilities choir, will sparkle with joy as they sing holiday selections at 7:00 pm Thursday, December 18 at Zootown Arts Community Center in Downtown Missoula.

Join John Floridis with Jen Slayden and Ed Stalling for the Winter Holiday Benefit Series “Songs and Carols of Winter” at Missoula’s Longstaff House 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm nightly from Thursday thru Saturday.

Party with a Purpose presents Athleisure After Dark: Play It Forward – Fundraiser for Watson Children’s Shelter with live music by Shark Buffalo and The Spills 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm Thursday at Free Cycles in Missoula.

Country Dance Night on the 1st and 3rd Thursday each month with free lessons at 7:00 pm and DJ & Dancing at The Rustic Hut in Florence.

Why wait for “Tomorrow, tomorrow”? – Go today and see the MCT Community Series production of Annie at Missoula Children’s Theatre with performances thru December 21.

Pinky and the Floyd celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s iconic album “Wish You Were Here” with a special performance at Wachholz College Center in Kalispell at 7:30 pm Thursday.

Elephant Gerald brings a list of hot swingin’ jazzy Christmas tunes to Stave & Hoop in Downtown Missoula 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm Thursday.

Sign up and sing at Thursday Karaoke from 8:30 pm to Midnight, hosted by Pro DJ Entertainment at Missoula Eagles Lodge #32.

Karaoke is hosted by Pro DJ Entertainment & Productions from 9:00 pm to closing time every Tuesday & Thursday on the main stage at The Sunrise Saloon.

DJ Mark Myriad is hosting another Hi-Fi Pop-Up Party in the Florence Building Lobby in Downtown Missoula 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday with art, music, drinks, shopping and more.

Cutting it close on your Christmas shopping plans? Join Draught Works for the annual Nick of Time Holiday Pop-Up on Friday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Enjoy local craft beer and great live bluegrass by the Crooked River Band 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm Friday at Sacred Waters Brewing in Kalispell.

Light up Ronan with the Ronan Chamber of Commerce’s annual Parade of Lights starting 6:00 pm Friday on Ronan’s Main Street.

Gather your gang & get down to Cranky Sam Public House in Downtown Missoula for their Ugly Sweater Party featuring an ugly sweater coloring contest, live music, seasonal drinks, and prizes for the ugliest sweaters 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Friday.

Santa’s Dash Through the Big Sky Flyover happens in the sky above Missoula from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Friday.

Tommy Edwards Sr.plays live Friday at 6:30 pm at Kalispell’s Dusty Star Saloon.

Experience the vibrant spirit of community at the historic Pearl Entertainer Theatre in Ronan, where Western Montana Musicians Cooperative hosts its weekly Friday Open Mic / Open Jam from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The Five Valley Chorus of Sweet Adelines will present their Holiday Concert at Missoula’s Southgate Mall, just outside of the indoor entrance to Scheels at 7:00 pm Friday.

The Jack Saloon in Lolo with Karaoke Night is the place to be down Hwy 12, and up Graves Creek Road with Kaleidoscope Entertainment on Friday from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Moonshine Mountain plays live 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm at the Gunsight Saloon in Columbia Falls on Friday.

Cahoots takes over the big stage at Missoula’s Sunrise Saloon performing live from 8:30 pm til closing time Friday.

Bring your friends, your appetite, and your best songs for Karaoke Friday Night starting at 9:00 pm at A Sip of Montana at Woods Bay in Bigfork.

Enjoy a great meal, fine drinks and some really great tunes with Out on Bail at Maverick’s Roadhouse & Casino in Lakeside on Friday from 9:00 pm to Midnight.

Solid Sound Karaoke is hosted Fridays & Saturdays in the Bowl Dog Lounge atMissoula’s Westside Lanes from 9:00 pm til closing time.

Sign up for Loki Karaoke starting at 10:00 pm Friday at The Sportspage Bowl Grill & Lounge in Polson.

Join the Clark Fork River Market for their Winter Market season happening 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturdays thru April 4 inside The Badlander / Locals Only in Downtown Missoula.

The Missoula Valley Winter Market returns from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm every Saturday through December 27, and 9:00 am to 2:00 pm January 3 through April 11 inside Southgate Mall near the Scheels entrance.

Enjoy free carriage rides around Downtown Hamilton from 12:00 pm Noon to 3:00 pm Saturday – meet at Bauder Home on North 4th Street for pick-up.

Tis the season at The Jack Saloon in Lolo for an ALL Kids Holiday Party with Santa, Cookie Decorating, Face Painting, S’mores by the fire and live Christmas music by The Jive 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Saturday.

Enjoy a full-day wander through light, story, song and fire at the 2025 Winter Solstice Celebration from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm in Hot Springs, Montana on Saturday.

All of Montana holds its breath starting at 2:00 pm Saturday afternoon, when UM Grizzly Football meets MSU in Bozeman to settle which team advances to the FCS National Football Championship game. Every bar in Montana will have the game showing live on ABC – Go Griz!

Enjoy some local craft beers and great live music by Borderline Lucid at Sacred Waters Brewing in Kalispell 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm Saturday.

The Queens and Mr. G bring a Holiday Edition of their strings performance to Blacksmith Brewing Company in Stevensville at 6:00 pm Saturday.

Rebecca Kelley of Strummingbird Vegabond plays a live set at Missoula’s Draught Works 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Saturday.

Alpine Theatre Project presents Yuletide Affair XXII at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center with shows at 7:00 pm Saturday and Sunday, and at 6:30 pm Monday.

Experience the vibrant spirit of community at the historic Pearl Entertainer Theatre in Ronan, where Western Montana Musicians Cooperative hosts its weekly Saturday Community Open Jam, starting at 7:00 pm.

After the Griz vs Cats game, stay for Chris & Sarah’s 5th Annual Ugly Sweater Party with live music by Rylee & John Mix 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Saturday at A Sip of Montana on Woods Bay.

The Blue Collar Band will be putting in some work with aChristmas Party at The Jack Saloon up Graves Creek Road in Lolo starting 7:00 pm Saturday.

Neal Elder fills up The Rustic Hut in Florence with a night of country music starting at 8:00 pm Saturday.

Mark Duboise & Crossroads take over the big stage at Missoula’s Sunrise Saloon performing live from 8:30 pm Saturday ’til closing time.

It’s always a good ol’ time when Zootown Karaoke hosts Karaoke Night starting at 9:00 pm every Saturday at KT’s Hayloft Saloon in Lolo.

Spread some holiday cheer with Christmas Karaoke hosted by DJ Carlos Coleman at Monk’s Bar in Downtown Missoula 10:00 pm to 1:00 am Saturday.

Come on down to A Sip of Montana on Woods Bay, and play BINGO on the Bay from Noon to 3:00 pm Sunday with your favorite host Sultry Sarah.

Winter Market Ronan continues on Sundays from 12:00 pm Noon to 3:00 pm at the Boys & Girls Club in Ronan.

Watch for Santa to make a visit to Turner Farms’ 6th Annual Holiday Farm Market with local holiday vendors, and farm-fresh grass-fed burgers served up by the Turner Boys from 12:00 pm Noon to 3:30 pm Sunday.

Bring the kids for horseback rides with Santa, wagon rides, bonfires, and shop local holiday vendors at Hood’s Western Adventures in Alberton for their 5th Annual Christmas at the Ranch event from 12:00 pm Noon to 4:00 pm Sunday.

Join John Floridis with Jen Slayden and Ed Stalling for the Winter Holiday Benefit Series “Songs and Carols of Winter” to benefit the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative at Missoula First United Methodist Church 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm Sunday.

It’s Bingo with a Beat! – Soundcheck Bingo at 6:00 pm every Sunday at KT’s Hayloft Saloon in Lolo.

Join Lake Missoula Old Time for an a’capella community Pub Sing session at Western Cider from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm the 3rd Sunday each month.

Unwind and enjoy the sounds of jazz in Draught Works’ taproom in Missoula every Sunday night from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm during the Winter Sunday Night Jazz Series – this week’s featured artist is Evan Nesbitt.

It’s a Festivus (eve) miracle! All-Seinfeld Trivia Night is happening at 6:00 pm Sunday, December 21 hosted by Paul and Stu at Missoula’sDram Shop Central.

Bone Dry Comedy hosts Very Funny Weekly Comedy Open Mic every Sunday at 8:00 pm at Ole Beck VFW Post 209 in Downtown Missoula.

We have around 60 live music events listed for the weekend – take your pick!

No matter what direction you wanna get outta town, you can’t go wrong. Lots of pre-Christmas holiday activities and events are happening not only around Missoula, but all the way up the Flathead, Mission and Bitterroot valleys, east to Phillipsburg and Anaconda, and out west past Alberton. If you’re headed up to Whitefish and Glacier and even Northwestern Montana, there are some outstanding pit stops to make along the way.

Get out & enjoy our locally-owned bars & restaurants with Montana grown / made food and beverages – they need your business! Try a new local winter brew! Support our local artists and vendors at the area markets. Take the family for a brisk outdoor December hike – all the trails are waiting. Many area ski resorts are open – but the chaotic weather we’ve had this past week is affecting which ones are current open; – check The MUG’s comprehensive Western Montana Snow Conditions page for all the current conditions and road conditions, in one place for our area hills and resorts. Fishing on the lakes and rivers is good, and hunting season is winding down. Catch a classic movie screening or a stand-up comedy night. Stretch that big brain at one of the local trivia nights. Sing your favorite karaoke song, or catch a live music show. Enjoy safely and responsibly.

Please confirm event details at the source before you go. Last minute changes are common, especially due to weather and holidays. With each event listing, we try to include a web page or event link with more information you can check for changes.