Christmas Weekend PICKS: Thursday, December 23th thru Sunday, December 26th
Merry, Merry Christmas from your friends at The Missoula Underground!
This weekend is a bit lighter on the nightlife, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on. Whether you’re hosting company for the holiday weekend, or visiting our corner of the world, The MUG is here to guide you around town and western Montana for all the good stuff happening this weekend.
There are a handful of Ugly Christmas Sweater parties remaining, if you want to squeeze the last bit of mileage out of that hideous thing before it goes back into storage for another year.
Ski season is officially open, with all the local hills open for business. The past week has brought some seriously good coverage for the base, and this weekend promises another really big dump of fresh powder ahead of the big Arctic front rolling in.
You can check current conditions via the links here for Snowbowl, Lost Trail, Whitefish, and Discovery. There’s already really good conditions for XC at Lolo Pass ,Pattee Canyon, and Rattlesnake. FatBike Missoula has new groomers, and is has been packing tracks at Twin Creeks. Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists are reporting good fat biking on the trails around Lake Como and other areas rideable soon, too.
There’s a bit of live music at all the regular places all around, all the way through the weekend – you’ll be glad to get out & enjoy local music at our local bars and taprooms.
No matter what direction you wanna get outta town, you can’t go wrong. Activities and events are happening not only around Missoula, but all the way up the Flathead, and the Bitterroot valleys.
Get out and enjoy our locally-owned bars & restaurants with Montana grown / made food and beverages. Sing your favorite Christmas karaoke song (’tis the season), or catch a live show. Enjoy safely and responsibly.
Please confirm event details at the source before you go. Last minute changes are common, especially due to weather. With each event listing, we try to include a web page or event link with more information you can check for changes.
Do you have a New Year’s Eve event you would like to have included on The MUG? Click HERE to submit your event!
“It’s Christmas Eve! It’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be.”
– Frank Cross, “Scrooged”
THURSDAY, December 23
Thursday, December 23
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ugly Sweater & Beer Bash
KettleHouse Brewing Co. / Bonner Taproom
605 Cold Smoke Avenue, Bonner, Montana
Thursday, December 23
5:00 pm & 7:45 pm
It’s a Wonderful Life
The Roxy Theater
718 S Higgins Avenue, Missoula, Montana
After George Bailey (James Stewart) wishes he had never been born, an angel (Henry Travers) is sent to earth to make George’s wish come true. George starts to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how they would be different if he was never there.
Thursday, December 23
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Imagine Irish
Imagine Nation Brewing
1151 W Broadway Street, Missoula, Montana
Thursday, December 23
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday Night Music with Colton Sea
Bias Brewing
409 1st Avenue East, Kalispell, Montana
Join us Thursday evenings for some live music by local favorite, Colton Sea. Colton’s originals and covers are sure to entertain, he’s been known to even break out the kazoo! Come check him out and liven up your Thursday nights!
Thursday, December 23
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bluegrass Christmas
Draught Works Brewery
915 Toole Avenue, Missoula, Montana
It’s a very merry musical celebration with Bluegrass Christmas featuring local musicians Britt Arnesen, Richie Reinholdt, and Jack Mauer.
Thursday, December 23
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sacred Waters Trivia
Sacred Waters Brewing Company
3250 U.S. Highway 2 East Kalispell, Montana
It’s always a packed house so be sure to arrive early to snag a table and, most importantly, a beer! Max 8 people per team. No phones. Just those brains! Top three teams win beer money. See you there!
1st place team: $30 gift card
2nd place team: $20 gift card
3rd place team: $10 gift card
Thursday, December 23
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Smarty Pants Trivia
Waters Edge Winery
2593 Hwy 2 East, Ste #8, Kalispell, Montana
Smarty Pants Trivia night at Waters Edge Winery & Bistro!
Challenge your mind in this fun game that gets everyone involved.
Enjoy great food & amazing wine while you ponder life’s head-scratching questions!
Music is involved too, so brush up. Win and get your name up on our Smarty Pants Wall of Fame!
Brought to you by Waters Edge Winery and David Crismore & Co.
Thursday, December 23
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
TNR Thursday Night Hike (XC Ski)
Rattlesnake Canyon, Missoula, Montana
Rattlesnake Ski
This Thursday night we’ll ski in the Rattlesnake. The Main Corridor as been groomed and Spring Gulch and the Ewok trail and nicely packed by skiers and fat bikers. It’s a little warm this afternoon but the base is holding up and there is supposed to be more snow on the way tomorrow. Bring along a pair of hiking shoes/boots just in case the ski conditions are not good. Meet at the Main Rattlesnake Trailhead.
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, December 23
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Live music with Chuck and JD
The Shoe – Lakeview Dining & Spirits
820 Shoreline Drive, Polson, Montana
Thursday, December 23
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Trivia
Western Cider
501 N. California Street, Missoula, Montana
Trivia at Western Cider! Come alone or bring your team for 5 rounds of questions ranging from current events and music to team-selected categories and much more. Plus, there are weekly prizes! We start right at 7pm, so make sure to arrive early to settle in, get your drinks, and prepare to strain your brain!
Thursday, December 23
Trivia 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm / Karaoke 8:30 pm – 12:00 am
Hosted by Pro DJ Entertainment
Eagles Lodge
2420 South Ave W, Missoula, Montana
Thursday, December 23
8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Ugly Sweater Party with DJ Chris Medhus
No Name Bar
2205 U.S. 93 S, Kalispell, Montana
Thursday, December 23
9:00 pm
Sunlight Black
Perfect Shot Tavern
218 Main Street, Polson, Montana
Thursday, December 23
9:00 pm – Close
Karaoke with DJ Nite Wolf
Sunrise Saloon
1101 Strand Avenue, Missoula, Montana
Thursday, December 23
9:30 pm
John Dunnigan
Great Northern Bar
27 Central Avenue, Whitefish, Montana
Thursday, December 23
9:30 pm – 2:00 am
Holiday Freshtival hosted by Coach Shane
The Badlander
208 Ryman Street, Missoula, Montana
$3 Cover | 21+
CHRISTMAS EVE / FRIDAY, December 24
Friday, December 24
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Colton Sea
Showthyme ACT II
548 Electric Ave, Bigfork, Montana
Friday, December 24
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Brent Jameson
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake
1380 Wisconsin Avenue, Whitefish, Montana
Friday, December 24
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Cup o’ Joe
The A Bar
11032 MT State Highway 83, Bigfork, Montana
Friday, December 24
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Kelly Garber
The KM Bar
29 3rd Street East, Kalispell, Montana
Friday, December 24
7:00 pm
Karaoke with Kaleidoscope Entertainment
The Jack Saloon
7000 Graves Creek Road, Lolo, Montana
Friday, December 24
9:00 pm to close
Karaoke w/DJ Nitewolf
Sunrise Saloon and Casino
1101 Strand Avenue, Missoula, Montana
CHRISTMAS / SATURDAY, December 25
Saturday, December 25
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
John Dunnigan Live
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake
1380 Wisconsin Ave Whitefish, Montana
Saturday, December 25
9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Karaoke Christmas Party
KT’s Hayloft Saloon
11885 US Highway 93 S, Lolo, Montana
Saturday, December 25
9:00 pm to Close
Karaoke with DJ Nite Wolf
Sunrise Saloon
1101 Strand Avenue, Missoula, Montana
SUNDAY, December 26
Sunday, December 26
12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sunday Funday Board Games
Cranky Sam Public House
235 W. Main Street, Missoula, Montana
Celebrate Sunday Funday with us at Cranky Sam Public House! Every Sunday earn you and your gamer friends a buy-one-get-one-free flight of Cranky Sam beer just for bringing in a game to play at the pub! It doesn’t matter if it’s Cribbage or Catan, Dominoes or DnD, we love to see the gamers using our nice big tables! So, shake off the hangover, grab some food, sip a bevvy, and bring some friends to enjoy your Sunday with us game nerds!
Sunday, December 26
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Kimberlee Carlson Jazz
Draught Works Brewery
915 Toole Avenue, Missoula, Montana
Sunday, December 26
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Music by Tommy Edwards Sr.
Sacred Waters Brewing
3250 U.S. Highway 2 East, Kalispell, Montana
Sunday, December 26
9:00 pm to Close
Karaoke w/DJ Nitewolf
The Sunrise Saloon
1101 Strand Avenue, Missoula, Montana
Please confirm event details at the source before you go. Last minute changes are common, especially due to weather. With each event listing, we try to include a web page or event link with more information you can check for changes.