Time to grab your gear and ride into fall! The MUG is here with all our Weekend PICKS to help you make it to all the early October music, markets and events Thursday thru Sunday that you don’t want to miss around Missoula and Western Montana.

First Thursdays throughout the fall, the art community of Downtown Whitefish comes together from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm to host Whitefish Gallery Nights – an evening of featured artist exhibits, entertainment, and light refreshments.

John Floridis performs live 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday, October 2 at Bitter Root Brewing in Hamilton.

Meet up with TNR at 6:00 pm for this week’s “Crazy Sam” Thursday Night MTB Ride starting at the Sam Braxton Trailhead at the top of Missoula’s Pattee Canyon.

Bring your friends and your favorite LPs for BYOV Vinyl Night with Ear Candy Music at Missoula’s Draught Works 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Thursday.

Montana Griz Volleyball returns to Missoula for a huge home stand at UM Dahlgren Arena Thursday at 7:00 pm against Northern Colorado, and 2:00 pm Saturday vs. Northern Arizona.

Logjam Presents welcomes Static-X with special guests Dope for a live performance at The Wilma in Downtown Missoula at 8:00 pm Thursday.

Hamilton’s Downtown Association hosts First Friday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with businesses open late, art galleries showcasing exhibits, live music, food and beverages.

Celebrate First Friday at Missoula Art Museum – Rearranging Stars with Stella Nall & Jennifer Leutzinger, Delia Touché, And Brittney Denham, music by Dylan Running Crane from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Owlflowers photography by Emory will be featured on First Friday at Bernice’s Bakery in Missoula 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

Celebrate Oktoberfest the German way at Bayern Brewing in Missoula 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday.

Join the folks at PureWest Missoula – by the XXXXs on North Higgins from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for drinks, meet artist Kristi Hager, and good company on First Friday.

Head to the Zootown Arts Community Center on 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm First Friday, October 3 to celebrate the 11th Annual Missoula Monster Project, marking more than a decade of monster magic that begins in Missoula’s kindergarten classrooms.

UM Griz Men’s Hockey vs Utah with Hocktoberfest season-opening party 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm Friday at Glacier Ice Rink at Missoula Fairgrounds.

The air is crisp, the mountains are calling, and it’s time for the 19th Annual Pray for Snow Party and Fundraiser for the Western Montana Avalanche Center at Missoula’s Caras Park 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on First Friday in support of the West Central Montana Avalanche Center.

Dan Dubuque brings his amazing live acoustic instrumental performance to Waters Edge Winery in Kalispell from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Friday.

Fusion Fight League with a full card featuring Jose Mendez vs Darien Robins for the Pro Lightweight Bout Main Event comes to UM Adams Center in Missoula at 6:00 pm Friday.

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.

Logjam Presents welcomes Trevor Hall for a live performance on The Monsoon Nights Tour with Will Evans at The Wilma in Downtown Missoula at 8:00 pm on First Friday.

Tristan Graves, An Old Cowboy, plays live at The Rustic Hut in Florence starting 8:00 pm Friday.

Foundation Entertainment and Montana Kush OG present Late Night Radio + TF Marz with local support SamSqwuanch and BigFoot at Monk’s Bar in Downtown Missoula 9:00 pm on First Friday.

Groove Solventless & Logjam Presents welcome Off In The Woods for a FREE live performance at the Top Hat in Downtown Missoula at 10:30 pm on First Friday.

The farmers’ market season is on its autumn stretch including Ronan Thursday; Polson and Plains on Friday, and all the ones in Downtown Missoula, Hamilton, Kalispell, and Stevensville (their last weekend), on Saturday morning. On Sunday, there are farmers markets in Columbia Falls and Ronan to check out.

The MUG’s Western Montana Summer Farmers Markets guide is ready to help – save the link and get around to all of ’em during the remaining weeks of the season.

Missoula’s own Ten Spoon Vineyard + Winery returns with their great tradition of 2025’s annual Community Red Grape Harvest Days; the public is invited to bring their own snippers and help harvest red grapes on 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday, and 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday.

The 4th Annual ZooTown Challenge returns to Missoula’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturday to push your limits and competitive spirit for a great cause, raising funds for Opportunity Resources.

Get out to the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula on Saturday for the Zootown Sports Card & Collectibles Show from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; Trade Night after the show starting at 6:00 pm.

Live music from OcTUBAfest, beer, brats, pretzels, ice cream, games for the whole family, a stein holding competition, and more at ARTS Missoula’s 33rd Annual Germanfest 12:00 pm Noon to 5:00 pm Saturday at Caras Park in Downtown Missoula.

Draught Works will hold their 14th Annual Customer Appreciation Party with multiple big giveaways, throwback pricing, food trucks and live music during the evening by Wolf and The Moons from 12:00 Noon to 11:00 pm Saturday.

Join Missoula MTB Coalition on Saturday, October 4 at the Pattee Canyon Picnic Area to celebrate Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

UM School of Theatre & Dance hosts performances of Dance on Location in the Mansfield Library Mall at the University of Montana Saturday at 5:30 pm and Sunday at Noon.

Logjam Presents welcomes All Time Low for a live performance on the North American Leg of their Everyone’s Talking! World Tour at KettleHouse Amphitheater in Bonner at 7:00 pm Saturday.

Have a good time Saturday night with Neal Elder live on stage at The Jack Saloon up Graves Creek Road in Lolo 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

The Western Meadowlarks make stop on their Flying through God’s Country Tour at The Rustic Hut in Florence at 8:00 pm Saturday.

The Elephant Gerald Project sits in for a live Hot Jazz performance at Stave & Hoop Speakeasy in Downtown Missoula 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm Saturday.

Late Night Radio introduces his latest album “Pocket Full of Dreams” at 9:00 pm Saturday at The Remington Bar & Casino in Whitefish.

The stage is yours when DJ Carlos hosts the Hip Hop Karaoke Party at 9:00 pm Saturday at Monk’s Bar in Downtown Missoula.

The Northern Lights Band is back at it for their first October show this Saturday night at Missoula’s Sunrise Saloon – starting at 9:30 pm, and playing until the cows come home

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.

ALLEZ! Get your skinny wheels ready for Missoula’s legendary annual Pattee Canyon Hill Climb starting at Takima Canyon Drive going to the top parking lot 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, with the sweet spot for prizes at the top 10:00 am to 2:00 pm-ish.

Visit the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula for the annual Fall Festival 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday.

Unwind and enjoy the soulful sounds from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm during the Fall Sunday Night Jazz Series, this week featuring the Missoula Jazz Collective, in the taproom at Draught Works.

Logjam Presents welcomes legendary group The Beach Boys for a rescheduled last live concert performance of the season at KettleHouse Amphitheater in Bonner at 7:00 pm Sunday.

Logjam Presents also welcomes Nation of Language for a live performance with Greet Death at The Wilma in Downtown Missoula at 8:00 pm Sunday.

Sunday Funday Karaoke is hosted by DJ Nite Wolf from 8:00 pm til Midnight at Missoula’s Sunrise Saloon.

We have around 60 live music events listed for the weekend – take your pick! Autumn is here; take advantage of patio season while it’s still good. You can’t go wrong with seeking out all the excellent rooftop bars and outdoor patios to soak in this late-September Montana weather.

No matter what direction you wanna get outta town, you can’t go wrong. Lots of autumn 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 brew! Support our local artists and vendors at the area markets. Take the family for a brisk outdoor hike – all the trails are waiting. Fall conditions are excellent just about everywhere for cycling and mountain biking. Fall fishing on the rivers is good, and the lakes are great for no-crowd SUPing, kayaking and canoeing. 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.

“Now that I’ve lost everything to you
You say you wanna start something new
And it’s breakin’ my heart you’re leavin’
Baby, I’m grievin’
But if you wanna leave, take good care
Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there”
– Cat Stevens / “Wild World”

Do you have a Western Montana event coming up that you would like to have included on The MUG? Click HERE to submit your event!

THURSDAY, October 2

FRIDAY, October 3

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SATURDAY, October 4

SUNDAY, October 5

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Please confirm event details at the source before you go. Last minute changes are common, especially due to holidays and 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 Western Montana event you would like to have included on The MUG? Click HERE to submit your event!

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