Top 10 things to do in Missoula this Holly Jolly Season

I am always in search of good old fashioned Christmas cheer. Growing up in a small mountain Oregon town, I have always loved community traditions: bumping into each other while drinking something warm around a fire barrel on the corner of main street, comparing Christmas gifts with friends, sampling chocolate truffles and sniffing candles in a cozy storefront all with the backdrop of nostalgic Christmas décor and the lull of carols in the background.  Ever since moving to Missoula, Montana, my heart has been in search of the next holiday tradition that sets the mood for Christmas cheer.

Over the past 14 winters, I have bounced in and out of winter craft fairs, partaken in local downtown holiday festivities, hunted for 14 trees in our national forests, listened to Christmas concerts, attended holiday themed performances  (even The Nutcracker on a few occasions), attended Christmas fundraisers, and donated holiday treasures. I love this time of year! Luckily, I have a husband who also loves this time of year as well. Not many people can say that. To give perspective – we own about 20 different Christmas movies (It is hard to pin down a favorite, but “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is near the top of the list). We are those people. We turn on the carols Thanksgiving evening. We generally hunt for our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving (here is where you can get a Christmas tree permit). Our kids only know the full lyrics to Christmas songs – because those are the only songs I know. One of our favorite memories as a couple was happening upon a tree lighting in Boston one crazy evening, while snow was falling, and people were singing – it was absolutely magical.

For me, this time of year is about little surprises, gathering with friends and family and the celebration of goodwill. While these events don’t often say it (in this consumerist society), I think everyone attending is searching for the same thing – a glimmer of hope, a feeling of community, and a chance to ignite that childhood feeling of wonder.

Here are my top 10 things to do in Missoula this holiday season:

(to learn more about the events, please click the red links)

1. Friday, November 22, 6-8pm: Santa Arrives, Southgate Mall. Santa’s schedule from then on is November 23-December 22, 11am-8pm. For us, since we have young children, part of the magic of Christmas is the tradition of Santa Claus. We bring our kiddos here every year in their pjs for their Santa photos. It is a tradition for us and for many. We like to look at a snapshot of the kids year after year; we plan to drag them here through their senior year of high school. Look for that photo in 11 years. I am not a huge mall person, but this is the only place that is consistent and reliable with lots of hours for Santa visits. Our tip is to go mid-December in the evening during the week. The lines are short, if existent at all. Also, we took our kids for a test run when they were toddlers because Santa is scary and an unfamiliar person at that age. All Santa visits are free, but the photos are kind of expensive.

Another wonderful option, which has the same Santa as the mall is stopping by the The Old Dairy/Trough, on December 15th.  The atmosphere is lovely with the fireplace and you can take your own photos. This is our favorite Santa siting every year.

If you want a list of appearances for our favorite Santa, see Santa Papa Picks.

2. Saturday, November 23: Small Business Saturday, Downtown. As I mentioned above, I am a small town kind of gal, so supporting storefronts and local business owners is very important to me. It is worth stopping by the HUB downtown, grabbing a free hot cocoa and perusing the specials many of the downtown shops have to offer. Downtown is starting to light up with holiday cheer, I enjoy seeing how creative the window displays are and the little white lights all aglow! I love finding something unique to share with my friends and family.

3. Sunday, December 1, 3:00pm: JuBELLation’s Christmas Bell Choir Concert, First United Methodist Church Missoula (across from the Library). I am a sucker for a good bell concert. They make me laugh; they make me cry.  They connect right to my heart and I have no idea why. Honestly, for some reason it makes me feel like I am on the set of Sister Act, which makes no sense because these people are not Nuns nor are they singing, but the spirit is there! Plus, this is a free event.

4. Thursday, December 5-15, 5:30pm: Festival of Trees, Stockman Bank Building (Downtown).
This event kicks off with “Tinsel & Tidings Tree Debut & Auction” which is a fun event with some pretty excellent themed trees – ranging from artsy to boozy.  The first time I attended the Festival of Trees fundraiser auction, it was held in the Holiday Inn downtown and I was pregnant with my twins. This year the auction benefits Missoula’s Downtown Foundation. There are scheduled Tree Tours, a couple of Teddy Bear Teas, and a Mimosa Brunch on tap.

5. Saturday, December 7, 6:00pm: Parade of Lights – Lights from around the world, Higgins Avenue (Downtown). We rarely miss this event. We go because it feels like a community kick-off to the season. This year, they are bringing the Merc back into light by having Santa pictures available that night. I suggest you wear warm clothes; we have been rained on, snowed on, and just plain cold. Grab something warm to drink from your favorite coffee shop downtown, we usually hit Break Espresso. Get close to the XXX’s because they light the tree there. One year, there was a technical difficulty and we counted down a few times before it lit.

6. Saturday/Sunday, December 7 & 8: Missoula Symphony – Holiday Pops!, Dennison Theater (UM). The weekend will feature three performances. I love this symphony performance accompanied by the chorale. It is always a ton of fun and spirited. I think it is a great performance to introduce the kids to the symphony. Missoula Symphony is still conducting guest directors’ concerts in search of their next director since Darko Butorac moved to Asheville. This concert will be directed by Gordon Johnson and Chorale Director Dean Peterson.

7. Sunday, December 8, 10:00am-6:00pm: Missoula Holiday Made Fair at the Adams Center (UM) (Canned Food Donation entrance fee). If you are looking for vetted quality and regionally made goods to give as holiday gifts, this fair is for you. The first Missoula Made Fair I attended was a delightfully cozy, yet high-quality artisan fair sprinkled amongst some old buildings near the KettleHouse Northside over 10 years ago. It was obviously a hit for more than just me because boy has it grown! It now fills the Adams Center’s three levels with everything from fine art pieces to bath bombs and everything crafted between. It is packed from opening to close; I am not kidding. It is not for the claustrophobic – it can be very overwhelming for introverts to get through – especially with little kids. Luckily, and I am excited about this, this year they are offering a VIP pass for $10! You get in an hour early and for someone like me, who is in her element directing the crowd but gets overwhelmed if actually part of the crowd, this will be a game changer! On top of that, the $10 fee goes to the non-profit Hellgate Roller Derby, which is all about empowering people (win-win).

The ChildBloom Guitar Program has become another tradition at this event, playing joyful ensembles in the balcony in the middle of the day (noon-1:30pm). I love taking a little break and watching my kids’ eyes widen as they watch other kids not much older than them perform.

I never miss this fair. I always find several unique Christmas gifts at all my price points.

8. Wednesday, December 11, 7:30pm: Mannheim Steamroller, Adams Center (UM). Mannheim Steamroller feels like a tradition in Missoula. I went a few years back, before kids (so okay, maybe 8 years ago). This was one of the CDs my parents always had on rotation during the Christmas season and is in my Pandora mix-up. As a kid, I dreamed of what a concert would be like – the intensity of the instruments coming through their performance, paired with the joy of the season. It should be another fabulous concert this year!

9. November 4-December 31: Caras Nursery Christmas Store. This isn’t an event per se, but Caras Nursery transforms into its Christmas Store at the beginning of November. This is the first “local” store to unveil Christmas every year. If you are looking for a fun ornament or festive decoration, a tree or a wreath, Caras Nursery is a great place to go! They also have hot cider going all day and cookies to nibble. Bring your camera too, you can take photos in staged areas, my kids’ favorite is the sleigh in the nursery.  We shot our own Christmas card photo there a few years ago!

10. December 5-22: Missoula Community Theater December Play, Seussical (MCT). In years past Missoula Community Theater has put on Christmas classics like “White Christmas,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “Miracle on 34^th Street.” Last year we took the kids to see “Elf” and had a lot of fun! This year MCT is performing “Seussical” which will be a fun family event, even without the holiday theme.  The neat thing about the “Seussical” is that they offer a sensory-friendly showing Wednesday, December 18th at 6:30pm.

GIVING. As the years go by, these events and other traditions, bring me a little closer to home. They have become more special as I share them with my kids. To be honest, that is where the magic is – showing my kids the importance of supporting our community in the many ways our favorite season allows. Another tradition our family likes to do is give back! We have pooled money and goods to donate to the Missoula Foodbank and Family Promise, but we most often grab tags from giving trees to help other families out. There are several ways you can give back as well. Stop by a “Giving Tree” in the mall or check out some non-profits that may need some holiday help: Watson Children’s Shelter, the Ronald McDonald House, Youth Homes, Missoula Aging Services, Missoula Food Bank, Family Promise, the YWCA, and so many more great organizations that support other people all year long. Even if it is a little change in a red bucket to support the Salvation Army, GIVE what you can.

Missoula offers a lot of other special events during the holiday season. Please share your favorite events!