Plains
Plains, MT · Local Life
montanasports.com
Montana native Brad Narducci sets soundtrack for rodeo’s biggest stage at NFR
LAS VEGAS — Inside the Thomas & Mack Center, every second of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is choreographed down to the beat. This year, that rhythm is being set by a Montana native. Brad Narducci of Columbia Falls is serving as the music director for the NFR for...
livelytimes.com
Sterling Drake Brings Roots Music to Polson High Auditorium
Sterling Drake and his Band are bringing their version of roots music to Polson High School for a special live performance. The show takes place Friday, January 16, 2026, at 7 p.m. It is part of the Mission Valley Live concert series, known for bringing outstanding artists to local stages.
islands.com
Montana's 'Christmas Village' Looks Like A Perfect Postcard Illuminated With Holiday Fun
About 40 miles south of Glacier National Park, which is known as the Crown of the Continent, lies a charming town in the shadow of the Swan Mountains that has earned the moniker of "Montana's Christmas Village." Bigfork, a tranquil year-round resort town on pretty Flathead Lake, is renowned for its abundant Christmas spirit, revealed in elaborate decorations and a packed calendar of holiday events. For over 40 years, a squadron of dedicated volunteers, who call themselves the Bigfork Elves, festoon the quaint town and its environs with thousands of lights, wreaths, Christmas trees, and more on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Even after Christmas Day, the festive atmosphere remains, with the decorations staying up until the last Saturday of January.
islands.com
The 5 Best Winter Carnivals Across America With Fun Festivities And Seasonal Spectacles
While summer brings festivals, winter brings carnivals. The earliest winter carnivals were designed to counter the glum associations with wintry weather, filling the cold streets with fun activities and cheerful people. Fireworks, ice palaces, and hot cider have become staples of winter carnivals across the United States. Some events add their own special twists, as broad in range as incorporating Yeti myths to racing reindeer in the street.
Lake County Leader
Busy Elves brings families together for craft night
Busy Elves is an accurate name for the event hosted by the CSKT Early Foundations Home Visiting Program at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness center on Dec. 4. Children and parents, grandparents, and older siblings participated in a fun, Christmas-themed crafting evening. His Grouchiness the Grinch greeted everybody and headed them toward a dinner designed to fuel creative brains — sandwiches, chips and cookies. Then it was off to tables around half of the gym staffed with folks who enjoy children and making things. There were snowflakes to decorate, stickers to select, beads to slip on string and pipe cleaners, glittery heart and tiny hide ornaments to make for Christmas trees, seeds to plant, colors of ribbon to pick, and cookies to eat. One group even had bananas sliced in half lengthwise to turn into Santas with strawberries for hats, and marshmallow creme as glue to stick on teeny chocolate-chip eyes. A photo booth, complete with hats, scuba masks, ski glasses, bow ties and other props, offered an opportunity for families to gather for a Christmas memory photo. Alvin said he liked the reindeer ornament table where the Never Alone Recovery Support Services group used pipe cleaners in Christmas
Whitefish Pilot
Mountain photographer Jason Weiss featured at Cawdrey Gallery
Cawdrey Gallery announces a special three-day engagement with award-winning high-altitude mountain photographer Jason Weiss, featuring his most beloved work alongside stunning new images. Weiss, known for his commitment to authenticity in adventure photography, climbs for hours in the dark to capture rare and powerful compositions of sunrise and alpenglow from...
cutbankpioneerpress.com
Bigfork Eagle
PHOTOS: Merry Grinch-mas at the Bigfork Parade of Lights
A Very Merry Grinch-mas: Grow Your Heart was the theme of the Parade of Lights on Friday, December 16 in downtown Bigfork. A Bigfork Christmas Parade float gets ready to go. (Steve Mitchell photo) Steve Mitchell Almost ready for the start of the Bigfork Christmas Parade. (Steve Mitchell photo) Steve Mitchell Waiting for the Bigfork Christmas Parade to start. (Steve Mitchell photo) Steve Mitchell Bigfork Christmas Parade, cotton candy and a happy crowd. What more could you ask for? (Steve Mitchell photo) Steve Mitchell Here comes the fire engine leading the Bigfork Christmas Parade down the hill. (Steve Mitchell photo) Steve Mitchell Light galore at the Bigfork Christmas Parade. (Steve Mitchell photo) Steve Mitchell All wrapped up for a cool night at the Bigfork Christmas Parade. (Steve Mitchell photo) Steve Mitchell A very large crowd showed up for the Bigfork Christmas Parade this year. (Steve Mitchell photo) Steve Mitchell
Whitefish Pilot
Musician Ethan Thompson returns home to join North Valley Music School faculty
North Valley Music School is thrilled to welcome Montana-born songwriter, producer and artist, Ethan Thompson, known to many by his artist moniker Alt Bloom, to its faculty of instructors. After years of working in musicals, operas, films, advertisements, record deals, tours and countless songwriting and production sessions, Thompson is returning to his roots in Whitefish to share his experience and passion with the next generation of musicians. Thompson’s remarkable career spans genres and continents. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he has penned multiple charting hits, including Ocean Park Standoff’s “Good News” and “If You Were Mine,” Vanessa Hudgens’ “Reminding Me,” Shinedown’s number one rock single “State of My Head,” and Xenia Ghali’s number one dance song “Under These Lights.” His work has garnered over 700 million streams and collaborations with Grammy-winning producers Oak Felder, John Hill, Pete Nappi, and Noel Zancanella, as well as tours alongside Lukas Graham, Andy Grammer, and OneRepublic. Now, Thompson is channeling that experience into teaching and mentoring. “After years of creating and collaborating, I’ve learned that everyone’s passion looks different,” said Thompson. “My role as a mentor is to provide structure while nurturing individuality—helping students discover what they truly connect with and build
Whitefish Pilot
Valley Voices Community Choir to host 25th annual Christmas concert
Allyson Kuechmann has been directing the Valley Voices Community Choir for twenty-five years, and this year, she expects the 25th anniversary Christmas concert to be bigger and better than ever. “We call it Silver Bells, in honor of our silver anniversary,” she said. “And it’s the biggest group of singers we’ve ever had.” The choir has 94 singers on its roster this year. “That’s considerable growth from our original group of about twenty,” she adds. “It will provide a striking debut for our new risers, which we acquired for the safety of larger steps and railings on the back and sides.” David Vale, longtime singer and board member, said he frequently ends up on the back row, about three feet off the ground. He said it is comforting to know there’s a railing now that “has my back, so to speak.” The new risers are a result of a recent fund-raising campaign headed up by choir member Lois (Lolo) Lindquist. “I was pleased to be able to so readily raise over $20,000 from local individuals and businesses,” Lindquist says. “And almost half of that came from one very generous donor who prefers to remain anonymous.” The program will provide a
Valley Press - Mineral Independent
Plains Drama Club stages 'The Apiary'
The play must go on — and last Friday evening, it certainly did. Despite the first major storm of the season, Plains School District opened its student production of "The Apiary" to an audience of more than 40 people who braved the weather to support the Plains Drama Club. The play, written by Kate Douglas, was directed by local resident Terry Henry with assistance from Cathy Emmett. Henry reviewed three different scripts before ultimately choosing "The Apiary." Set in a future where honeybees are nearly extinct, the story centers on a research lab responsible for protecting the few remaining hives and rebuilding the population. Zora, played by Cecilia Harris, is an overqualified researcher pressured by her new boss, Gwen (Ashley Ferlan), to find a solution to the declining bee population. Zora and her lab assistant, Pilar (Claire Lakko), discover a breakthrough linked to the death of cancer patient Charles, played by Shay Nelson. As more cancer victims emerge, Zora and Pilar are forced to confront just how far they are willing to go to continue their success. The cast included Shay Nelson as Charles and Karl; Cecilia Harris as Zora; Claire Lakko as Pilar; Ashley Ferlan as Gwen; and Emma
Bigfork Eagle
'Grinch The Musical' on stage in Bigfork
The Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre will present "How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical" beginning Friday, Dec. 12, at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. This Dr. Seuss classic comes to life onstage this Christmas season with well-known songs such as “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Welcome Christmas” and “Fa Who Foraze,” along with quirky and catchy additions. It’s one Whobilation you won’t want to miss. Performances are scheduled for Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot — but the Grinch (played by Noble Lancaster), who lived just north of Whoville, did not. His faithful dog Max, now grown (played by Emmett Theisen), looks back on the time when he was still a pup (played by Liam Finlayeson). Max tells the story of how the Grinch was changed by Cindy Lou Who (played by Sydney Dondero), a little Who girl in a little Who house with a family (played by Micah Butler, Journey Young, Brody Henion, Ayla Wermer, Noah Gibson, Diana Hatch, Renzo Spencer and Zoe Kreiman) who never grumbled or groused. The Grinch was nasty, and worst of all, he
Whitefish Pilot
PHOTOS: Opening Day on Big Mountain
Skiers and snowboarders take to the slopes of Big Mountain on opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday, Dec. 4. Skiers and snowboarders wait in line at Chair 1 on opening day on Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Skiers and snowboarders head down a run off the summit of Big Mountain on opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Skiers and snowboarders wait in line at Chair 1 on opening day on Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Snowboarders head down a run off the summit of Big Mountain on opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider From left, Trent Tennison, Bryson Fiedler, Gray Petro and Brynnlea Toren get onto the first chair on opening day on Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider A skier skins up Big Mountain on opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider A skier heads off
Broadway World
Broadway Star Meredith Patterson Shines In WINTER WONDERLAND
Merie Productions will present Winter Wonderland, an elegant holiday concert starring Broadway's Meredith Patterson for one more night only on Friday, December 13 at 101 Central's Second Story in downtown Whitefish. The evening evokes the charm and intimacy of a classic New York supper club-right here in Montana-with lush jazz...
Whitefish Pilot
Photos: Choir's sounds of the season
The Whitefish School District's winter choir concert was Thursday, Dec.4 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. Lyla Rudolph sings "Don't know Why" at the Whitefish High School winter concert Dec. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish PIlot) Pianist Jackie Solem plays as the Whitefish High School concert choir sings "The Shepherd's Spiritual." (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Members of the Whitefish High School treble choir at the winter concert Dec. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Lillian Hildebrandt sings a solo in "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Whitefish Middle School choir sings "All I Want For Christmas is You." (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Elia Hill plays the flute as the Whitefish Middle School choir performs "Shalom Chavarim." (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)