The holiday season is upon us, and there’s lots to keep you warm and jolly throughout the Great Falls community.
It’s quite brisk out there, so be sure to bundle up while enjoying the holiday festivities.
Holiday Traditions
The 31st Parade of Lights is Nov. 29 with holiday inspired floats created by locals and Santa will once again light the community Christmas tree in front of the Civic Center.
The World Ballet Company performs The Nutcracker on Nov. 30 stop at the Mansfield Theater.
A world-class international cast of 40 professional dancers, more than 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, and richly detailed hand-painted sets create a visual and emotional experience that captures the spirit of the holidays. From
the glittering Christmas Eve party and the epic midnight battle to the Land of Sweets, each scene bursts with beauty, theatricality, and Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score.
“Our goal is to make ballet accessible without compromising its artistry,” company director director Sasha Gorskaya said in a release. “We created this Nutcracker for everyone — from families seeing ballet for the first time to audiences who have loved it all their lives. It’s a world-class experience that celebrates joy, imagination, and togetherness.”
Tickets are available here.
The next week, Central Avenue will be filled with holiday cheer for the 42nd Christmas Stroll, which includes the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics. This year’s theme is groovy Christmas and you’ll find some favorite festivities throughout the night of Dec. 5 fitting of a retro holiday.
The Great Falls Symphony presents its fan favorite Christmas concert on Dec. 7 at the Mansfield Theater.
This concert will be conducted by Brandon Horrocks, the third candidate for maestro and music director.
The afternoon begins with a free pre-concert talk at 2 p.m., as well as free pictures with Santa Claus starting at 2 p.m. in the lobby.
The concert begins at 3 p.m., followed by a reception in the Gibson Room where audience members can meet the conductor and mingle with musicians.
This joyful seasonal program celebrates the spirit of the holidays with a sparkling blend of tradition and nostalgia. Under Horrocks’s baton, the orchestra will bring classic Christmas carols to life, including beloved favorites such as “Sleigh Ride” alongside iconic film music from The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The Symphony orchestra is joined by the Symphonic Choir and even Santa.
The Belt Performing Arts Center is celebrating their 7th Annual Christmas Concert with Steve Olson’s all-volunteer orchestra, featuring their Merry Christmas from Great Falls album, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 14.
Olson, a gifted violinist, pianist, composer and leader in the Great Falls music scene, inspires and supports others to reach their full potential on and off the stage.
Tickets are $10 and patrons are invited to bring a canned good for donation to Belt Food Bank.
The Great Falls Theatre Company’s holiday show this year is It’s a Wonderful Life.
Get Cozy And Crafty
This winter, The Electric is continuing our Clear Your Stash challenge for knitters and crocheters to use up their odds and ends of yarn or cut down on those skein piles taking up space. We’ve called on local crafters to make scarves, hats, gloves, blankets and the like that The Electric is collecting and will distribute to local first responders to have in their vehicles throughout the winter for those in need. If we have enough, they’ll also go to local emergency rooms and agencies that support the unhoused or those otherwise in need.
Last winter’s response absolutely warmed this cranky reporter’s heart.
The Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art is hosting the The Art of Christmas Open House and Artist Market Dec. 12-13.
Give A Little
Speaking Socially and Fresh Bread Productions is hosting their sixth annual Project Noel Dec. 14 from 2-4 p.m.
Bring the little ones for a magical encounter with Santa Claus himself! Capture the wonder in their eyes as they share their Christmas wishes and pose for unforgettable photos.
In the spirit of giving, they’ll have a variety of free gifts for everyone, from the youngest to the young at heart during the free community event at Speaking Socially, 509 1st Ave. N.
A WHOville holiday event is 6-9 p.m. Nov. 4 at The Station. The event is $40 and includes photos with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who with hot chocolate, food specials and Grinchy cocktails available. Donate a toy for a free raffle ticket and all proceeds go to Toys for Tots.
Great Falls law enforcement are getting ready for Shop with a Cop when they take about 100 kids, who are nominated by their teachers, for a special day of shopping.
If you’d like to help make this holiday season extra special, with a few wishes come true sprinkled in, donate here.
There are loads of holiday giving opportunities throughout the season and we’ll have more of those in our 12 Days of Great Falls Cheer, including a new holiday project The Electric is launching soon.
Gather Gifts
Great Falls is lucky to have so many locally owned businesses, many of which are offering holiday sales and deals to make your gifting easy and more unique than your big box store options.
Local businesses invest in the community and give back in many ways throughout the year so holiday shopping is a great way to show your appreciation.
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 29 in downtown and it’s a great time to shop before the Parade of Lights.
Barre3 is offering a pop up class at The Station at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11, followed by holiday craft market with local retail shops, artisans and crafters from 6-9 p.m. with holiday food and drink specials.
The Last Chance Christmas Bazaar is Dec. 13 at Expo Park.
Make Your Holidays Glow: Candle Making Workshop is 10:30-noon Dec. 13 at the C.M. Russell Museum.
The class is limited to 15 participants and the fee is $40 for members and $45 for non-members.
Light up your holidays with a little hands-on creativity! Join Associate Curator Sarah Adcock for a candle-making class where you’ll pour your very own 10-ounce candle in your choice of Snickerdoodle, Winter Pine or Candy Cane Confection. Add your own festive touches to make it uniquely yours, then take it home to brighten your season—or wrap it as a perfect handmade gift.
The museum will provide all the supplies, but the class fills up quick. Register by emailing Melanie at mburris@cmrussell.org.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is hosting Kids Secret Shopping Days and Trim the Tree from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 13.
Gift Shop staff will help your kids shop while you sit back and relax, then families can create ornaments for their holiday tree. Call 406-452-5661 for more information.
The event includes:
- no gifts over $10
- Elf help with shopping for the kids
- free gift wrapping
- improved check out process with two lines to cut wait time
- complementary cookie and coffee for parents
- free admission to the center
- Christmas movies in the theater
- create three free holiday ornaments, take two home and hang one on the center’s Christmas tree
- 10 percent off in the gift shop
Light It Up
It’s time for Candy Cane Lane.
This year’s map release event is Dec. 13.
There’s two ways to participate.
Decorate your house: no matter how big or small you decorate you want to register so you can help your side of town get the traveling trophy.
Register here to be included in the map.
The map is released on Dec. 13 during the event with cocoa at Jaycee Park.
Then you can use the map to drive around and see the decorated houses at your own pace.
Vote on your favorite one and have fun with their scavenger hunt.
The events are free, but donations are welcomed to benefit local nonprofit CommUNITY Matters.
There are two crosstown clash contests, separated into Grinchville for the northwest, or CMR side, of town and Abominable Town for the southeast, or GFH side.
The top voted house on either side with the most decorated houses will hold the traveling trophy, which is the leg lamp from the classic movie Christmas Story. The trophy is held by the winning family for the month of December.
