Business Bites: Fox Farm Diner Express opening downtown; Great Montana ShakeOut; Oktoberfest; Cascade Quartet concert; Charlie Russell’s 100th legacy celebration; car seat checks; data center meeting; Grim Tales and Jazz Night at The History Museum; and more
Fox Farm Diner Express
Arlo Christianson and his wife are opening the Fox Farm Diner Express at 220 Central Ave., the space formerly occupied by Harvest Craft Kitchen and, before that, the Taphouse.
Christianson said he’s finalizing the sprinkler system and fire inspections, then planning a soft opening in October.
He said the restaurant will be a quick-service version of their former Fox Farm Diner, which closed during the pandemic.
Christianson said the new location will have a similar menu with some new items. They will not be serving breakfast, though he said that could change depending on how business goes.
He said they’ll likely have a grand opening and full menu in November once staff is trained and the construction wraps up on their street.
Great Montana ShakeOut
Each time an earthquake occurs in Montana, people ask, “Does Montana have earthquakes?” Short answer: Yes.
In comparison with California, Nevada, and Utah, major earthquakes here are infrequent. But each year, hundreds of earthquakes occur in and around Montana. Taking steps now to prepare your family and home will help mitigate the effects of moderate to severe earth shaking.
The Great Montana ShakeOut is an annual opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes: “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”
The ShakeOut has also been organized to encourage you, your community, your school, or your organization to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure your space in order to prevent damage and injuries.
Earthquake hits Great Falls, no impact to Malmstrom, NorthWestern Energy, Calumet operations
Oktoberfest
A group of downtown businesses is hosting a two-night Oktoberfest celebration.
- 6 p.m. – Celtic Cowboy: Bayern Oktoberfest Lager
- 6:45 p.m. – Annie’s Tap House: Bayern Dragon’s Breath Dark Hefeweizen
- 7:30 p.m. – KellerGeist: Bayern St. Walter Hefeweizen
On Sept. 25, they’re hosting the third annual Oktoberfest on the 100 block of Central Avenue starting at 5 p.m.
The event includes beer, food, games and more.
Cascade Quartet concert
The Great Falls Symphony and Cascade Quartet are partnering with Fire Pizza for their Sept. 25.
The quartet presents Tango at 7 p.m. at the Ozark Club in The History Museum.
Fire Pizza is bringing the tango flavor with an agave wine and an Argentinian red, plus a surprise small bite.
Get tickets and more info here.
Car seat checks
It’s Child Passenger Safety Week and the Cascade City County Health Department is partnering with Great Falls Fire Rescue for free car seat checks at Fire Station 1, 105 9th St. S., on Sept. 26
Make sure your car seats are installed properly and get current information on car seat laws from 2-4 p.m.
You can also schedule a car seat check at another time by calling CCHD at 406-788-6012.
GFDA data center task force meeting
The Great Falls Development Alliance is hosting another Data Center Task Force meeting on Sept. 28, inviting community members to gather and review what’s been learned during the previous five meetings to develop a clear, thoughtful, and informed community framework for any future data center project considering North Central Montana.
GFDA started the task force meetings in February to examine potential opportunities, impacts, benefits, and concerns associated with data center development.
The first meeting focused on community listening and identifying key concerns, including energy use, water use, infrastructure, workforce, taxes, community benefits, and long-term impacts, according to GFDA.
Industry, engineering, and economic development professionals presented at subsequent meetings to answer questions and provide information.
This meeting includes an overview by Jolene Schalper, community roundtables and discussion, next steps.
Attendance is in person and GFDA asks for RSVPs so they know how many are planning to attend.
The meeting is 5-6:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Great Falls College MSU, 2100 16th Ave. S.
Download the notes from the fifth meeting here.
Flu shot clinics
The Cascade City County Health Department is hosting a community drive-through flu and COVID shot clinic on Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Montana Expo Park, 400 3rd St. N.W.
Adults aged 18 and older can get their immunizations from the comfort of their own vehicles.
Those receiving a shot are asked to wear a short-sleeve shirt and not bring animals in the car.
For those who can’t make the drive-through clinic, or are under the age of 18, they can walk in at
one of CCHD’s Saturday or fire station Friday clinics.
Individuals six months and older can be vaccinated at any of the walk-in clinics. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
No appointments are needed for any clinics.
- Sept. 26: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CCHD, 115 4th St. S.
- Oct. 10: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CCHD, 115 4th S. S.
- Oct. 2: 2-5 p.m., at Great Falls Fire Rescue Station 1, 109 9th St. S.
- Oct. 9: 2-5 p.m. at GFFR Station 2, 731 7th St. N.W.
- Oct. 16: 2-5 p.m. at GFFR Station 3: 3325 Central Ave.
- Oct. 23: 2-5 p.m. at GFFR Station 4, 1800 Fox Farm Road. *Adults only
Bring your insurance card. If you do not have insurance, you may qualify for low- or no-cost flu immunizations.
Low- or no-cost COVID is not available at the drive-through.
If you are unable to attend the drive-through or walk-in clinics, CCHD also offers immunizations at
its downtown facility on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Call 406-454-6950 to make an appointment to limit wait times.
Charlie Russell’s Legacy
The C.M. Russell Museum is celebrating 100 years of Charlie Russell’s legacy Oct. 9-11 with a variety of events in Great Falls.
The weekend includes a free event at the museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 with live entertainment, food trucks, Traditional Native Games, interactive demonstrations, arts and crafts, educational programming, speakers, film, and a vibrant marketplace of vendors and artists.
While the museum campus comes alive with family activities, food, music, and more, step inside to discover special programs and experiences that bring Charlie Russell’s world and the art of the West to life.
The programs are:
The next generation art showcase is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum on Oct. 10.
It’s a special exhibition dedicated entirely to the creative voices of today’s high school students, inviting young artists from across the region to stand alongside a legend and show the world what the next chapter of Western art looks like.
Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites, with People’s Choice Awards recognizing the top three works as chosen by the community. All artwork will remain on display for 30 days following the Oct. 10 celebration – a lasting tribute to the next generation carrying Russell’s spirit forward.
The Great Falls Symphony opens its season with its new music director celebrating Charlie Russell on Oct. 10.
The pre-show talk is 6:30 p.m. in the Mansfield Theater at the Civic Center and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
The concert will feature projected images of Charlie Russell’s artwork, creating a visual connection between Russell’s work and the evening’s music.
Tickets and more information about the show are available here.
The celebration continues at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 11 at Church of the Incarnation, 600 3rd Ave. N., the church Charlie Russell attended and where his funeral service was held in 1926.
At 9:30 a.m., the church will welcome guests for an open house followed by a special morning prayer service honoring Russell and marking the 100th anniversary of his passing.
Oct. 11 start time may shift slightly depending on the availability of the featured speaker.
Grim Tales and Jazz Night
The History Museum is hosting Grim Tales Walking Tours and Jazz Night in October.
Take a walk on the grim side and hear true, terrible, and chilling tales from Great Falls’ past. Your tour guide will show you the actual locations of the most haunting stories downtown Great Falls has to offer. Both popular and lesser-known local lore, including the unknown backstories of incidents you may have already heard, will be shared.
Be advised, the tours are after dark and will discuss death, murder, suicide and prostitution.
The Grim Tales tours are:
- Tuesdays Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 at 6 p.m.
- Saturdays, Oct. 5, 10, 24, 31: 6 p.m.
The cost is $10 for museum members and $15 for non-members.
Call 406-452-3462 or visit the museum to register, which is required.
Tours require a minimum of six people and have a maximum of 15.
It’s an all-weather tour so participants should check the forecast and dress appropriately.
The museum’s Jazz Night is Oct. 17, celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Contact the museum for tickets.
Rabelle Rally
Tobi Hlavnicka, co-owner of Aquasource Drilling, and Caralina Carlson, partner at LPW Architecture, will compete together in the Rebelle Rally for the fourth year, this time as a team for Ford Racing in a 2026 Ford Bronco Raptor.
The Rebelle Rally is the longest off-road navigation rally in the U.S.
The rally begins Oct. 8 and you can follow their progress through live tracking and scoring here or on their team page.
History of Giant Springs
Travel back in time with ‘Synopsis of History at Giant Springs’ on Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. at Giant Springs State Park.
Special guest speakers from the History Museum and Research Center will cover the park’s varied history, including the Montana Silver Smelter, railroad line, trout hatchery, and other fascinating historical tidbits, along with historic photographs showing the area before it became a state park.
The free program will be about 45 minutes with time to ask questions and look at the photographs.
Pre-registration is not required to attend.
About 50 chairs will be available, but bring a blanket or lawn chair if preferred.
In case of bad weather, the backup location will be at Region 4 FWP’s conference room located at 4600 Giant Springs Rd.
For more information, call 406-727-1212.
Hunter education field days
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is offering several field day training events in Great Falls for students who have completed an online hunter education course.
Field days are free of charge and will take place on:
- Sept. 30. from 8–11 a.m.
- Sept. 30 from noon to 3 p.m.
- Sept. 30 from 4-7 p.m.
- Oct. 21 from 4-7 p.m.
Registration is now open for these events, which typically fill up very quickly during the fall months.
Register or learn more here.
Students must be 12 years old to complete the online course and attend a field day. The online hunter education course must be completed before registering. Students aged 18 and over are not required to attend a field day but are welcome to if space allows.
AAUW book sale
The American Association of University Women, Great Falls Branch’s 67th Annual Book Sale is Oct. 14-24 on the third floor of the Great Falls Public Library.
The Great Falls branch of the AAUW has been active since 1914, making it one of the oldest women’s service groups in Montana. The branch currently has almost 50 members living in Cascade County.
AAUW accepts cash, checks, debit/credit cards for payment.
Here are this year’s sale dates:
FULL-PRICE SALE
- Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
HALF-PRICE SALE
- Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SACK SALE
- Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., everything you can fit into a sack for $5
Calumet donations
Calumet Montana and Montana Renewables recently donated $70,000 through the Calumet Cares Charitable Giving Program.
The donations are:
- $11,000 to NeighborWorks Great Falls in support of the High School House program, plus the purchase of more than 50 student work jackets valued at about $9,000
- $50,000 to Black Eagle Volunteer Fire Department Foundation to support emergency response equipment enhancements
Rabies clinic
In recognition of World Rabies Day, the Great Falls Animal Shelter is hosting a free rabies vaccination clinic for cats and dogs on Sept. 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the shelter, 1010 25th Ave. N.E.
Vaccinations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointments are needed.
Pet owners are encouraged to preregister here.
Rabies vaccination is required by law for dogs and cats older than four months in the City of Great Falls and Cascade County.
Rabid bat found in Cascade County
Rabies can spread from animals to people, so keeping pets vaccinated helps protect both pets and the people who care for them.
Conservation panel at Great Falls College MSU
Great Falls College MSU and Wild Montana are hosting Conserving Montana, a free public panel discussion celebrating Montana’s conservation legacy and the people who have helped shape it over the past several decades.
The panel is Oct. 9 from 7-9 p.m. in Heritage Hall at Great Falls College.
The event is free and open to the public.
Emerging country artist Sarah Deuter, of Huson, will kick the evening off. Deuter is a member of the Back Country Horsemen of Montana who draws musical inspiration from her experiences packing, exploring wilderness and from Montana’s public lands.
The discussion will be moderated by Great Falls College instructors Dr. Amy Pearson, communications faculty member, and Dr. Matthew Hill, social sciences faculty member.
Panelists include longtime Choteau-area educator Gene Sentz who was instrumental in the passage of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act; Bill Cunningham, the first employee of the Montana Wilderness Association as well as an author and public speaker; skilled horseman Greg Schatz, a retired home builder from Whitefish who was a longtime member of Back Country Horsemen of Montana; Joan Montagne, a Bozeman area proponent for wilderness issues such as the 1982 Lee Metcalf Wilderness bill who continues to work for wilderness designation in the Gallatin Range; Wayne Chamberlin, a retired physician living in Helena who has been a longtime activist for wilderness issues; and Joe Perry, a Brady-area farmer and avid hunter who serves as president of the Montana Sportsmen Alliance.
Got a business bite? Email it to jenn@theelectricgf.com with ‘business bite’ in the subject line and the details in text form in the body of the email.
