December is upon us, and in SouthWest Montana that means one thing: community Christmas events. Seriously, it seems like every town in the state has at least some sort of Christmas shindig in the works, from Christmas strolls, to Christmas bazaars, to art gallery receptions, you won’t be starved for culture this holiday season (and considering the number of events taking place in restaurants, distilleries, and breweries this month, you won’t be starved for delicious food and drink either).
We’ve limited the list below to some of the most festive live performances, but be sure to check out our events page for the full details on everything from free museum admission to candle-lit cavern tours.
Let’s start with books. There a few things better for getting into the Christmas spirit than watching a live adaptation of a beloved Christmas book, and Southwest Montana has plenty to choose from this December. Today and tomorrow are your last chances to see the classic A Christmas Carol performed as a 1940s era live radio play, complete with vintage commercials and music. This production at the Orphan Girl Theater in Butte promises to to a fun and lively performance, and you don’t want to miss out. If you prefer your holiday entertainment a bit more sarcastic (and hilarious), you won’t want to miss The Santaland Diaries at Helena’s Grandstreet Theater. David Sedaris’ confessions of a Macy’s elf have become a comedy classic, and a staple of the holiday season. If, on the other hand, your want your comedy to be as wholesome as it is funny, then you definitely have to head to Anaconda today or tomorrow to catch the High School’s Best Christmas Pageant Ever, as hilarious as it is sweet, the Best Christmas Pageant Ever gives you a backstage pass to the wonderful catastrophe of a Sunday School Nativity Play. And I’ll finish off the book list with a story that needs no introduction (but which I just found out was originally a book) the Nutcracker, by Helena’s Premier Dance Company.
If, on the other hand, you want your holiday entertainment a little less literary, fear not, the Grandstreet Theater in Helena is featuring a musical adaptation of the wonderful Will Ferrell movie Elf, (Elf Jr., the musical), and on the 19th the Mother Lode Theater in Butte is bringing the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas to life.
To exhausted to follow a plot? Not to worry, there are plenty of musical events to choose from. The season kicks off with the Helena Symphony’s annual performance in the Cathedral on December 11th. The next night, Merry Christmas, Darling at Butte’s Mother Lode celebrates the Christmas classics of the Carpenters. Then on the 16th the Butte Symphony has their annual Christmas performance. And, as always, bars, breweries and restaurants across Southwest Montana are hosting live music all month long.