Today

3 Flathead Audubon birdwatching float trip on Flathead River from Pressentine Bar to Leisure Island. Meet at 9 a.m. at Kalispell K-Mart parking lot. Bring canoe or kayak, lifejackets, binoculars, lunch, raingear. All welcome.

3 Kalispell Elks Lodge No. 725 open house and barbecue 2-5 p.m. U.S. 93 South, Kalispell. Burgers, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and chips. Cost $6. Tours available. Everyone welcome. Call Red McCaskill, 253-6785.

3 Concordia College annual Cobber Corn Feed, 6 p.m., 120 Garland St., Kalispell. Potluck; corn and beverages provided. Call Rusty and Mary Helen Halaas, 756-3162.

Monday

3 Fair-Mont-Egan School Board meets at 7 a.m. in the library.

3 Children's Story Hour at 11 a.m., Flathead County Library in Kalispell; 758-5822.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

Tuesday

3 The Wave in Whitefish will not open until 7 a.m. today due to a planned power outage for Safeway construction. Call 862-2444

3 Federation of Fly Fishers 43rd annual International Fly Fishing Show and Conclave today through July 26, Whitefish High School. Workshops, exhibits, casting demonstrations and clinics. Public welcome. Admission $5.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at First Avenue East, City of Kalispell.

3 Flathead County Solid Waste District board meets 5 p.m. at the landfill office.

3 Flathead Building Association "Raise the Roof" public social, 5:30 p.m., U.S. Bank, 30 N. Main St., Kalispell. Refreshments and raffles. Call 752-2422.

3 Museum at Central School Historic Film Club presents the Marx Brothers classic 1933 comedy, "Duck Soup," 7 p.m., 124 Second Ave.E, Kalispell. Free. Donations accepted. Bring portable chairs, pillows, blankets. Call 756-8381.

3 North Lake County Planning and Zoning Committee sponsors two community meetings at 7 p.m. today at BruMar Estate, Ferndale; and at 7 p.m. July 23, at Bethany Lutheran Church. Bigfork. Open discussion follows information session. Call Leslie, 837-6094.

3 Smith Valley School board meets at 7 p.m. in the library. Final 2008-2009 budget meeting.

3 Creston School board meets at 7 p.m. in the school library. Public welcome.

Wednesday

3 Children's Story Hour at 10 a.m., Bigfork Library; 837-6976.

3 Free educational seminar titled, "Smart Choice in Your Retirement," 5 p.m., Whitefish Community center, 121 E. Second St. Space limited. For a reservation, call Mary Madsen, 862-5453.

3 Children's Story Hour at 10:30 a.m., Columbia Falls Library; 892-5919.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake County Health Department, Polson.

3 Children's Story Hour at 11 a.m., Flathead County Library in Kalispell; 758-5822.

3 Children's Story Hour at 3:30 p.m., Marion Library.

3 North Lake County Planning and Zoning Committee sponsors two community meeting, 7 p.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church. Bigfork. Open discussion follows information session. Call Leslie, 837-6094.

Thursday

3 Red Cross blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Plum Creek, Columbia Falls.

3 Little Bitterroot Lake Neighborhood Plan update meeting 11:30 a.m., Marion Fire Hall, Gopher Lane.

3 Children's Story Hour at 1 p.m., Whitefish Library; 862-6657.

3 Annual Flathead Democratic Picnic, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Lawrence Park, Kalispell. Those whose last names begin with A-I bring salad; J-Q dessert; R-Z main dish. Candidates will be present. Families welcome.

3 Event at Rebecca Farm World Cup sanctioned equestrian competition, today through July 27, Spring Creek Road, off West Reserve Drive. Free admission for spectators. Call 253-4666.

3 Columbia Falls Heritage Days today through July 27. Budweiser Clydesdales, 4-6 p.m. Whitefish Credit Union, today; 2-4 p.m. Super 1 Foods, July 25. NRA Rodeo, 7 p.m. July 25-26, Blue Moon; Firemen's breakfast 7 a.m., Boogie to the Bank 5K Run 8 a.m., July 26. Kiddie parade 10:30 a.m., main parade noon, July 26; Family Fun Festival, July 26-27, Marantette Park with arts and crafts fair, live music. Call 892-0178 or 270-5967.

3 Federation of Fly Fishers sponsors Whitefish Night Out 5-6:30 p.m. Great Northern Brewery, Whitefish. Free beer, wine and cheese reception. Art gallery tour.

3 Little Bitterroot Lake Neighborhood Plan meeting 6 p.m. Marion School, Gopher Lane. Public welcome.

3 Federation of Fly Fishers Fly Fishing Film Tour, 7-9 p.m. O'Shaughnessy Center, Central Avenue, Whitefish. Admission $5.

Friday

3 Little Sapling Program "Something in the Air!" about skunks, for children 4-7 years old, 11 a.m., Lone Pine state Park picnic shelter. $3 per child. Call Mary Beth Pendley, 755-2706.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 1-5 p.m., North Valley Baptist Church, Columbia Falls.

3 Columbia Falls Heritage Days today through July 27. Budweiser Clydesdales, 2-4 p.m. Super 1 Foods, Columbia Falls. NRA Rodeo, 7 p.m. July 25-26, Blue Moon; Firemen's breakfast 7 a.m., Boogie to the Bank 5K Run 8 a.m., July 26. Kiddie parade 10:30 a.m., main parade noon, July 26; Family Fun Festival, July 26-27, Marantette Park with arts and crafts fair, live music. Call 892-0178 or 270-5967.

3 Seventh annual Wildcat Athletic Endowment Association (WAEA) auction and barbecue fundraiser, 5-8 p.m., behind Columbia Bar, downtown Columbia Falls. Live and silent auctions. Social hour 5-7 p.m.

3 28th annual Glacier Rod Run today and July 26, Kalispell. Open to 1957 and older vehicles only. Cruise in 6 p.m. July 25, Kalispell Dairy Queen. Parade 10 a.m. July 26, Main Street. Show and shine follows on First Avenue East. Call Gus, 257-1945 or Dan, 862-3072.

A Look Ahead

3 Fifth annual Yaak Wilderness Festival, July 26, Dirty Shame Saloon, Yaak. Live folk, acoustic, bluegrass and blues music with Flamenco, Sol Jibe, Alan Lane Band, Amy Martin and Sloppy Lewis. Advance tickets are $15 adult, $15 ages 13-18, and free for children 12 and under. Tickets $20 day of event. Call 406-295-9736.

3 40th annual Hockaday Arts in the Park July 25-27, Depot Park, Kalispell. Over 100 booths featuring fine artists and craftsmen, entertainment, food vendors. Hours 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 25-26; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 27. $4 advance weekend pass, $5 at gate; $3 daily admission. Over 100 artists and craftsmen, daily entertainment; 755-5268.

3 Meet Roy Brown, Republican candidate for Montana governor, 4 p.m. July 26, O'Neil's, 985 Walsh Road, Columbia Falls. Call 892-7604.

3 Columbia Falls Class of 1983 gathering, 7 p.m. July 26, Blue Moon. Call Carol Ladenburg, 471-7378 or Colleen Konopatzke, 892-3906.

3 Lone Pine State Park hosts Big Sky Astronomy Club, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 26. Mark Paulson leads a presentation on stargazing followed by telescope viewing. Cost 45 per person; children 12 and under free. Call Mary Beth Pendley, 755-2706.

3 31st annual Rollins Volunteer Fire Department's buffalo and turkey barbecue, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 27, Rollins Schoolhouse, Advance tickets $12 adults, $6 children under 12; 5 and under, free. Tickets at door are $14 and $7 respectively.

3 Children's Story Hour at 11 a.m., July 28, Flathead County Library in Kalispell; 758-5822.

3 The Flathead Conservation District meets at 1 p.m., July 28, 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., July 28, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 8:30-11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. July 28-29, Polson Senior Center. $10 course fee. Call 883-4735 to register.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 28-29, St. John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby. $10 course fee. Call 293-0100 to register.

3 AARP Driver Safety Program for all drivers age 50 and older, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 28 and 30, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $10 course fee. Call 863-3630 to register.

3 Flathead Chronic Pain Support Group meets 5:30-7 p.m., July 28, at The Summit. Learn how to cope with pain and improve your quality of life. Free. Call Dr. Alex Bokor, 250-5252.

3 Columbia Falls Heritage Days Committee meets 6:30 p.m. July 28, City Hall, 130 Sixth St. W. Call 892-0178 or 270-5968.

3 Lake County Fair July 28-Aug. 2, Lake County Fairgrounds, Ronan.

3 Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., July 29, Immaculate Conception Church, Polson.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., July 30, FVCC board room.

3 Children's Story Hour at 10 a.m., July 30, Bigfork Library; 837-6976.

3 Children's Story Hour at 3:30 p.m., July 30, Marion Library.

3 Children's Story Hour at 1 p.m., July 31, Whitefish Library; 862-6657.

3 Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m., July 31, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

3 School District 5 Fall Enrollment for new students, grades K-8, Aug. 1, 233 First Ave. E., above Flathead County Library, Kalispell. Call Patty Fisher, enrollment clerk, 751-3430.

3 Little Sapling Program "Take off" about dragonflies, for children 4-7 years old, 11 a.m. Aug. 1, Lone Pine state Park picnic shelter. $3 per child. Call Mary Beth Pendley, 755-2706.

3 Christian author Beth Moore gives a simulcast presentation Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church, 17 Swan Way, Bigfork. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Aug. 1; 8:30 a.m. Aug. 2 with continental breakfast. Tickets $27, first come, first serve. Seating limited. Call 837-0246.

3 Evergreen fourth annual Show & Shine 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 2, Shopko parking lot, 1370 U.S. 2. E. Open to all classes of cars. Door prizes. No entry fee. Call Dan Demars, 837-4814.

3 Bear Fair 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2, Hungry Bear Steak House backyard. Bear management and research experts discuss co-existing with bears and adverse conditioning. Free bratwurst. Beer, beverages and door prizes. Games and activities for children. Leave dogs at home. Contact Swan Ecosystem Center, 406-754-3137.

3 Glacier Stamp Club family potluck/picnic 6 p.m. Lawrence Park, Kalispell. Short business meeting follows. Call Gail Long, 752-6110 to RSVP with number in your party.

3 Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Aug. 4, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.

3 Little Bitterroot Lake Neighborhood Plan update meeting 6 p.m. Aug. 7, Marion Fire Hall, Gopher Lane.

3 Little Sapling Program "Lone Pine Little Ones" about animal babies, for children 4-7 years old, 11 a.m. Aug. 8, Lone Pine state Park picnic shelter. $3 per child. Call Mary Beth Pendley, 755-2706.

3 Immanuel Lutheran Home Children's Carnival Olympic Night, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 8, 185 Crestline Ave., Kalispell. Hamburgers, pizza, archery booth, horse rides, power wheels race track, games and more. All welcome.

3 Whitefish Huckleberry Days noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 8; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 9; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 10, Credit Union Park, 1 Central Ave. Arts and crafts fair. Water and jumper slides, face painting. Live music, karate and dance demonstrations. Call 862-3501.

3 Rabbi Allen Secher is installed as Bet Harem Jewish Community of the Flathead Valley's rabbi, 6 p.m. Aug. 8, Museum at Central School, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Public welcome.

3 Mission Valley Animal Shelter Doggy Dash 2008, Aug. 9, Linderman School Track, Polson, rain or shine. Registration 8:30 a.m.; walk 9 a.m.; contests 10 a.m. Prizes. Pledge sheets at Seconds 2 Go, Polson; Wright Real Estate, Ronan; or call 883-5312.

3 Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9, Swan Lake Day Park near mile marker 72 on Montana 83. Food, arts and crafts fair, silent auction, huckleberry baked goods and kids games. Live music by Roy Wilhelm Band. Free; 837-5888.

3 Wiener Dog Races, Aug. 9, Meadow Hills Park, Kalispell. From U.S. 2 West, turn north off Spring Creek Road and right on Yodelin Ridge Road. Bring your dachshund at 10:30 a.m.; racing begins at noon. Registration $5. Prizes for winners. Dogs must be on leash. Proceeds go to playground improvements. Call Renee, 756-2121; or Terri, 257-0283 or 471-9140.

3 New weekly cancer support group meets noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 11, United Methodist Church, 30116th Ave. E., Polson. Sponsored by Cheerful Heart nonprofit organization. Call Tammy Walston, 406-824-2868; or Terry Haynal, 883-1580 (work) or 883-2065 (home).

3 Northwest Montana Fair Aug. 13-22, Northwest Montana Fairgrounds, Kalispell. In concert, Sawyer Brown Aug. 11; Emerson Drive, Aug. 12; Jeremy Camp, Aug. 13; Pig wrestling and Indian Relay races Aug. 15-16; PRCA Rodeo Aug. 14-16; demolition derby Aug. 17. Call 758-5810.

3 Little Sapling Program "Rhythm of the Night" for children 4-7 years old, 11 a.m. Aug. 15, Lone Pine state Park picnic shelter. $3 per child. Call Mary Beth Pendley, 755-2706.

3 Ninth annual MASH Bash, Aug. 22, North Valley Hospital. Dinner, dancing and live entertainment. Raffles. Tickets $65 each. Proceeds will be used to purchase equipment for the Birth Center. Call 863-3630.

3 Glacier Nordic Ski team annual "Glacier Nordic Run" fund raiser Aug. 23, on Danny On Trail, Big Mountain. Call Debbie Mallams, 862-2113.

3 Yoga workshop by Jane Adams, 9 -10:30 a.m. Aug. 23, community room, Lone Pine State Park Visitor Center, Kalispell. $10 per person; slower-paced class 11 a.m. to noon, $8 per person. Call Amy Grout, 755-2706.

3 Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Sept. 1, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.

3 20th annual Bigfork Ducks Unlimited Banquet Sept. 4, BruMar Estate. Social hour 5 p.m.; dinner 6 p.m. Live and silent auctions for guns. Cost $50 single; $75 per couple. Call John Robinson, 837-7362 or Mark Manders, 837-3242.

3 Whitefish Friends and Family Run 9:30 a.m. Sept. 6, North Valley Hospital campus. 5K, 10K and half-mile events. Benefit for Child Development Center in Kalispell and Shepherd's Hand Clinic in Whitefish. Call 862-8250.

3 Flathead Quilters Guild 27th annual quilt show, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 26-27; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28, Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center Building, Kalispell. Quilt raffle, merchant mall, members boutique, food, demonstrations. Admission $5. Portion of proceeds benefit Human Therapy on Horseback.

3 National Multiple Sclerosis Society Walk, Sept. 20, Lawrence Park, Kalispell. Check in at 8 a.m.; walk begins 8:30 a.m. Call Heather, 406-252-5927.

3 Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Oct. 6, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.

3 Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Nov. 3, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.

3 Suicide Support Group, Surviving Our Loss after Suicide, (SOLAS) meets at 7 p.m. Dec. 1, The Summit, Kalispell. All those affected by suicide welcome. Call 871-1008.