End-of-the-world parties around the Flathead

How are you spending your last day on Earth?

OK, so the world probably won’t end Friday. But that’s no reason not to go out and celebrate as if it might. Several local venues are hosting end-of-the-world parties Friday night:

Crush, 124 Central Ave. in Whitefish, bids farewell to the Mayan calendar Friday and welcomes the “O’Brien calendar” with a dance party that starts at 10 p.m.

DJ Bucky will keep the dance music pumping. There is a $5 cover.

Fair warning: Dancing is more than strongly encouraged at this party.

“Please don’t come unless you want to dance. I’m not talking about nodding your head and swaying ‘to n fro’ to some mind-numbing electronic. I’m gonna make you sweat,” DJ Bucky — aka O’Brien Byrd — wrote on the event’s Facebook page.

For more information, call (406) 730-1030.

Casey’s Bar, 101 Central Ave. in Whitefish, holds a party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Those who attend are encouraged to dress up or wear a costume. The bar’s Facebook invitation suggests attendees “wear what you would wear if you knew it was your last night out.”

The party includes three disc jockeys. Brian Taylor from Spokane will be the party’s host. Whitefish-based Fractal Love is the opener; MC Squared from Spokane is the headliner.

The party is for ages 21 and older and includes a full-service bar and complimentary coat check.

For more information, call 862-8150.

The Flathead County Fairgrounds offers an intriguing invitation to its end-of-the-world party.

“When your grandchildren ask you, ‘Where were you on the day the world was supposed to end?’ what would you like to be able to tell them? Will you tell them that you sat at home worried? Or do you want to be able to tell them that you were somewhere amazing and magical?”

That “amazing and magical” place is End of the World 2012, which will feature five DJs: DJ Irene, Kris Moon, Keishie, Marc Lee and Chunkiye.

Presale tickets are available at the fairgrounds office and Paddy’s Touchdown Lounge for $12. Once those tickets are gone, admission will be $15 at the door.

The party at the fairgrounds runs from 8:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.

Those who dine at Spinnaker, 7210 U.S. 93 in Lakeside, on Friday can enter to win a survival kit. The real party is planned for Saturday, according to an email from the restaurant:

“If we are still here on the 22nd, please join us for [a] customer appreciation Christmas party,” the email says.

The party starts at 6 p.m. with happy hour and an appetizer contest. Chinese gift exchange begins at 7 p.m.

For more information or to sign up, call 844-2176.