Family-friendly fun in Kalispell

Downtown Kalispell’s family-friendly New Year’s Eve gala takes place Tuesday.

First Night Flathead offers live music, food, performing arts and fun for all ages at a variety of venues throughout downtown Kalispell starting Tuesday afternoon.

Admission to the event is by buttons, which are available for purchase for $12 in advance, or $15 at the door. Buttons get wearers into a variety of venues Tuesday night.

Children 12 and under get in for free when accompanied by a button-wearing adult. But there are also free family activities at Kalispell Center Mall from 1 to 4 p.m.

Fancy Face Design and Making Faces offer face painting from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Red Lion Fireside Lounge.

Hat decorating will be available from 2 to 3 p.m. at the J.C. Penney court, and kids can enjoy hula hooping during Hooping with Helen from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Red Lion Convention Center lobby.

Danielle ZuZero of Young Minded Craftings will help youths make hemp friendship bracelets from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Red Lion Fireside Lounge.

The First Night Flathead Commencement Parade runs from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Those interested in participating should gather at 2:45 p.m. in the Red Lion Convention Center lobby.

Glacier High School drum majors Andy Ivanoff and Breane Franke, Montana Highlanders pipe major Rod Douglas and Clifford the Big Red Dog from Montana PBS will lead the parade around the mall.

Performers are on tap around Kalispell from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Following is a list of performance venues and entertainers:

Central Christian Church

240 Second Ave. E.

7-7:45 p.m. — Montana Highlanders Bagpipe Band

8-9:45 p.m. — Jack Gladstone

10-10:45 p.m. — Maw Brothers

Christ Church Episcopal

215 Third Ave. E.

7-7:45 p.m. — Tra le Gael

8-8:45 p.m. — The Stringlers

9-10:45 p.m. — Tropical Montana Marimba Ensemble

Colter Coffee

424 S. Main St.

7-8:45 p.m. — Amy Brooks

9-10:45 p.m. — Jenny Snipstead

KM Theatre

40 Second St. E.

7-7:45 p.m. — Jesse Maw Trio

8-8:45 p.m. — La Nota Blues and Jazz Quartet

9-9:45 p.m. — Sax-O-Phun

10-10:45 p.m. — Joker

Museum at Central School

124 Second Ave. E.

7-7:45 p.m. — Steve Eckels

8-8:45 p.m. — Three Roses and a Thorn

9-9:45 p.m. — Lee Zimmerman

10-10:45 p.m. — The Gashouse Gang

Noice Studio and Gallery

127 S. Main St.

7-8:45 p.m. — Montana Midnight Guitar Trio

9-9:45 p.m. — Bill Rossiter

10-10:45 p.m. — Cakes and Ale

Norm’s News

34 S. Main St.

7-8:45 p.m. — Fancy Face Design and Making Faces

Rebecca’s Tea Room

227 S. Main St.

7-8:45 p.m. — Dan Dubuque

9-9:45 p.m. — Steve Eckels

Red Lion Hotel Fireside Lounge

West Center Street and Second Avenue West

7-7:45 p.m. — Blair Logan Belly Dancing

8-8:45 p.m. — Halladay Rose and the Late Bloomers

9-11:45 p.m. — Red Hot Blue Chips

11:45 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. — Countdown to midnight with the Red Hot Blue Chips

The Forge

227 First St. W.

7-7:45 p.m. — Luke Dowler

8-8:45 p.m. — The Can of Arrows

9-10:45 p.m. — Luke Dowler and the Savage Gentlemen

Western Outdoor

48 S. Main St.

7-7:45 p.m. — Good Times Chorus

8-8:45 p.m. — Ken Jones

For more information about First Night Flathead, visit www.firstnightflathead.org.