Festivities get the holiday season rolling in the Flathead Valley

Parades, strolls through downtown and a chance to visit with Santa are part of the holiday festivities that kick off in the Flathead Valley this weekend.

The Kalispell Downtown Association Holiday Stroll and annual Community Tree Lighting is Friday, Dec. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. 

The event includes shopping, snacks, drinks and music at businesses throughout the downtown. 

The public is invited to vote on their favorite storefront display by using the QR code found on informational walking cards or event posters. Voting ends at midnight the day of the event and the People’s Choice award winner gets $500. 

During the event, Mann Mortgage will be hosting the annual Christmas Tree Extravaganza on the second floor of the KM Building. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home will have live reindeer, cookies and hot cocoa and a place for families to write letters to Santa. First Presbyterian Church will have the annual Youth Art Show and St. Matthew’s Parish will be celebrating also.

At 7 p.m., head to Depot Park for the annual lighting of the Community Tree with Christmas carols lead by Lucy Smith and friends and the Valley Voices. American Bank will be serving coffee, cocoa and cookies and special visitors Santa and Mrs. Claus will magically light the tree.

Carolers on the streets and the Trinity Hand Bell Ringers will also make an appearance. 

For more information and to vote, visit www.downtownkalispell.com. 

In Columbia Falls, the Night of Lights parade is on Friday, Dec. 1.

The annual holiday parade down Nucleus Avenue starts at 6 p.m. and floats should line up at the north end of Nucleus at 5 p.m. with judging at 5:15 p.m. 

To register, look for the form on the Columbia Falls Lions Club’s Facebook page and at Glacier Bank. The cost is $20. 

Santa will be at the Coop after the parade.

Meanwhile, members of the Columbia Falls Rotary Club are pounding away in Santa’s workshop collecting donations from local businesses and community leaders to put up for silent auction at the annual Brunch with Santa fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 2. 

Other than during the pandemic, the brunch has been an annual event, anticipated by children and parents for 14 years.

Timber Creek Village hosts Brunch with Santa with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. to welcome children and families to talk to Santa and enjoy a meal while gathering with friends and family in the spirit of Christmas. Throughout the morning is a silent auction where bids are accepted for dozens of donated goods and services from area businesses and individuals. 

Kids under 12 are free to enter with an adult, for whom tickets for the meal are $10. All proceeds return to the community by means of the charitable work of the Rotary Club. 

Businesses and individuals who have not been contacted and wish to donate, or for more information, call Seiler at 406-897-2517 and leave a message, or send an email to rotaryclubcolumbiafallsmt@gmail.com. Donations can also be made via PayPal on the club’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/CFallsRotary.

In Bigfork, the Holiday Parade of Lights makes its way through town on Saturday, Dec. 2. The parade begins at 6 p.m. and culminates with the arrival of Santa Claus. 

This year’s theme is “A Totally Awesome 80s Christmas.” The downtown stores will be open late for shoppers. 

Following the parade, the Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre presents “A Touch of Christmas” concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. 

This is a fundraising concert to benefit the Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre. Admission is $10. 

Hot cocoa and peppermint schnapps and hot buttered rums will be available. 

Brach Thomson will play rock, fusion, jazz, funk, blues and more familiar Christmas favorites. Watch and enjoy as he plays live on multiple keyboards, synthesizers and piano. All music is arranged by Thomson using MIDI and computer to give the feel of a larger orchestra and rock/jazz combos.  

Special guests include; Richel and Steve Kompst, 8 is Enough, Vocal Vertigo and BPCT choirs. 

Tickets are available at  www.bigforksummerplayhouse.com and at the door. Box office opens one hour prior to the performance.

In Whitefish, the annual Christmas Stroll is Friday, Dec. 8. 

The event includes live holiday music, visits with Santa, arts and craft vendors, food trucks, s’more roasting and business will be open late for shoppers. 

The evening begins with the Alpine Bell Ringers Hand Bell Choir Concert at 5 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church followed by the North Valley School Christmas Recital. 

At 6 p.m., the Flathead Valley Community College Vocal Jazz and Chorale Ensemble performs outside the O’Shaughnessy Center. The ensemble performs throughout the evening. 

At 6:20 p.m., the tree lighting ceremony with the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce takes place at Depot Park. Then Santa arrives making his way down Central Avenue for photos at Huck’s Place. 

The Whitefish and Bigfork Dance company performs at 6:50 p.m. on Central Avenue south of East Third Street. 

Between 7:45-8:30 p.m. the chamber’s Shoppers’ Drawing winners are announced. Make a purchase at a Whitefish small business now through the evening of the stroll and present the recipe to get a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes. Receipts can be shown at the chamber’s office, 505 Second St. E., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., or on the night of the stroll at the chamber’s tent at East Fourth Street and Central Avenue. 

For more information, visit https://www.whitefishchamber.org/christmas-stroll