Local Events: Can't miss February events, Carnival, theatre, skijoring and Soles of the Flathead

Crisp winter days are upon us, but a warm and inviting social life awaits my February friends. Dailyinterlake.com/events has all the goodies to keep you active and creative this month. Look for a robust offering of classes and workshops from the Makerspace at the Flathead Valley Community College, the winter rodeo and, my favorite Friday night pastime, karaoke at the Eagles in Kalispell. 

In addition to the standards, February is host to several special events, fundraisers, concerts and, of course, Skijoring and the Whitefish Winter Carnival. Let's dive in. 

Friday February 7th, meet me at the Wachholz for the third annual Soles of the Flathead event. Twirling off at 5:30 pm, this Dancing With the Stars-esque fundraiser supports the Flathead Warming Center and pairs community members – that's you Kyle Waterman! --paired with local dancers for an evening not to be forgotten. Hors d'oevres provided by the fabulous Chef Ironside of the House of S&M, a silent auction and pop-up dance performances are sure to delight. 

Or head north to Whitefish's Herb and Omni on Friday February 7th for [Not Your Average] Love Story. It's the Center for Restorative Youth Justice – of CRYJ – answer to Valentine's Day featuring live storytelling, community, connection and of course, tasty food. This event is not to be missed as community members share a collection of original stories with their own unique spin on the theme of Love. 

You know it, you love it, the Whitefish Winter Carnival takes place February 7th to 9th. New this year is Beer Curling on Friday February 7th at the Northern. Get chilly at the Penguin Plunge on Saturday and for sure don't miss the Grand Parade at 3:00 on Saturday, February 8th.  Sure to be shenanigans and memories made, let Whitefish show you how Carnival is done. 

Find a great gift for your Valentine -- or better yet, treat yourself – during the pop-up Kalispell Weekend Market on Saturday February 8th and Sunday February 9th at the Flathead County Fairgrounds from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Enjoy this free event with more than 50 local vendors offer unique goods and handmade treasures.  

Or, if you can't make those dates, stop by the Flathead County Fairgrounds on February 15th and 16th for the Cabin Fever Craft and Vendor Fair. 

The Wachholz College Center plays host to some great events in February.  

The thunder will happen when it's snowing too. Join in Saturday February 8th for a special tribute concert honoring one of the best-selling bands of all time, Fleetwood Mac. Classic hits, good vibes and nostalgia from a landslide of the Flathead Valley's most prolific performers – Meredith Patterson, Halladay Quist, Ross Bridgeman and more. Plus, an appearance by the Glacier High School marching band.  

On Tuesday, February 11th the Wachholz celebrates International Guitar Night for its 25th touring season. A fusion of world-class guitar virtuosity, three exciting new guitarists make their US debut. 

February 12th the cast of Spamilton takes the stage at the Wachholz for a side-splitting musical parody of your favorite Broadway blockbusters. Celebrity satires and pop-culture zings make this sure to be a fun night out. 

It's not dinner theatre. It's theatre about dinner as Flathead Valley Community College theatre department presents The Art of Dining. Weekend performances February 6th through February 15th at the Joe Legate Black Box Theatre. Follow a night in the life of a small, elegant gourmet restaurant as they stress over the food, how to stay afloat and how to please their clientele. 

The Gypsy Theatre Guild presents A.R. Gurney's Love Letters for evening performances February 7th through February 15th at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. Dive into the heartfelt correspondence between two childhood friends. From birthday party thank-you notes to poignant reflections over four decades, this play captures the essence of love, friendship and the paths we choose. 

The Amazing Place Music presents a new musical, The Way West on Saturday February 15th as part of their Creative Success Series. Seasoned talents of Dan Sharkey, Mike Eldred, Ross Bridgeman and Chris Roberts take the stage at the Whitefish Performing Art Center and take us back to the year 1857 with a collection of five stories based on true characters. 

The next installment of the Northwest Montana History Museum's John White Speaker Series is on deck for Sunday February 16th in Kalispell. Join Denny Olson, Glacier Park aficionado, teacher, storyteller and author for an afternoon of storytelling and "I'll be you didn't knows" about our favorite local national park. 

Mark your calendars from February 22nd and 23rd as the Whitefish Skijoring event returns for an adrenaline-filled weekend. This year's event will be held on West Springcreek Road in Kalispell as newbies and pros try their luck skiing to the speed of one horsepower through a challenging and exciting course of obstacles and jumps. Don't miss out on this unique Montana event. 

That does it for the shortest month of the year. If you'd like to have your event mentioned, be sure to add it to our online events calendar at dailyinterlake.com/events. Events are free to list and are also included in print weekly in the Daily Inter Lake, Whitefish Pilot, Hungry Horse News and Bigfork Eagle. 

I'm your host Melissa Wells reminding you to have a blast, drive sober, and get out there and make memories. 

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