School is back in session and the air is getting more chilly! Pumpkin-spiced everything is flying off the shelves as we prep for another wonderful fall here in Southwest Montana. Check out this busy list of highlighted events for the upcoming season the whole family can enjoy in Bozeman, Montana, and the surrounding Southwest Montana area.

Bozeman, Montana

Bozeman Symphony Concert Series | Oct 14 & 15 | Dec 15 & 17 | Bozeman Symphony is kicking off its 2023/2024 season classical series! Find tickets for the two remaining concerts this year and enjoy "Billy the Kid & Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto" as well as the annual December "Holiday Spectacular".

Museum of the Rockies - Haunted Mountain Theater | Oct 20-22 | Oct 27-29 | Oct 31 | Experience the Northern Rocky Mountains’ spookier history and folklore brought to life through a production that blends live theater with the Taylor Planetarium’s state-of-the-art capabilities. This year’s production will feature a horrific train crash, gruesome ghosts, and a chilling lake monster, all told by a mysterious cowboy with his own tale to tell. Real history, real scares, and gripping visuals displayed on the 360° Taylor Planetarium dome are bound to captivate and scare. Based on authentic research, the stories prove one thing, sometimes life is scarier than fiction. Following the planetarium show, explore the historic Tinsley House by lantern light if you dare! Experience chilling campfire tales, encounter spirits, and enjoy a seasonal treat. Tickets will sell out, so don’t delay!

Downtown Bozeman Trick or Treating | Oct 31, 4-6 pm | Join our downtown businesses this Halloween for a safe way to enjoy traditional trick or treating in beautiful Downtown Bozeman. Over 150 businesses welcome kids and families with candy and spooky Halloween decorations!

Can the Griz Food Drive | Nov, TBD | 2023 marks the 24th year of the Can the Griz Food Drive. This food drive is a friendly, off-field competition between Montana State University and the University of Montana to see which school can collect the most donations for their local food bank - the winner gets Bragging Rights. Can the Griz proceeds go to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank and benefit Bounty of the Bridgers campus food pantry. Last year's combined efforts between both schools raised over 1 million pounds of food for our Montana communities! The Bobcats have successfully canned the Griz 18 of 21 years! Let's get another W, Bobcats! Stay tuned for the official dates.

16th Annual Huffing for Stuffing | Nov 23 @ 8 am-12 pm | "Huffing For Stuffing combines community spirit with a lively race atmosphere to improve the lives of many of our community members. Since our inception in 2007, Huffing For Stuffing has provided over half a million dollars in funding to our local food bank! The race is held each Thanksgiving morning at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. All abilities are welcome.  We want you to be a part of Gallatin Valley’s favorite Thanksgiving holiday tradition! Huffing For Stuffing is presented by HRDC's Gallatin Valley Food Bank in partnership with Big Sky Wind Drinkers." Make sure to sign up for either the 10k, 5k, Kid's Run, or Virtual Run/Walk by November 22nd.

Christmas Stroll | Dec 2 @ 4:30-7:30 pm | Be a part of Downtown Bozeman’s greatest holiday tradition – the Christmas Stroll. Always on the first Saturday in December, the holiday season kicks off with the Stroll! Starting at 4:30 PM, Santa Claus will work his way down Main Street, singing Christmas carols and lighting the downtown holiday lights with festive friends in tow. Bring the whole family down to enjoy merry activities and traditional holiday treats until 7:30 PM. Annual button sales will begin after Thanksgiving at various Bozeman locations.

Big Sky, Montana

7th Annual Haunted Peaks Festival | Oct 27-29 | "A three-day Halloween celebration in Big Sky Town Center. This all-ages event is filled with traditional holiday activities like the Dia De Los Muertos celebration, a costume block party with acts like BoomBox, Magic Beans, and Shakewell, Mini Monster Mash costume contest and trick or treat, a horror film festival, Yappy Hour costume party for people and pets, a haunted run to the pub, Pumpkin King & Queen carving competition, and other great Fall fun."

Opening Day: Ski Big Sky Resort | Nov 22 | "Mark your calendars: opening day is now Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023. This season (and all future years from here on out), Big Sky Resort is starting winter a little earlier—just in time for you to get your skiing in before you have to think about turkey timelines. Celebrate 50 years of winter and the opening of the new Lone Peak Tram during our longest season ever."

26th Annual Christmas Stroll | Dec 8-10 | "There’s lots to celebrate in Big Sky at the annual Christmas Stroll. Highlights of this festive evening include the tree lighting ceremony, photos with Santa, illuminated cross country ski/fat bike trails and walkways, sleigh/wagon rides, classic holiday films on the big screen at Lone Peak Cinema, carolers, music, good cheer, fireworks, and more!"

Big Sky Winter Fest | Feb 2-5 | "A celebration for all things winter in the heart of Big Sky. Join us for four days of family-friendly winter celebration including Viking Races, skijoring, ice sculptures, retro movies and live music from the heart of Big Sky, Montana. Stay tuned as we release the full lineup of events!"

Livingston, Montana

Light Up Livingston | Nov 23 @ 4-7 pm | "All are invited to this free community event to kick off the magical holiday season in Livingston. There are many giveaways and the only costs are for food, drink and professional family photos. The Depot Park trees will be lit during the event with 125,000 lights on 36 trees and they will Light Up Livingston through the New Year, thanks to the Holiday Lights Committee and donors, and Downtown is lit up with 90 large light pole snowflake lights"

Downtown Livingston Christmas Stroll | Dec 1 @ 5:30 - 8:30 pm | Annual Downtown Livingston Christmas Stroll kicks off the holiday season every year with an evening full of merriment! Join ERA Landmark for our annual Gingerbread House Competition to warm up out of the cold. More details for the stroll to come, stay tuned.

Livingston Holiday Market | Dec 2 @ 9 am - 4 pm | Livingston’s Holiday Market is open to nonprofits and vendors with handmade crafts, art, baked goods, and select specialty items. Bring the family and get all your last-minute holiday shopping finished!

Ennis, Montana

37th Annual Hunters Feed |Oct 20 @ 3-55 pm |The Ennis Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Ennis Hunters Feed is held every year on the Friday before rifle season opens, and welcomes hunters, families, friends, and food enthusiasts. Chefs of all abilities offer up their best and most creative wild game dishes for all to vote upon right on Main Street. Prizes are awarded for best chili, best non-chili, and most unusual with the coveted trophy going to the best overall entry.

Spirit of Christmas Stroll | Dec 8 @ time tbd | Come experience Ennis during an old-fashioned Christmas Stroll. Merchants will be open late, featuring Christmas treats for all! Ice Sculpture Demonstration, the Lions Club Park by the Madison River will be lit for the holiday season.