Helena Holiday Events

Turkey Challenge

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Stop by the Lewis & Clark Library with turkeys or funds to help provide holiday meals for Helena neighbors in need. Held on Friday, November 22 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Queen City Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker

NOVEMBER 23 & 24, 2024

Living dolls. Battling Soldiers. Dancing snowflakes. A growing Christmas tree and lots of beautiful... there’s nothing more magical than Queen City Ballet’s 23rd annual professional production of The Nutcracker. This award-winning traditional version captivates audiences of all ages. This years’ performance will highlight guest artists from Diablo Ballet and professional Queen City Ballet alumni with a cast of more than 92 dancers. Don’t miss this classical production set to the magnificent score by Tchaikovsky.

Production dates are Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets prices range from $15 to $40. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.helenamt.showare.com/eventperformances.

Christmas at the Cathedral

DECEMBER 2 & 3, 2024

Usher in Helena’s longest and greatest holiday tradition for an evening of reflection, celebration and sounds of the season in the profoundly reflective Cathedral of St. Helena. These 70-minute performances sell out very quickly. Subscribers can secure tickets with subscription purchases before they go on sale to the public. Christmas at the Cathedral will be held on December 2 at 7 p.m. and December 3 at 7 p.m. For tickets visit www.helenasymphony.org or call 406.442.1860

The 37th annual Intermountain Festival of Trees

December 3–8, 2024

This year things will get a little cRaZy as Intermountain celebrates the wacky, the absurd and the unexpected with the theme, A Perfectly Preposterous Christmas!

Kick off the holiday season with five days of festivities at the Helena Civic Center. Stroll amidst the stunningly decorated Ballroom Trees and take in the splendor of the mezzanine-level full of trees and wreaths decorated by community members, and gift baskets generously donated by local businesses. Bid on the silent auction items all week long through a mobile-bidding app and cast your vote for your favorite creation in the Gingerbread Extravaganza competition.

You may participate in advance by decorating a tabletop tree, wreath or swag for the silent auction or building an entry for the gingerbread extravaganza. Choose your 100% edible building materials and create a structure or scene of your imagination. Details and registration can be found at intermountain.org/fot.

The public events begin on Wednesday, December 4 with Ladies’ Tea in the Trees, where hostesses create table spreads that are truly works of art and guests enjoy lunch, raffles and live music. Thursday night includes live entertainment by The Caseys, champagne and hors d’oeuvres during Evening in the Trees (age 16+). Friday brings the Starlight Gala… a formal evening of fine dining and the exciting live auction of the Ballroom Festival Trees. Bring the whole crew to Family Days on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where kids can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, decorate cookies, create crafts in Funland and watch live performances of local talent in the auditorium. And finally, in honor of the theme, preposterous attire is encouraged for Saturday night’s Jingle Bell Jam where attendees will rock the night away with the Insufficient Funds Band. Those 21 and over will not want to miss this spectacular night of music and dancing.

Intermountain meets children and families right where they are and offers the resources needed for each individual. Intermountain helps provide hope and healing through a residential program and many outpatient programs including therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medication management and more. Your participation in Festival of Trees helps provide these vital services within our community and other communities across Montana. 

Tickets are required for all events and advance online purchase is highly recommended (and required for the Tea and Gala). Details for all events, ticket purchase, information on decorating a silent auction tree, and volunteer opportunities are available at intermountain.org/FOT.

Cookies with Santa

December 5, 2024

Shodair Children’s Hospital will host Cookies with Santa on December 5 from 4-7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public .

Shodair Holiday Party

December 12, 2024

Shodair Children’s Hospital will host a Holiday Party on December 12 from 4-7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

A Christmas Carol

December 13-17, 2024

Get ready to experience the timeless tale of redemption and holiday spirit as A Christmas Carol returns to the Helena Civic Center Ballroom this holiday season. Following last year’s sold-out run, this beloved classic by Charles Dickens is back to enchant audiences with its heartwarming story. Join Ebenezer Scrooge on a transformative journey as he encounters the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, ultimately learning the true meaning of Christmas and the joy of giving.

With stirring music, lavish costumes and a dazzling cast, A Christmas Carol is more than just a play—it’s an immersive experience that captures the true spirit of the holiday season. Bring the whole family and let the magic of Dickens’s beloved story warm your heart and inspire goodwill toward all. Performance dates are December 13 at 7:30 p.m., December 14 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., December 15 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., December 16 at 7:30 p.m. and December 17 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $17-$35. To purchase call 406-447-1574 or visit www.grandstreettheatre.com.