Mission Valley Calendar

Ronan Parade of Lights – 6 p.m. Dec. 13 through downtown Ronan; participants line up at 5:30 p.m. in the field west of St. Luke Hospital.

Lights Under the Big Sky – 5-9 p.m. Dec. 13-14 and 20-21 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan; youth activities, Santa, music, a Christmas Market and thousands of lights are on tap. New this year is Holiday reTREEt – a holiday tree scene inside the Ronan Community Center. For info, look for the event on Facebook.

Mission Valley Choral Society Christmas Concerts – 1 p.m. Dec. 14 at the St. Ignatius Mission and 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson; Cathy Gillhouse directs the 30-voice community choir in an inclusive program with contemporary and classical Christmas songs. Admission is free; call 406-261-3304 or 406-260-6103 for info.

Polson Winter Market – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Red Lion in Polson; Santa and Mrs. Claus plan to arrive at 11 a.m. Vendors sell their wares all day; call 406-849-1021.

Ninepipes Christmas Bird Count – Dec. 15 at the refuge south of Ronan; participants meet at Great Gray Gifts and Coffee Shop at Ninepipes on Friday morning at 9:30 a.m., before commencing to count birds. For more information contact Jim Oates, oates65@gmail.com or 406-270-7826.

Winter Market – noon-3 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 29 at the Ronan Boys and Girls Club; shop local for the holidays. 

Winter Night Lights – continuing through Dec. 31, with a reception 5-7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Sandpiper Art Gallery and Gifts in Polson; this members-only holiday show showcases the creations of Sandpiper artists. Visit sandpiperartgalleryandgifts.com.

David Spear: Walk the Walk – Then and Now” – through Dec. 31 in the Three Woodcocks Fire Arts Building at Salish Kootenai College; Two Eagle River photography instructor and world-class photographer David Spear shares his work. The exhibit follows last summer's show by his students from 2001-2024, titled "Talk the Talk – Then and Now." The gallery is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

Open Mic and Jam – 7 p.m. Fridays at the Western Montana Musicians Co-op, Ronan; also on tap is a weekly Community Jam at 7 p.m. Saturdays. The cooperative is located in the Red Poppy Building, 1 Eisenhower St. SW in Ronan. Learn more at www.mtmusic.org.

Arts & Crafts in Polson — 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays at Summit Independent Living, 3 Ninth Ave. West, Suite 1 in Polson; join CSKT elder Tammie Miller for an afternoon of crafting, companionship and snacks. Bring a craft project or use available materials to start one. Open to people of all abilities; call 406-215-1604 for more information.

Upcoming meetings

Kiwanis – First Thursday of the month, noon at Kwataqnuk Resort, and third Thursday of the month, 5:30 p.m. at Bunkers, Polson Bay Golf Course; Kiwanis is an international organization dedicated to improving the world one child, one community at a time. Meetings are open to the public.

Cheerful Heart Cancer Support Group – noon-1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays (no meeting Dec. 25) of each month at the Church of the Nazarene, 42653 Old Highway 93, in Pablo; anyone affected by cancer is invited to participate in this group led by Matthew Connally of the Ronan/Polson Nazarene Church. Learn more at www.cheerfulheart.org or email cheartinc@gmail.com.

Climate Café – 9-11 a.m. on the third Friday of every month at the Flathead Lakers office in Polson; partake in a thoughtful conversation about climate change.

Email event submissions to editor@leaderadvertiser.com.