Mission Valley Calendar

Fort Connah Rendezvous Open House – June 15-16 at the historic fort and trading post north of St. Ignatius; muzzle loaders gather for the annual rendezvous June 11-16, and the public is welcome to stop by Saturday and Sunday to experience an authentic fur-traders’ encampment. A variety of events and exhibits are on tap, including the Trappers’ Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by Opening Ceremonies at noon featuring local bagpipers, a Native drum group and black-powder and candy canons. A bison roast is available at noon Saturday; reenactments, guided tours, vendors and a trading post are also available. Email 4winds@blackfoot.net for more information.

Ladies’ Tea – 3 p.m. June 15 at the historic Big Arm School; step into an English tearoom and sample a variety of teas, finger foods and desserts. Door prizes will also be offered. Tickets are $15 and proceeds will be donated to a local women’s charity. For reservations, call Nancy Foster at 406-849-5064, or email thebigarmassociation@gmail.com.

Community Mural-Painting Project – 9 a.m. June 14-16 at Sacajawea Park in Polson; grab a paintbrush and help paint the planned mural, designed by Natalie Raffield, on a building in the park. Two-hour time slots begin at 9 a.m. daily. Email Wendy Curtis at wcurtis.montana@gmail.com, or call or text 206-300-3607 for info. The event is sponsored by Sandpiper Art Gallery and Gifts.

“Beyond the Frame” – 3:30-5:30 p.m. June 20 at the Arlee CDC; exhibit showcases artwork created by local teen artists who participated in the Teen Art Project, sponsored by the Arlee CDC, the Missoula Art Museum, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Montana Arts Council, and the Bill and Rosemary Gallagher Foundation. The project is focused on the importance of public art in bringing a community together. Everyone is invited to come and meet the artists, see their recent artwork, and enjoy some refreshments.

Summer Solstice Brew Festival – 2-6 p.m. June 22 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan; two bands perform – Buffalo Speedway and Andrew Sweeney – while myriad Montana breweries offer samples of their wares; food trucks, a wine-tasting and a distillery add to the ambiance. Head to montanabrewfest.com for tickets and info.

Pollinator Week Event – 10:30 a.m.-noon June 22 at the North Lake County Library; the Lake County Conservation District offers a 90-minute workshop about identifying and tracking pollinators, their habitat, and how to participate in local citizen science initiatives. The free event includes a short lecture, hands-on learning with tracking technology, and a pollinator walk. All ages and backgrounds are welcome.

Culpepper and Merriweather Circus & Carnival – 2 and 4:30 p.m. June 23 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan, with the carnival from noon-4:30 p.m. Hosted by Safe Harbor, the event includes aerialists, Golden Tabby tigers, horses and more. Call 406-676-0992 for info.

"Talk the Talk: Then and Now – Student Photographs 2001-2024" – on display through Aug. 30 at the Three Woodcocks Gallery at Salish Kootenai College; exhibit celebrates the photography of Two Eagle River and SKC students, created under the tutelage of master photographer David Spear.

Native Heritage – through July 12 at Sandpiper Gallery and Gifts in Polson; non-juried show celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Mission Valley.

Farmers’ Markets – Ronan: 4-7 p.m. Thursdays at the Ronan Visitor’s Center, with music by Pete Moller from 4-6 p.m. (www.facebook.com/RonanFarmersMarket); Polson: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays on 3rd Ave. W. (polsonfarmersmarket.com). Mission Falls Market: 4:30-7 p.m. Fridays at Good Old Days Park in St. Ignatius (www.facebook.com/missionfallsmarket). Support local famers and crafters at these weekly markets.

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.

Email event submissions to editor@leaderadvertiser.com.

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.

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.

Cheerful Heart Cancer Support Group – noon-1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the chapel at St. Joseph Medical Center; 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.