Mission Valley Calendar

Montana Dragon Boat Festival – Sept. 7 at the Polson Fairgrounds; get 10-person or 20-person teams together and join the fun. Dragon boats, paddles and PFDs are provided. Register at silverliningmt.org or call 406-239-6448 for info.  

Dayton Daze: Pirates of the Flathead – 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 7 at Dayton Park; support Chief Cliff Fire during this annual fundraiser and costumed event. Activities include kids’ games, a flea market, sailboat rides, a parade at 2 p.m., food, crafts, vendors and music. https://www.facebook.com/DaytonDaze/

Trunk Treasures Sale – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Polson High School parking lot; call CASA at 406-883-0158 for information on this benefit for CASA. The organization also hosts parenting classes beginning late August at 410 1st St. E., Polson. Call 406-883-0158 or email casa20jd.orffice@gmail.com.

First Saturday at Ninepipes Museum – 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Ninepipes Museum, south of Ronan; meet local artists Jim Thomason, Lori Parr, Alyss Fowler and Clayton Holler, and authors and illustrators Mary O’Brien, Margo Mowbray, and Karla Martinson. The Late Bloomers perform from noon-2 p.m. Call 406-644-3435 for info.

St. Luke Community Healthcare Foundation Dinner and Auction – 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Ronan Community Center; call 406-528-5218 for reservations.

Fall Wildlife Festival – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Ronan Visitor’s Center; bring apples for free cider pressing and learn more about fruit gleaning and Chronic Wasting Disease during this annual event hosted by the CSKT Wildlife Management Program. Visit csktnrd.org/wildlife or check out the Mission Valley fruit gleaning page on Facebook.

Polson Skate Jam – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 14 at the 7th Ave. Skate Park; annual event includes a skate competition, best trick contests, best line challenges, food, refreshments and prizes galore. For info, email polsonskatepark@gmail.com.

Lake County Republican Lincoln/Reagan/Trump dinner – 1 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Ronan Community Center; the fundraiser begins with a social hour from 1-2 p.m., giving candidates an opportunity to mingle with attendees. Learn more at lakecountymtrepublicans.com/.

Democrats’ End-of-Summer Picnic – 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at Boettcher Park in Polson; Lake County Democrats serve New Orleans jambalaya at their annual gathering and encourage attendees to bring a side dish or dessert to share, their own beverage and a chair. Call Dayna McClure at 406-544-5165 for more information.

Samoa Fundraiser – 12:30-2:30 Sept. 15 at Ronan City Park; enjoy island cuisine and music during this benefit to send Sika Ulutoa, Sisa Vukialau and Chad Hoffman to Samoa to offer training sessions for church leaders.

Harvest Festival – 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Ronan Visitor’s Center; 14th annual event, hosted by the Ronan Chamber of Commerce, includes the Trail of Bales, a vendors’ market, food, music, games and a petting zoo.

The Ayes (Eyes) Have It" – through Sept. 13 at Sandpiper Gallery and Gifts in Polson; gallery members interpret the theme. Visit www.sandpiperartgalleryandgifts.com/.

Mission Valley Pedal to Plate – Sept. 21 from Ronan through Valley View; the 40-mile bike ride is capped at 175 riders, who eat local food while touring farms and historical attractions before returning to Ronan for a locally sourced dinner. Registration deadline, capped at 175, is sold out; learn more at www.facebook.com/Pedal2Plate/.

Farm to Table Dinner – 5 p.m. Sept. 27 on Main Street in Ronan; enjoy a social hour, dinner, music and dancing during this fundraiser for Mission West Community Development Partners, missionwestcdp.org.

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.

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.

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.

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.