Arts opportunities for youth unexpected

Letter from the editor

The freezing temperatures Saturday didn't keep people away from the Bigfork Magical Holiday Parade down Electric Avenue.

I heard from the bundled-up people standing near me as I photographed the event that they were surprised to see so many parade entries this year, suggesting that in past years the parade has been shorter.

"Isn't this great?" a crowd member said. "You'd never expect this for such a small town."

As I watched float after float travel by, including a Charlie Brown entry that was my personal favorite, I realized they were right.

There are many features of Bigfork that are unexpected for a small town and its holiday spirit is not the only one on display.

The one that's drawn my attention as of late is the arts and the many opportunities the Village presents to practice them for people of all ages.

Of course, there's the renowned artistic community and galleries downtown along with the celebrated playhouse. But it's the options for the youth of the community that continue to astonish me.

Bigfork has a number of ways to participate in sports, but it is equally matched in the arts, particularly with the addition of the new performing arts center, which offers arts classes after school.

I got to sit in this week on part of a rehearsal for "Bah, Humbug!," the play that opens this week by the Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre, and both music and dance classes at Bigfork Elementary School. I also got a glimpse of the BPCT choirs at Brach Thomson and friends' "A Touch of Christmas' concert.

In my outings, I was reminded by the adults in the room that these lessons and performances, aside from developing skills, build self-confidence. And I could see it taking form in the students who were choreographing dances to their own names or learning a Christmas song in Latin.

Over the next two weeks, there will be half a dozen or so opportunities to show your support of the arts opportunities for Bigfork's talented youth with a number of holiday concerts performed as well as the next BPCT play. Keep an eye out for dates and times to show some applause for their endeavors.

-Jasmine Linabary