Thursday
The Whitefish Theatre Company will present “The Wizard of Oz” at the O’Shaughnessy on Dec. 3-20. Guest director Jesse Culp is taking an innovative look at the musical adaptation by Frank Gabrielson with a script that is different than the popular 1939 movie. Munchkinville is circus-inspired and the Land of Oz is an ethereal land of high fashion. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. on Dec. 12, and 4 p.m. on Sundays. All seats are reserved. Tickets are $18 adults, $16 seniors and $12 students available by calling 862-5371 or online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org. There will be a sneak preview on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. with $8 tickets sold only at the door.
Flathead Valley Community College Theatre will present the popular Broadway musical “Cabaret” at the college’s Black Box Theatre on Dec. 3-19. Shows will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 and 12. Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 students and seniors available online at www.fvcc.edu/student-life/theatre, at the FVCC book store or by calling 756-3814.
The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation will host the 36th annual Showcase of the Chefs benefit Thursday, Dec. 3, at Grouse Mountain Lodge. Proceeds from the event support the foundation. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. Because of the need for planning, tickets are not available for sale at the door. For tickets or more information contact Pat at 862-2506 or Roy Loman at 730-2759 or royl@skiwhitefish.com.
Wildlife photographer Tom Ulrich will present his annual wildlife slideshow at The Outlaw Inn in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. The slideshow is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County. Admission is $5. For more information, call 752-0092.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ 12-member volunteer Citizen Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the FWP headquarters in Kalispell. Members will hear a brief update on Flathead Lake fisheries co-management and Swan Lake fisheries management. FWP Commissioner Bob Ream will be on hand to discuss current FWP issues. A brief wrap-up of the big-game hunting season will be presented, and special projects leader Chris Smith will overview FWP funding issues. For more information, call 752-5501.
Friday
The Shepherd’s Hand Clinic’s annual fundraising variety show, “Christmas is in the Air,” will take place at Christ Lutheran Church, on River Lakes Parkway, on Friday, Dec. 4, beginning at 7 p.m. All talent is welcome, including singing, dancing, playing musical instruments or all three. Interested people who want to show off their talent should begin practicing in time for the dress rehearsal on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $10 per person or $20 per family. For more information, call Cathy Relf at 212-9973.
The first annual Community Christmas Celebration, featuring artists and performers from Plains to Eureka, will take place at 1380 Whitefish Stage Road on Friday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 9 p.m. The free non-denominational event will include seasonal music performed by the St. Matthew’s School fifth-grade choir, harp music from North Valley Music School, organ soloist Kathy Ord, the Flathead High School Young Men’s Choir, solo soprano artist Laura Nelson, the Kalispell Primary Children’s Choir, the Kalispell Stake mixed quartet and the Whitefish Ward Choir. Anyone interested in displaying a crèche or sharing musical talents can call 862-8746.
Glacier Country Pachyderm will meet at the Kalispell Red Lion from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, to hear an update on national and local Pachyderm Club activities. The public is invited and lunch is available for purchase. For more information, call Tom McElwain at 270-5764.
Saturday
Glacier Symphony and Chorale will present “Symphony Holiday Pops,” Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Whitefish Middle School auditorium beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Flathead High School auditorium beginning at 3 p.m. The program will feature the orchestra in a selection of festive, family-friendly music, including “Nutcracker,” “Holiday for Trombones,” “Christmas Rocks and Pops” and sing-along favorites. Tickets are $10-30 available by calling 257-3241 or by visiting online at www.gscmusic.org.
The Valley Voices Community Choir will present “Nutcracker Jingles,” a free Christmas concert at the Glacier High School auditorium, in Kalispell, on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted. The choir, now in its ninth year, is composed of 65-plus voices from teens to seniors under the direction of Allyson Kuechmann. Special guests will be guitarist and local musician Tim Torgerson and the Flathead Home School Select Ensemble. Music will include “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” a jazzy “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “O Christmas Tree,” performed a cappella in four-part harmony. For more information, contact Patty Louden at 752-3160.
The Glacier Nordic Club will hold its annual potluck and auction at the Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge on Saturday, Dec. 5, with a general meeting at 5:30 p.m. and a free and open dinner at 6 p.m. People are asked to bring appetizers, entrées or desserts. For more information, call Ellie at 250-1575.
St. Peter Lutheran Church, on Wisconsin Avenue, will hold a Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with baked goods, crafts and Christmas needs. Funds raised will go to children’s camp scholarships and world relief needs. For more information, call 862-3008 or 862-6999.
The Kalispell Area Music Teachers Association (KAMTA) will hold its 11th annual vocal festival at the First Presbyterian Church of Kalispell on Saturday, Dec. 5, beginning at 9 a.m. Each student will perform a solo and then receive positive comments and constructive criticism from adjudicator David Cody. Thirty students are expected to participate in this festival. The public is welcome to attend free of charge.
Whitefish Community School will hold its first annual toy swap at the school at 805 Park Avenue on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Gently used and clean toys or books for children 0-6 may be brought to the school on or before Dec. 5 to swap for more books or toys. The entrance “fee” is one non-perishable food item that will be donated to the food bank. “Unadopted” toys will be donated to the Violence Free Crisis Line/Abbie Shelter. For more information, contact NIki Glynos-Wolford at 862-1216.
Sunday
The Flathead Valley Jazz Society’s annual Yule Review will take place at the Outlaw Inn, in Kalispell, on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Ensembles from Columbia Falls High School will perform Christmas music, followed by the Don Lawrence Orchestra playing dance music. Money will be collected at the event for various food pantries.
Monday
Wasabi Sushi Bar in Whitefish will host a community night to help raise funds for a pavilion at the Hugh Rogers Wag Park on Monday, Dec. 7, beginning at 5 p.m. The park will receive a percentage of gross receipts from dine-in and take-out dinners.
The Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau will hold its annual meeting on Monday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. at the Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge. The WCVB Board will hold a brief monthly meeting followed by a wrap-up of the year’s activities. Copies of the new 2009/2010 Travel Planner will be available. The public is invited to attend. For more information call 862-3390.
Tuesday
Wednesday