Big Thai Country Food Truck, Play Like Robert Carnival Weekend, Bugs of the World Camp, and more. 
Happy Friday, Missoula. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Missoula Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: UFP staff snag retraining and job fairs, UM wins 2.4 million for mental health, airport unveils Marketplace with local coffee, beer, and a robot — catch up here.
State-level stories: Montana unveils LLC option for RV owners, a family-run Flathead Lake dude ranch at number two, and Glacier and Yellowstone landing in top ten — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Federal judge orders fresh review of gray wolf safeguards, OPEC+ output increase pushes oil under seventy dollars, and a mislabeled pasta recall — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Shop local goods and produce at the Clark Fork
- Spend a week exploring global bug habitats
- Enjoy monthly themes at Memory Café
- Discover Indigenous art at Western Montana Fair
- Compare home equity loans for free
🫶 We got your back
Dining: Sometimes only gooey, golden pizza will hit the spot. We found pizza spots around Missoula tucked into cozy corners serving slices you’ll actually dream about.
Travel: Montana’s roads hide toxic lakes that kill birds on contact and underground cities once run by bootleggers… these must-see roadside oddities are almost weird enough to make you question reality.
Tidying: You can spend a weekend lining up matching containers only to find chaos has crept back in three weeks later. Try these sustainable organization tips and see how they keep pace with your messy, beautiful life.
Florist: In need of a last-minute gift, a romantic gesture, or just some color in your life, Garden City Floral arranges petal-powered masterpieces that speak volumes without saying a word.
Family: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
Own or manage a local business? Thousands of your future fans read our emails — advertising your products, services, listings, and events with us is easy.
You can advertise with us or submit an event for free.
📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🍜 Big Thai Country Food Truck @ Great Burn Brewing | Friday (8/8) at 5:00pm – Spicy, savory, and straight-up addictive—Big Thai Country is pulling up with their famous potato balls and all your Thai favorites. Pair it with a crisp craft brew (or a tasty N/A option) and you’ve got yourself a perfect Friday night hang. Come hungry, leave happy.
💃 Coach V’s Pole Showcase: One Year Anniversary Edition @ Zootown Arts Community Center / ZACC | Friday (8/8) at 8:30pm – Pole Showcase is flexing into the ZACC stage for its one-year anniversary, reuniting returning stars with fresh talent. It’s gravity-defying, packed with sly humor, and so creatively choreographed your jaw might need a seat. Bring singles, because these pros deserve every tip.
This weekend
🌀 Tie Dye and Play Like Robert Weekend @ Ogren Park Allegiance Field | Saturday (8/9) at 7:00pm – Think you’ve mastered the 70s aesthetic? Break out the bleach pens and your questionable sense of style for our annual tie dye night, kicking off Play Like Robert Carnival weekend. Expect neon splashes, nostalgic vibes, and a craft table that tolerates your wine-fueled creativity.
🎶 North Fork Crossing@ Top Hat | Saturday (8/9) at 10:30pm – North Fork Crossing is sneaking into Top Hat as the official afterparty for Kitchen Dwellers, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Leftover Salmon, so you can skip the front-row elbow wars and jump straight into the grooves. Free show, 21 plus, and all the street cred.
💀Missoula Dead Day @ Caras Park | Saturday (8/9) from 12:00pm – It’s been 30 years since Jerry Garcia’s last jam, and Missoula’s throwing a party worthy of the legend. Catch live sets from 710 Ashbury and Flash Panda, sip something cold, browse local vendors, and soak in all the Deadhead love. Free, all-ages, pet-friendly, and 100% groovy.
🚴 Lords of Dirt TT | Sunday (8/10) at 9:00am – If your weekend plans involve more mud than Netflix, swing by the State Fair for a dose of dirt-track chaos. Bikes roar, dust turns into its own spectator sport, and every skill level has a class waiting. Think of it as your local adrenaline buffet.
🎡 Play Like Robert Carnival Weekend Night #2!@ Ogren Park at Allegiance Field | Sunday (8/10) at 2:00pm – Night two of the Play Like Robert Carnival weekend brings retro rides, local grub, and enough cotton candy to bribe your inner kid. Ditch your usual Friday routine, rally your crew, and snag tickets starting April 6 for a summer-like escape.
Next week
🐛 Bugs of the World Camp@ Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium | Monday (8/11) at 9:00am – Think your explorer has seen it all? Bug camp at the Butterfly House jets them from tropical leaf insects to desert beetles without leaving Missoula. They’ll geek out over 130 species and come home buzzing with stories instead of screen time.
💭 Eric Puchner: Dream State @ Shakespeare & Co | Tuesday (8/12) at 7:00pm – Need an excuse to ditch the bar stool? Pop into Shakespeare & Co. on Tuesday for Eric Puchner’s reading of his Oprah-approved Dream State, then stick around for Mark Sundeen’s dry observations on flus, weddings gone sideways, and inherited regrets, free to the public.
🎤 Ryan O’Flanagan @ Zootown Arts Community Center / ZACC | Tuesday (8/12) at 7:30pm – Ditch your midweek reruns and swing by for Ryan O’Flanagan, who’s popped up on New Girl, American Dad, and resurrected his viral Overly Excited Tourist series. No amateur hour here. Expect dry wit, sketch chops, and tightly tuned timing for a night of clever digs.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/8 My Morning Jacket @ KettleHouse – 8 pm
- 8/8 Not.Greenday (Green Day tribute) @ Monk’s Bar – 8 pm
- 8/8 Coach V’s Pole Showcase @ ZACC – 8:30 pm
- 8/9 Missoula Dead Day @ Caras Park – 12 pm
- 8/9 Kitchen Dwellers and more @ KettleHouse – 6:30 pm
- 8/9 All That Jazz Drag Show @ ZACC – 9 pm
- 8/12 Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners: American as It Gets Tour @ Big Sky Brewing – 7 pm
- 8/12 Ryan O’Flanagan @ ZACC – 7:30 pm
🏠️ Price is right – Missoula edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Naomi Gary (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Hamilton)
Forty-four acres, two parcels, and a wrap-around deck that practically begs for sunset dinners with the local deer. Inside, sunlight pours through oversized windows, bouncing off three fireplaces and a kitchen that’s equal parts stylish and functional. Four bedrooms, a rec room, bonus space, and not one but two laundry areas keep things running smoothly.
A brand-new three-bay barn handles your RV, extra cars, or whatever toys you collect. Meadow views, a private trail to the creek, and land that stretches up the hillside mean there’s always more to explore, all just minutes from Missoula.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
We may receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter. Content marked with an * is paid advertising. These companies may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter. You received this email because you signed up for our list.
Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here
© 2025 BaseLocal
220 W. Congress Street
Detroit, MI 48226, United States of America
