Happy Friday, Missoula. In today’s edition: Missoula Public Library living roof, Holiday Pops!, Santa’s Sunday Brunch, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Green infrastructure on display: Missoula City Council approved converting the public library roof into a living roof, funded by a $1 million grant and matches, to reduce stormwater pollution, lower heat, and support pollinators — read the full story.

Ambitious waterway restoration ahead: Missoula Parks and Recreation is looking to revamp the Clark Fork west of Beartracks Bridge, aimed at fixing shallow water, rocks, and floaters swept into banks — see what’s being planned.

Rural departments could benefit: Missoula has expanded firefighter residency rules, allowing personnel to live up to 60 road miles from a station, broadening recruitment to areas like Polson and Ronan while prioritizing lifestyle flexibility — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Holiday creative mixer benefiting local charity
• Play games and watch student films
• Join the Clark Fork Coalition holiday party
• Celebrate Climate Smart Missoula’s 10th anniversary
• Shop the Missoula Holiday MADE fair
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Holiday help for families: Toys for Tots isn’t happening in Missoula or Ravalli this year, but the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree is on. You can sponsor one to 50 angels with wish-list tags, or donate new toys or host a drive. Drop-offs are accepted at the Missoula Salvation Army through Christmas. Learn how you can help.

Community compassion in action: KPAX and First Security Bank are running their annual Holiday Food Drive across Western Montana. Bring non-perishable foods or cash to any First Security Bank branch. Every donation stays local and supports area food banks. A simple way to share holiday cheer and help neighbors eat well. Find a branch near you.

Post-work pint plans: Missoula’s low-key staple, Draught Works Brewery, offers a historic taproom, wraparound patio, 19 handcrafted beers, plus wine, cider, seltzer, and N/A options. Weekly live music, monthly local art, and a kids’ area keep everyone happy.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 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

🎨 Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ Missoula Public Library | Friday (12/5) at 12:00pm – Pack up your paints and join a friendly circle of watercolor fans for an easygoing afternoon of creativity. Beginners and seasoned artists alike swap tips, share inspiration, and enjoy uninterrupted making time. Just bring your supplies and let the colors do the rest.

🎄 Holiday Pops! @ Dennison Theatre | Friday (12/5) at 7:30pm – Whether you’ve made Holiday Pops a family ritual or you just want an excuse to wear your nice sweater, the Missoula Symphony and Chorale are serving all the classics, carols, and surprise treats, with local vocalist Royce McIntosh popping in. Big sound, zero tinsel hangover.

This weekend

🛍️ Scandinavian Market Place @ Sons of Norway Lodge | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – If your holiday spirit needs a nudge, the Scandinavian Market Place at the Sons of Norway Lodge covers you with lefse, knit cozies, and enough gnomes to start a union. Come for the pastries, stay for the heirloom crafts, the coffee, and the cozy vibes.

✂️ Craft Sale @ Impact Martial Arts | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Calling all Missoula makers. Clear the glitter off the dining table and snag a vendor spot, tables are $30, first come, first paid. Sell your wares, meet neighbors, and feel extra virtuous because proceeds support Impact Kids Foundation after-school and camp programs.

🎨 Paint a Plate @ Zootown Arts Community Center | Saturday (12/6) at 11:00pm – Holiday crunch calls for low-stress creativity at ZACC. Paint Santa a cookie plate, or knock out ornaments, mugs, and Hanukkah gifts. Plates start at $15 with glaze and firing included, and you can walk in, snag a $2 drink, and pick up before Christmas.

🎅 Santa’s Sunday Brunch @ FINN | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – Sunday around here means one thing, a kid-focused brunch where the little ones go wild at the cocoa bar and you get actual food. Festive buffet, a hot chocolate bar that doubles as a bribe, and photos with Santa. Reserve your sanity, 406.542.4660.

🎁 Resident Holiday Craft Fair @ Missoula Valley Senior Living | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – Skip the mall and pop by a craft fair of handmade gifts from residents and neighbors. Browse décor and seasonal finds, sip something warm, enjoy carols, and feel smug because proceeds support the Alzheimer’s Association, the resident activities program, and a dash of karma.

🔮 Fused Glass Ornaments @ Zootown Arts Community Center | Sunday (12/7) at 1:00pm – Skip the mall kitsch and make your own fused glass ornaments at the ZACC, grown-ups only, sanity preserved. Design transparent or bold pieces, one statement stunner or a handful of minis, and if inspiration strikes, they have discounted glass to keep you playing. No glitter.

Next week

🎻 Bluegrass Hollers @ The Old Post | Monday (12/8) at 6:00pm – Give Monday a backbone with pints, pickin’, and the Bluegrass Hollers at The Old Post. It’s downtown Missoula at its best, a tight room, warm wood, and toe-tapping tunes that make the workweek behave. Bring your listening ears, not your email.

🦋 Butterfly Release @ Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium | Tuesday (12/9) at 11:00am – Trade your inbox for wingbeats at the Butterfly House, where freshly emerged butterflies make their big debut. Swing by Tuesday through Saturday at 11 am for the first release, included with admission, and pretend you came for the kids, not the quiet awe.

🌳 The 38th Annual Tree of Life Ceremony @ Missoula Children’s Theatre | Tuesday (12/9) at 5:30pm – Join the 38th Annual Tree of Life at Missoula Children’s Theatre, a quiet, beautiful night to honor loved ones, light the tree, and let harp music tame your December brain. Dedicate an ornament, sip coffee, cocoa, then linger for stories, cookies, and company.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 Pinky and the Floyd @ The Wilma – 8 pm
• 12/6 Idle Ranch Hands @ Top Hat – 10:30 pm
• 12/11 Rylee Mix @ Draught Works – 7 pm
• 12/12 Annual Christmas Steamer @ Draught Works – 3 pm
• 12/12 Mixtape: A Chamber Pop Concert @ Zootown Arts Community Center – 7:30 pm
• 12/12 Flash Panda and more @ Monk’s Bar – 8 pm
• 12/13 Andrea Harsell @ Draught Works – 5 pm
• 12/13 Salsa 406! Latin Night @ Dark Horse Bar – 9 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: Katie Van Dorn (Katie Van Dorn Real Estate)

Ten Spoon Winery and Vineyard spans 21.5 certified-organic acres in Missoula’s Rattlesnake Valley, a conservation easement that allows commercial use and up to four dwellings. The Mediterranean 3-bed, 2-bath + office home soaks in light via skylights and a south-facing window wall. A 4,000 sq ft winery adds a wine bar, bottling room, and tank room. The 7.5-acre vineyard uses advanced irrigation with senior water rights.

Inside city limits with downtown minutes away, bordered by trailheads and a protected wildlife corridor. A beloved venue for tastings and gatherings. Land, buildings, and vineyard convey, business and equipment negotiable.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →