November in the Flathead Valley: Your Guide to This Month's Events

November might be my favorite in-between month in the Flathead Valley. The summer crowds are gone, the peaks are starting to collect snow, and the whole valley quietly flips the switch to holiday mode. If you've been wondering what there is to do between the last of the fall colors and the first chairlift ride of the season, the answer is: a lot. Here's your guide to November 2026 around Flathead County.

On Stage at the Wachholz College Center

Kalispell's performing arts center has a packed month:

• CelloGayageum - Sunday, Nov 1 at 4:00 PM. A one-of-a-kind duo blending cello with the traditional Korean gayageum.
• Montana Shakespeare in the Parks: The Comedy of Errors - Wednesday, Nov 4 at 4:00 PM. Free, no tickets required, with a 20-minute talkback after the show.
• World Ballet Company: Swan Lake - Thursday, Nov 5 at 7:00 PM. Fifty international dancers and over 150 hand-sewn costumes. Ages 5 and up.
• Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE - Wednesday, Nov 11 at 6:30 PM. A genuinely fun family night.
• Yonder Mountain String Band - Friday, Nov 13 at 7:30 PM. Progressive bluegrass, loud and joyful.
• Glacier Symphony Brass - Sunday, Nov 15 at 3:00 PM. Patriotic favorites honoring our veterans. Part of the Kaleidoscope series, so tickets are $25 anywhere in the hall ($15 for kids).
• Kiliii Yuyan, WCC Speaker Series - Thursday, Nov 19 at 7:00 PM. A National Geographic Explorer on Indigenous wisdom and thriving ecosystems.
• Glacier Symphony: Dvorak's Cello and New World Symphony - Saturday, Nov 21 at 7:30 PM, with guest cellist Robert deMaine.
• Straight No Chaser - Sunday, Nov 22 at 7:00 PM. A cappella favorites, the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Community and Family Fun

• 1st Annual Pumpkin Toss - Saturday, Nov 7, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. WorkshopMT launches pumpkins at targets 100 feet away with a homemade trebuchet. Yes, really. Proceeds support their mobile classroom.
• 5K Fun Run at Backslope Brewing - Saturday, Nov 7 at 11:00 AM, Columbia Falls. Run, walk, or jog, then celebrate at the finish line.
• Fashion show benefiting Girls on the Run of Western Montana - Saturday, Nov 7, 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Drinks, food, a silent auction, and a photo booth, all for a great cause.
• PechaKucha Vol. 13: Tastemakers - Thursday, Nov 12 at 6:30 PM, Wachholz College Center. Free. Local chefs, foragers, farmers, and distillers each get 20 slides and 20 seconds per slide to tell their story.
• Wild and Scenic Film Festival - Saturday, Nov 14 at the Columbia Falls High School Little Theater. Adventure and conservation films benefiting the Columbia Falls Academic Foundation.

The Holiday Season Kicks Off

• First Glimpse of Christmas at Snowline Acres - Thursday, Nov 12, 4:00 to 7:00 PM (ticketed). Christmas at The Collective opens the next day, and fresh-cut trees, wreaths, and garland arrive Friday, Nov 20.
• The Market Beautiful Christmas Market - Friday, Nov 13 (5:00 to 8:00 PM, $20, includes Saturday) and Saturday, Nov 14 (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, $10, kids 12 and under free) at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. Over 60 vintage and handmade vendors, Santa on Saturday, wreath and gingerbread workshops, food trucks, and hot cider.
• Bigfork Elves Decorating Day - Saturday, Nov 21 at 8:00 AM, meeting in front of the Bigfork Inn. Join about a hundred volunteers turning Bigfork into Montana's Christmas Village. Coffee, hot chocolate, doughnuts, and hot chili are provided.
• Conrad Mansion holiday tours - reopening Monday, Nov 23. The mansion closes for the first three weeks of November while it's decorated for the holidays, and it's worth the wait.
• 17th Annual Whitefish Turkey Trot - Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov 26. Runners start at 8:30 AM and walkers at 9:30 AM from the O'Shaughnessy Center in downtown Whitefish. Bring a food donation for the North Valley Food Bank.

Looking Ahead to December

December comes fast. The Downtown Kalispell Holiday Stroll and community tree lighting land on Friday, Dec 4, Whitefish Mountain Resort is scheduled to open its 79th season the same day, and the Whitefish Christmas Stroll follows on Friday, Dec 11. Mark your calendars now.

Months like this are exactly why so many people fall in love with this valley. If you're thinking about making the Flathead home, or you're just curious what your current home is worth, I'd love to hear from you.

Event details, times, and ticket prices can change, so check the venue or organizer's website before you go.