ARTS Missoula Presents ‘Missoula on Main’ (formerly First Night)
See below for ARTS Missoula’s Event Description of Missoula on Main, happening all day and night on December 31, 2022. To learn more, view event schedules, or purchase tickets visit: https://missoulaonmain.org/ First Night – since 1993! First Night Missoula has been a Celebration of Arts and Culture for 29 years. This year, a few things have changed, but you will still recognize it as this traditional favorite. Arts Missoula Is proud to put a new spin on an old classic. So, what’s changed? We changed the name to Missoula on Main. Why? All the events (well, almost all) happen on Main Street in Downtown Missoula. We recognize that Main Street is a vibrant corridor in Missoula’s Downtown with a world renowned children’s theatre, a globally award winning library, Missoula’s favorite arts community center, our fantastic symphony, an inclusive place of worship, a beloved philanthropic foundation, great hotels, and many favorite eateries! It’s the best stage to present Missoula’s artists and celebrate the passage of time. Buttons! In the past, they have been an all access pass to the events. With the help of our generous sponsors, we are offering many events for FREE! Some events are ticketed which provides a more rich experience for patrons and artists alike. Commemorative Buttons will be for sale, if you want a complete collection! Adult beverages. A signature part of this event has been that it is Alcohol free. It is still very important to Arts Missoula that we provide plenty of options for a N/A experience should you choose it. Free and N/A events at the Library, MCT and the Indigenous Made Missoula Market at the Merc. Other events, where there this is a bar, you may choose to partake or not, up to you! With the new format in location, park you car once and cruise the event by foot. Be smart about your consumption and be a DD for a friend or call an UBER. Keep this event safe and fun for all. A street party! Who needs New York City Times Square? We don’t! Bundle up and join us on Main Street between Washington and Pattee at 10 PM for some music, food vendors and beverages provided by the VFW and Conflux. Get ready for the Egg Drop, sponsored by The Wren at midnight! And finally, our artists! Some tried and true favorites; Ed Norton Big Band at midnight, Celtic Dragon Pipe Band, Drum Bothers and many, many others. New for this year, a dance showcase that features Missoula finest dancers in all genres and ages. The Missoula Symphony makes its debut on this event with a very special candlelight symphonic experience. We have Indigenous Made MIssoula at the Merc with a First Peoples market, showcasing traditional and authentic wares. And a Midnight Masquerade Ball!
UM Jazz Presents ‘Holiday Swing Set’ Holiday Favorites w/ The UM Jazz Band II
Saturday, December 10 // Doors at 1:30 PM // Event from 2 to 3 PM // Free & Open to All The UM Jazz Band II plays a 45 minute family friendly set at 2 PM on Saturday, December 10 in The Show Room at the ZACC! Holiday Big Band favorites are sure to get the family dancing. Fun activities planned for elders and young folks alike. A great way to spend an afternoon. FREE and open to all! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
‘No Outcasts in Zooville’ MPower Voices Holiday Choir Concert
Monday, December 19 // Door at 6:30 PM // Show at 7 PM // Free & Open to All Join MPower Voices at the ZACC for a free and festive holiday choir concert! MPower voices is a Missoula-based choir of adult individuals with disabilities. Formed in 1999 by Alayne Dolson and Malcolm Lowe, the choir was originally part of VSA Arts programming. It continues now under the umbrella of Missoula Community Chorus. MPower Voices serves the differently-abled community by offering an opportunity for social engagement and artistic expression. They serve Missoula with musical offerings that surprise and delight with their heartfelt, open manifestations of joy. MPower Voices is thrilled to be welcomed to the more focused performance setting of The Show Room at the ZACC after many years performing our Christmas concert at Southgate Mall. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Winter Noir featuring UM Grad Student Storytellers
Wednesday, December 14 // Door at 6 PM // Reading begins at 6:30 PM // Free & Open to All Please join us for a thrilling evening of storytelling at the ZACC featuring thirteen UM graduate students. Each will tell a five minute story on the theme – as chosen by the students themselves – of CRIME. Expect no holds to be barred and no protection for the guilty … or the innocent. Your host for the occasion is Métis storyteller and local ruffian Chris La Tray. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the ZACC with support from CUTBANK, the Literary Journal of the University of Montana. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Annual Holiday Open House at the ZACC
Friday, December 2 // 5 to 8 PM // Free & Open to All Head to the ZACC between the hours of 5 and 8 PM on Friday, December 2, and experience a magical holiday wonderland! Attendees will be given easy to follow maps at entry, and ZACC staff and Santa’s elves will be on hand to give tours of our three-story downtown building. Our 2022 Holiday Open House includes a variety of free – and super fun – activities for folks of all ages, including ornament painting, screenprinting (just bring your own T-shirt or other fabric!), winter card-making and collages, and THREE Santa Selfie Stations (complete with hilariously candid, life-size Santa cardboard cut-outs). And for those who would prefer to to watch a wonderful performance or even join in the fun and perform themselves, Josh Farmer will be playing the baby grand piano in our venue, The Show Room, for folks to carol along. And warm up with a beverage from the Show Room bar, serving beer, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic options – and free hot cider! In addition to these awesome and totally free festivities, our annual ZACC & Friends Holiday Show is opening that night in the Main Gallery, with an array of affordable artwork made with love by artists who love the ZACC. Every year this show includes dozens of local and regional artists with works spanning all price points, so there really is something for everyone. Works by multi-media artist and sculptor Melissa Thompson will be featured in our Blackfoot Communications Gallery, and Magic Rainbow, artwork by Blue Rose Lusk, who is the daughter of Samantha Balk and printmaker David Miles Lusk and who was born above the ZACC in 2019 when it was at its previous location on the Northside, will be featured in our Youth Gallery. Last but certainly not least, our Artist Shop (full of thoughtful, locally made gift ideas) will be open and stocked with perfect presents for anyone on your list. This very special annual Holiday Open House is totally free, though we would very much appreciate your consideration of an end-of-year donation to the ZACC. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
MAMA Open Mic
Thursday, December 1 // Doors at 7 PM // Open Mic begins at 7:30 PM // Free & Open to All The ZACC and the Montana Area Music Association have teamed up to create a space for music, community, collaboration, and artistic expression. Learn about MAMA’s mission, what we’re working on, and how to get involved. Meet fellow musicians, test out new songs, and build new connections! Every open mic has been a blast, and we would love to see you again on December 1 for MAMA Open Mic, for the final MAMA open mic of 2022. (Stay tuned too, cause it’s continuing throughout 2023!) To learn more about the Montana Area Music Association (MAMA) visit https://mama4mt.org/. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
ROCK THE HOUSE: A Benefit for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Including a Silent Auction, and Featuring Performances by Riley James and Cosmic SansSaturday, November 5 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 General Admission The Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) is Missoula’s only local source of funding to meet our community’s ambitious and urgent housing goals. In a time of rampant unaffordability in our local housing market, Affordable Housing Trust Fund investments create and preserve housing solutions Missoulians can afford. ROCK THE HOUSE is a benefit for the AHTF, and will feature music by Riley James and Cosmic Sans, and a silent raffle of works by many local artists who are involved in affordable housing organizing (including Laughing Blackbird, Roger Paul Mason, Winnie Lohof, Kat Cowley, Sam Hilliard, Miles Wickham, Sage Friss, Zoey Osborne, River Bed Gems, Montana Clay Creations, B Martinez, Jace Nelson, & Blaine Doherty). Between sets, grantees who have been awarded Trust Fund monies will be speaking about their projects and sharing what the Trust Fund has helped them accomplish. Please join us for a night of fundraising and local arts! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
MAMA Open Mic
Wednesday, November 2 // Doors at 7 PM // Open Mic begins at 7:30 PM // Free & Open to All The ZACC and the Montana Area Music Association have teamed up to create a space for music, community, collaboration, and artistic expression. Learn about MAMA’s mission, what we’re working on, and how to get involved. Meet fellow musicians, test out new songs, and build new connections! Every open mic has been a blast, and we would love to see you again on November 2 for MAMA Open Mic, happening monthly in 2022. To learn more about the Montana Area Music Association (MAMA) visit https://mama4mt.org/. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
‘Listening Hat Records’ Record Cutting Service Launch Party!
Sunday // October 30 // 1-5 PM // Show Room at the ZACC // Free & Open to All Ever wonder how Vinyl Records are made? Come see records being cut live at the ‘Listening Hat Records’ Launch Party. With the help of funding from the Montana Arts Council, local musician Aaron Jennings is starting a record manufacturing service in Missoula with the goal of making short-run handmade vinyl releases accessible and affordable to artists across the state. Over a dozen artists will be performing live to celebrate the occasion, and these performances will be recorded and cut to a record on site. Attendees will be able to pick out their favorite performances and purchase a custom record to take home with them. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the ZACC. See records made in real time, and enjoy performances from:Trans FutureSarah AswellChrist SandDylan Running CraneBob WireRichie ReinholdtCory FayThe Mighty TravisShadow DevereauxTesseractLenny Pepperssoft x mothChelle Karcher For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
MAMA Open Mic
Thursday, October 6 // Doors at 7 PM // Open Mic begins at 7:30 PM // Free & Open to All The ZACC and the Montana Area Music Association have teamed up to create a space for music, community, collaboration, and artistic expression. Learn about MAMA’s mission, what we’re working on, and how to get involved. Meet fellow musicians, test out new songs, and build new connections! Every open mic has been a blast, and we would love to see you again on October 6 for MAMA Open Mic, happening monthly in 2022. To learn more about the Montana Area Music Association (MAMA) visit https://mama4mt.org/. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
