The holiday season in Bozeman is idyllic. Winter sets in, bringing with it shorter days, cooler temperatures, and the coziness of the mountains under their blanket of snow. Community events, traditions, and celebrations bring people together, spreading joy and good cheer, and, as the snow depth increases, outdoor adventure expands with skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. It's just the right combination of winter fun. Here are 12 ways to celebrate the holidays in Bozeman this year.
1. Ladies' Night in Downtown Bozeman
Each year, Downtown Bozeman hosts Ladies' Night. An evening of friends, shopping, and dining, thousands of women head downtown to enjoy some girl time before the busy pace of holiday entertaining begins. Over 40 stores offer in-store specials, appetizers, libations, and giveaways. Then, once the shopping subsides, enjoy "after-hours" dinner and cocktails!
2. Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular
This year Broadway in Bozeman brings Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular to the Bobcat Stadium. The world-renowned cast of Cirque Musica brings an edge-of-the-seat circus experience with acrobats, aerialists, hilarious hijinks, and holiday cheer set to the most fabulous holiday songs of all time.
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3. Opening Day at Big Sky
Thanksgiving Day is also the opening day of ski season at Big Sky Resort! Several families forego the traditional dinner for a day, ripping it up on the slopes followed by noshes slopeside instead.
4. Holiday Shopping
For those who enjoy the traditional day of shopping before Christmas, you'll have two options to shop local: Small Business Saturday, sponsored by Downtown Bozeman, and the Gallatin Valley Holiday Farmers Market, held at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. Both are held on November 27th, so you can get all of your shopping done in one day!
5. The Christmas Stroll
The annual Christmas Stroll takes place on December 4. Join Santa as he leads a parade down Main Street to sing carols and light holiday lights. Enjoy hayrides, live music, food trucks, and retail specials. So bring the whole family downtown, warm up with hot drinks and libations and get in the holiday spirit.
6. The Nutcracker
What's Christmas without The Nutcracker? Montana Ballet kicks off its performance of this classic holiday show at the Willson Theater, with two shows on Saturday, December 4th and one show the following Sunday afternoon.
7. Go Tree Hunting
If you're spending the whole season in Bozeman, you may be in search of a live tree. You'll find a great selection of trees and wreaths at Gallatin Valley Mall, on North 7th Street, and Main Street. We suggest renting snowshoes and spending a day enjoying the quiet of the mountains, followed by an evening of tree-trimming. Don't forget the hot cocoa – we like the mix from La Chatelaine; it's rich and sophisticated, made with darker chocolate than the standard cocoas.
8. Winter Art Walk
Over 30 galleries in downtown Bozeman participate in the Winter Art Walk on December 10th, many featuring artists' openings and receptions, along with hors d'oeuvres and complimentary refreshments. It's another excellent way to enjoy local shopping and catch up with friends.
9. Tour the Holiday Lights
Admiring the holiday lights is another favorite pastime. Main Street is adorned and well worth photographing, but several other spots admire the lights. Willson Avenue, Montana Hall at Montana State University, South 3rd Avenue past Kagy Boulevard, and the neighborhoods around Ferguson and Fowler Avenues all light up and are worth a drive.
10. Christmas Day Skiing
Many people enjoy skiing on Christmas Day, either cross country at Crosscut Mountain Ranch or downhill at Bridger Bowl. Dawning your ugliest holiday sweater or Santa Claus beard is sure to get you a thumbs up as you shred down the hill.
11. Torchlight Parade at Bridger Bowl
Bridger Bowl also hosts one of our favorite holiday celebrations on December 30, the evening before New Year's Eve, with a Torchlight Parade, fireworks display, food, music, and festivities!
12. New Year's Eve Celebrations
Bozeman restaurants and bars celebrate in style with live music, delicious specials, and tasty cocktails on New Year's Eve itself. So bring your winter sparkles and some dancing boots, and get ready to ring in the new year!
If you enjoyed this blog, take a look at some of our other related articles:
- Ranking the 14 Best Hot Springs in Montana
- Winter in Bozeman, By the Numbers
- What Makes Bozeman the Best Mountain Town to Visit This Winter
- Where to Rent Winter Gear in Bozeman, Montana
In our never-ending quest to keep up with all things new in Bozeman, we have been producing content for years and can't possibly update every blog when new businesses open or existing businesses close. Please reference the publish date and do your own due diligence when making plans.