10 Christmas Events in Bozeman You Won’t Want to Miss

 

The holidays are a magical time of year in Bozeman. Picture the frost-covered Bridger Mountains above town, twinkling Christmas lights on Main Street, and fresh snow slowly falling outside your window.

 

If that doesn’t get you into the holiday spirit, all the Christmas events in Bozeman sure will! From the ever-popular Christmas Stroll to Bozeman Symphony’s Holiday Spectacular, there’s plenty to choose from. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite annual celebrations that put us in the Christmas spirit below.

 

The Gallatin Valley Farmers Market: The Holiday Edition invites people to shop for handcrafted items, baked goods, and other food products. Typically taking place around the end of November, it’s a great time to shop small and help boost the local economy.

The Bozeman Christmas Stroll, held the first Saturday in December, is popular for good reason. A portion of Main Street is closed to cars, making it easy to walk between food vendors and non-profit booths on either side of the street.

 

Plus, Main Street is also one of the best places to see Christmas lights in Bozeman.  Enjoy watching Santa light up the iconic Main Street “spider lights” during the Christmas Stroll.  Participating stores also extend their hours to accommodate shoppers, and often have treats or holiday activities for shoppers.

 

Enjoy activities like:

• Taking a photo with Santa Claus
• Watching the Christmas Stroll Parade
• Voting for your favorite gingerbread house
• Singing Christmas carols

And so much more! Check out Downtown Bozeman’s site for details.

 

Museum of the Rockies hosts its own festive celebration, called Homestead Holiday. Your ticket includes a seasonal show inside the Taylor Planetarium and entrance to the Tinsley House, a Living History Farm built in 1889. This is one of your only chances to visit the Tinsley House in the winter – it’s typically only open during the warmer months.

 

Inside the Tinsley House, you’ll enjoy Victorian decorations, making your own Victorian-inspired holiday card, listening to Christmas carolers, and indulging in sweet treats and refreshments. This event typically runs for two weekends in early to mid-December, giving you multiple opportunities to join in the fun!

 

Want to try something a little different to celebrate the holidays this year? Add Holiday Noir to your list! Generally taking place at the beginning of December, this 18+ event is a holiday themed burlesque variety show. Attend the Club Noir afterparty when the show is over to keep the night going!

 

The Bozeman Symphony puts on a Holiday Spectacular show every year in December, with a variety of classic holiday-themed songs. There’s even a fun sing-along during the show, which invites the audience to take part. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit?

 

The Northside Neighborhood holds its own holiday stroll, usually in early to mid-December. Stores in the area stay open later, and some of them also serve refreshments.

Hop in for a carriage ride, listen to Christmas carolers, and shop ’til you drop, of course. Don’t forget to complete the scavenger hunt for your chance to win a prize!

 

Not only do you get to ice skate with Santa, but you can also watch the Bozeman Figure Skaters Holiday Show before free skate begins! This fun seasonal celebration is usually in mid-December at Gallatin Ice, and also features hot chocolate and sweets for guests.

 

The Bozeman Yule Festival gives you another chance to experience holiday-themed activities. It’s usually towards the end of December, just before Christmas.

 

Everyone will enjoy Christmas cookie decorating, shopping for gifts at the Christmas makers market, and seeing epic gingerbread houses. Plus, this gives kids another chance to take a photo with Santa!

 

If you’re looking for a classic Christmas experience, attend The Nutcracker. Performed by the Montana Ballet Company, it’s one of the biggest artistic collaborations in the state.

 

Just like the Summer Art Walks, the Winter Art Walk features work from local artists in numerous stores downtown. The artist is often there to chat with attendees too!

 

Most shops are open later than usual and offer free refreshments for guests. It’s a fun night to enjoy the crisp air while browsing for gifts for loved ones – and yourself!

 

These are just some of the most popular Christmas events in Bozeman; there are so many more holiday markets, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, and live performances taking place around town. To learn more about celebrating Christmas in Bozeman, check out Downtown Bozeman’s Event Calendar.

 

And if you’re interested in moving to the Bozeman area, please reach out. We’d love to help you find your Montana dream home!