Mark the calendar
Helena's annual events and festivals
The 26 events Helena plans its year around, in the order they come up next. Each page has this year's dates when they're announced, what actually happens, cost, and parking, plus any listings currently on the calendar.
September
Helena Bighorns
Friday, September 18, 2026 – Sunday, March 14, 2027 · Steed Arena (formerly Helena Ice Arena)
Grandstreet Theatre Mainstage Season
Friday, September 11, 2026 – Sunday, June 13, 2027 · Grandstreet Theatre
Helena Symphony Masterworks Season
Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Saturday, May 1, 2027 · Helena Civic Center (Masterworks concerts); Cathedral of St. Helena (Christmas in the Cathedral)
October
November
Queen City Ballet Company's The Nutcracker
Saturday, November 21, 2026 – Sunday, November 22, 2026 · Helena Civic Center
Celebration of Lights (formerly Parade of Lights)
Friday after Thanksgiving, roughly 5 to 8 p.m. · Downtown Helena Walking Mall
Helena Art Walk
Friday, November 13, 2026 · Downtown Helena (Last Chance Gulch and surrounding blocks)
December
Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting and Original Governor's Mansion Holiday Open House
Tree lighting is a weekday evening in the first week of December; the Mansion holiday open house is a Saturday afternoon in early December · Montana State Capitol rotunda; Original Governor's Mansion
Helena Holiday MADE fair
Friday, December 4, 2026 – Saturday, December 5, 2026 · Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
February
March
April
May
June
Helena's Alive @ Five
Wednesdays, mid-June through mid-August, 5-8pm · Rotating downtown Helena locations
The Governor's Cup
Second Saturday in June · Holter Museum of Art (start), Last Chance Gulch (finish)
Blast from the Past Car Show and Drag Races
Last full weekend in June · Broadwater Grounds (car show); Rocky Mountain Fire Training Center near Helena Regional Airport (drag races)
July
Last Chance Stampede & Fair
Late July, Tuesday through Saturday · Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
Helena Valley Highland Gathering
Saturday, July 17, 2027 · East Helena Rodeo Arena
Symphony Under the Stars
Mid-to-late July, one Saturday evening · Carroll College (Guadalupe Lawn / "Guad Hill")
Fourth of July in the Helena Area
July 4, all day; fireworks after dusk, around 10:30 p.m. · East Helena slag pile (fireworks launch site); Centennial Park and Mountain View Park (daytime/evening celebrations)
Helena Outdoor Triathlon (HOTri)
Sunday in mid-July · Spring Meadow Lake State Park