Mark the calendar
Helena's big events and festivals
The 36 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.
October
November
Queen City Ballet Company's The Nutcracker
Saturday, November 21, 2026 – Sunday, November 22, 2026 · Helena Civic Center
Arts & Theater
Celebration of Lights (formerly Parade of Lights)
Friday after Thanksgiving, roughly 5 to 8 p.m. · Downtown Helena Walking Mall
Family
Helena Art Walk
Friday, November 13, 2026 · Downtown Helena (Last Chance Gulch and surrounding blocks)
Arts & Theater
Festival of Wines
Saturday, November 7, 2026 · Helena Civic Center
Food & Drink
Reeder's Alley Holiday Market
Thanksgiving weekend, Friday evening through Sunday. The dates follow Thanksgiving, which the date rule cannot express, so no projection is made · Reeder's Alley
Community
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
Community
Helena Holiday MADE fair
Friday, December 4, 2026 – Saturday, December 5, 2026 · Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
Community
Intermountain Festival of Trees
Wednesday, December 2, 2026 – Sunday, December 6, 2026 · Helena Civic Center
Community
East Helena Christmas Stroll
Expected Thursday, December 3, 2026 · Main Street, East Helena
Community
February
March
April
May
Vigilante Parade
Expected Friday, May 7, 2027 · Last Chance Gulch, downtown Helena
Community
Don't Fence Me In Trail Run
Saturday, May 8, 2027 · Start/finish near Last Chance Gulch, courses through Helena's South Hills
Sports & Outdoors
Helena Ales for Trails
A Friday in mid-May, VIP 3:30-5pm and main event 5-9pm (held in early September through 2024) · Pioneer Park
Food & Drink
June
Helena's Alive @ Five
Wednesdays, mid-June through mid-August, 5-8pm · Rotating downtown Helena locations
Music
The Governor's Cup
Expected Saturday, June 12, 2027 · Holter Museum of Art (start), Last Chance Gulch (finish)
Sports & Outdoors
Blast from the Past Car Show and Drag Races
Expected Friday, June 25, 2027 – Sunday, June 27, 2027 · Broadwater Grounds (car show); Rocky Mountain Fire Training Center near Helena Regional Airport (drag races)
Entertainment
State Capital Band Concerts in the Park
Expected Thursday, June 24, 2027 – Thursday, July 29, 2027 · Memorial Park
Music
July
Last Chance Stampede & Fair
Expected Tuesday, July 27, 2027 – Saturday, July 31, 2027 · Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
Community
Helena Valley Highland Gathering
Saturday, July 17, 2027 · East Helena Rodeo Arena
Community
Symphony Under the Stars
Expected Saturday, July 17, 2027 · Carroll College (Guadalupe Lawn / "Guad Hill")
Music
Fourth of July in the Helena Area
Expected Sunday, July 4, 2027 · East Helena slag pile (fireworks launch site); Centennial Park and Mountain View Park (daytime/evening celebrations)
Community
Helena Outdoor Triathlon (HOTri)
Expected Sunday, July 11, 2027 · Spring Meadow Lake State Park
Sports & Outdoors
East Helena Food Truck Festival
Two or three separate Thursday evenings between June and August, 4 to 8 p.m. The dates are set each spring and do not repeat weekly · Main Street Park, East Helena
Food & Drink
August
Carroll College Homecoming and Fighting Saints Football
Thursday, August 27, 2026 – Saturday, October 31, 2026 · Nelson Stadium
Sports & Outdoors
Montana Brewers Summer Rendezvous
Expected Saturday, August 7, 2027 · Memorial Park
Food & Drink
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks in Helena
Early August, one or two evenings at 6pm · Anchor Park
Arts & Theater
September
Helena Bighorns
Friday, September 18, 2026 – Sunday, March 14, 2027 · Steed Arena (formerly Helena Ice Arena)
Sports & Outdoors
Grandstreet Theatre Mainstage Season
Friday, September 11, 2026 – Sunday, June 13, 2027 · Grandstreet Theatre
Arts & Theater
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)
Music
Last Chance Community Pow Wow
Expected Friday, September 24, 2027 – Sunday, September 26, 2027 · Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
Community
SeptemberFest
Expected Friday, September 10, 2027 – Sunday, September 12, 2027 · Downtown Helena
Family