theater
Helena Civic Center events – Helena, MT
A city-owned 1,925-seat auditorium and 15,000-square-foot ballroom in the Moorish-style Algeria Shrine Temple at Neill and Benton avenues, home of the Helena Symphony.
340 Neill Ave, Helena, MT 59601 · Official site
Upcoming at Helena Civic Center
Nothing listed for today. Listings refresh every morning (last update 2026-09-04).
About Helena Civic Center
The Helena Civic Center is the former Algeria Shrine Temple, a Moorish Revival building with a minaret designed by George Carsley and Charles Haire and built between 1919 and 1921 at the corner of Neill and Benton avenues. The 1935 earthquakes damaged it beyond what the Shrine could afford to repair, and the City of Helena bought it in 1938; city offices stayed in the building until 1979. Today it holds a 1,925-seat auditorium with a green room and four dressing rooms, and a 15,000-square-foot ballroom with a mezzanine and catering kitchen. It is the Helena Symphony's concert hall and the city's stop for touring shows.
The building is at 340 Neill Ave on the north edge of downtown, about three blocks from the Great Northern Town Center parking garage. The Civic Center's own lot is on the north side of the building; on-street parking is not allowed on Benton Avenue or on Neill Avenue in front. The box office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. (406-447-8481), with tickets also sold online at helenamt.showare.com. The hallway ramp to the lobby is steep and there is no elevator; ADA seating is on the floor in front of the stage and must be requested when buying tickets.
What happens here
- Helena Symphony Masterworks and other season concerts from September into spring (the 2026-27 season opened with an America 250 program on September 12, 2026)
- Touring productions and national acts, such as World Ballet Company's Swan Lake with live orchestra (November 2, 2026) and the United States Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants (October 18, 2026)
- The Helena Railroad Fair, an annual model railroad show that reached its 44th edition
- Craft fairs, trade shows and fundraising galas in the ballroom, including the Hope Center Ministries gala (September 11, 2026)
- Comedy shows, tribute bands and martial arts tournaments in the auditorium
Good to know
- Allow extra time to park: the north lot fills on symphony nights, and the Great Northern Town Center garage is about three blocks away.
- Wheelchair users should follow the Benton Avenue sidewalk to the front doors instead of the interior ramp, and ask for floor-level ADA seating when ordering.
- Buy at the box office on weekday mornings or early afternoons to avoid online fees; it closes on holidays.
Annual events at Helena Civic Center
Helena Civic Center FAQ
- What events happen at the Helena Civic Center?
- The Helena Symphony performs its season there, and the auditorium hosts touring ballet, concerts, comedians and tribute bands. The ballroom takes craft fairs, trade shows, galas and the annual Helena Railroad Fair. The city's events page at helenamt.gov lists what is coming up.
- Where is the Helena Civic Center and where do I park?
- It is at 340 Neill Ave at Benton Avenue, on the north side of downtown Helena. Use the Civic Center lot on the north side of the building or the Great Northern Town Center garage about three blocks away; parking is not allowed on Benton Avenue or on Neill Avenue in front of the building.
- How many seats does the Helena Civic Center have?
- The auditorium seats 1,925 and the ballroom is a 15,000-square-foot exhibition hall with a mezzanine. When it opened as the Algeria Shrine Temple in 1921 the hall seated about 2,608, which made it one of the largest auditoriums in the country at the time.