4 Festive Holiday Activities in Billings, MT

As the snow starts falling, Billings is transformed into a veritable winter wonderland. Icicles form along the Rimrocks and the snowcapped Beartooths emerge across the horizon. With the recent winter weather, it lately feels like time to cozy up beside the fireplace. With the holidays upon us, however, there is still time for some end-of-year excursions into town.

Billings, Montana is a community-oriented place. This means that there are always opportunities to celebrate in the company of our neighbors. The Yuletide is no exception! This winter, there are dozens of holiday adventures to explore in our Magic City. In this blog post, I’d like to share four of these Festive Holiday Activities in Billings, MT!

1) Holiday Nights at ZooMontana

ZooMontana is an underrated treasure of our town, hosting wonderful events at all times of the year. Starting just this year, they have decided to bring their magic touch to the holiday season.

As Jack Frost begins to nibble at our noses, the team there sets up a dazzling array of light displays for their Holiday Nights festival. Running from Thanksgiving to New Years, this pop-up Christmas village is perfect for family visits and perhaps even a romantic holiday date! In addition to the colorful exhibits, ZooMontana hosts sleigh rides, private s’mores tents, and photoshoots with Santa Claus himself! Tickets run from $12.50 for kids up to $21 for adults. Toddlers can enter for free!

2) Christmas Performances at the Alberta Bair Theatre

Another hidden treasure of Billings, MT is our world-class symphony hall at the Alberta Bair Theatre. During each holiday season, this fabulous venue hosts some sort of festive performance. This year, it’s a live performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol! The performance, directed by a seasoned team coming straight off Broadway, will recur several times during the week leading up to Christmas. Young people would especially enjoy this dose of culture, as student tickets start at only $17 a pop! Last year, the Theatre completed a major renovation project to beautify and enhance its interior. If you have not done so yet, this special holiday performance is an excellent chance to check out this refreshed Billings landmark.

3) Brewery Festivities!

No trip into Billings is complete without a trip into one of its premiere breweries! During the holidays, our local drafthouses give us all the more reason to swing by. Thirsty Street Brewing, Co. for instance will be hosting a Christmas Cookie Party on the Wednesday before Christmas. Attractions will include holiday sugar cookies, an ugly sweater contest, and live Christmas music performances by local musicians. Other breweries will be hosting similar events, all of which are worth checking out. Where else can you enjoy some holiday revelry to go along with your taste of Montana’s most enjoyable agricultural export?!

4) Evening Christmas Light Run with Yellowstone Rim Runners

Billings is an active community. Seriously – it is hard to find someone here who is not invested in their mountain biking, kayaking, trail running, rock climbing, or any number of other adventurous recreations. These energetic folks don’t let the cold weather put a stop to their fun, either. This winter, to burn off the milk and cookies, the Yellowstone Rim Runners (a local running club) are putting on a series of Christmas Light Fun Runs. These fitness devotees have put together routes going through the most audacious Billings neighborhood light displays. People in Montana tend to go big or go home – and it’s no exception with the Christmas decorations. Why not check out how your neighbors are celebrating, and get a little holiday exercise too!