Anyone with plans on ringing in the New Year in the Flathead will have plenty of options as Kalispell and Whitefish ramp up for their traditional, family-friendly events.
KALISPELL
Despite budget challenges familiar to many throughout the valley, First Night Flathead is back for another year of alcohol-free family fun. Event organizer Patrice Manget said the evening’s festivities would not have been possible without the community support First Night received this year.
“We put out a plea for support and our downtown supporters and our artists and our volunteers really rallied and made an extra effort for us and the community,” Manget said.
First Night Flathead is one of the best times to see a variety of musical acts in one location, Manget said, and this year’s lineup includes some familiar faces and new musicians.
Twenty-two acts are scheduled to play in 11 venues throughout downtown Kalispell. Some of the artists include the Blair Logan Belly Dance troupe, musician Jack Gladstone, danceable trio Burlesco, the Kenny James Miller Band, three-generation family band Left Sided Brains, the Stringlers, Tra le Gael and many more.
Manget said that several of the musical entries in this year’s First Night celebration have parents who have played during the event in the past, effectively bridging the generational gap.
Musical performances, which run in 45-minute sets with 15-minute breaks, begin at 7 p.m.
Free youth activities begin at 2 p.m. at the Kalispell Center Mall, where families will have the chance to decorate hats, participate in free pony rides, free face painting, hula hooping, and other games.
The First Night Commencement Parade begins at 4 p.m., during which members of the Montana Highlanders Pipe Band and Glacier High School drum major McKenzie McQuirk will lead anyone who wants to participate around the mall to kick off the evening’s events.
The night wraps up at the Kalispell Red Lion Hotel Convention Center lobby with the countdown to midnight, with Mayor Tammi Fisher presiding and La Nota Blues & Jazz Quartet providing music.
This year’s admission buttons will be familiar to past participants, Manget said, because the organizers recycled the old buttons and affixed a silver-foil embossed seal on each one.
Buttons are available at many local businesses; for a full list of button vendors, visit www.firstnightflathead.org.
Manget invited the Flathead community to celebrate the New Year together with a sense of hope for the future.
“It’s fun and exciting every year,” she said. “We’re optimistic about the year to come.”
For more information on First Night Flathead artists, venues and times, visit www.firstnightflathead.org.
WHITEFISH
Whitefish will welcome the 2012 with its traditional New Year’s Eve Rockin’ Rail Jam and Torchlight Parade at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
The jam kicks off the ski resort town’s celebrations with a showcase of skiers and snowboarders constantly hitting rails and jumps, providing spectators with plenty of action to watch.
Taking place outside of Ed & Mully’s restaurant, event organizers said the rail jam offers great views of the Torchlight Parade and the fireworks display, which occur once the jam is over.
Stumptown Ice Den will offer public skating with regular admission from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., followed by an admission-free skating session for adults from 10:15 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
For more information, contact the Stumptown Ice Den at 863-2477 or visit www.stumptowniceden.com.
Downtown Whitefish will also have plenty of live music options for New Year’s Eve revelers, with a listing available at www.flatheadevents.net.
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
And for those who want to start 2012 with a refreshing dip into Flathead Lake, the Raven Restaurant and Bar in Woods Bay will host its annual Polar Bear Plunge at 2 p.m. The chili feed begins at 3 p.m.
For more live music and other New Year’s Eve events, check out www.flatheadevents.net.