Page 16 - Flathead Living // Spring 2015

CHECKLIST
FIND HIDDEN TREASURES
Creston Auction
TOUTED AS THE LARGEST OUTDOOR SPRING-
time event in Montana, the Creston Auction draws thousands of people for a weekend-long celebration of stuff.
In its 49th year, the famed auction is 12 miles east of Kalispell on Montana Highway 35, April 11-12. As many as 7,000 people regularly turn out to rummage through
rows of items, from building materials, appliances, household merchandise, sports equipment, tools, tack and antiques. It’s an ideal — and lively — place to score locally made arts and crafts or a quirky, classic antique. Auctioneers standing on wagons are pulled down the rows of stuff as they sell it to the highest bidder until it’s all gone. There is no buyer’s premium and a bid number costs $5. The wide-open, free-for-all nature of the event makes it less intimidating than more traditional auctions.
Funds raised at the auction support
the all-volunteer Creston Fire Department. Entrance and parking are free.
The festivities begin Friday, April 10, with “Consignment Day,” when items can be consigned, meaning the largest portion of the sale goes back to the seller, or is donated. Merchandise is accepted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the grounds in Creston.
On Saturday, April 11, the action begins bright and early at 8 a.m.
Last year’s auction netted more than $45,000. All proceeds are used for additional training programs and firefight- ing equipment for the local department.
For more information, call 406-250- 7396 or visit www.crestonfire.org.
Simmons began his acting career at the Playhouse in the summer of 1977 and spent six seasons with the local theater.
This season will feature another exciting lineup of shows: Smokey Joe’s Café, Man of LaMancha, The Addams Family, Annie and Footloose. The season starts with weekend performances May 15 and launches into its normal summer schedule in early June.
Producers regularly audition more than 3,000 actors from across the country, choosing 20, all between the ages of 20 and 30 years old.
The Bigfork Summer Playhouse was founded in 1960 by Dr. Firman ‘Bo’ Brown and his wife Margery Hunter Brown as a place for University of Montana theater students to perform in the summer. In 1964, Brown hired Don Thomson, who is now, along with wife, Jude Thomson, and son, Brach Thomson, the producer.
The Playhouse productions are per- formed in the 435-seat theater on Electric Avenue in downtown. For a schedule of performances and more information, call 406-837-4886 or visit www.bigforksummer- playhouse.com.
DISCOVER TALENT
Bigfork Summer Playhouse
ONE OF THE PREMIER REPERTORY THEATERS
in the West is celebrating its 56th season starting in late May.
The Bigfork Summer Playhouse has a long-standing tradition of bringing talented actors and actresses from across the
country to perform a variety of renowned productions in the theater by the bay.
The Playhouse has seen many talented performers grace the stage, perhaps most notably J.K. Simmons, who won an Oscar in February for best supporting actor.
14 FLATHEAD LIVING | SPRING 2015
PHOTOS BY LIDO VIZZUTTI