Events

Dinosaurs and MOR! Festival Join us for the 4th Annual Dinosaurs and MOR! Festival, March 28-30, 2025! Explore the world of dinosaurs with expert presentations, family-friendly programs, and special events. Kick-off with a members-only evening featuring an exclusive mosasaur reveal. Partake in a dinner and keynote by Dr. Jingmai O'Connor, and over two days, enjoy 18 talks from top paleontologists, hands-on workshops, Jr. Paleontologist stations, and more! Do not miss a chance to dive into the prehistoric world with activities for all ages, from fossil casting to terrarium building. Special thanks to Lead Sponsor Oakland and Company! Dinosaurs and MOR! Kicks Off with a Member-only Appreciation Night Friday, March 28, 2025 5:30 – 8 p.m. For MOR Members Only Light refreshments are provided in the downstairs lobby Join us for a special evening dedicated to MOR members to kick off the 4th annual Dinosaurs and MOR! Festival. Start with fun and engaging Paleo Passport stations to collect passport stamps at all stations to receive a Jr. Paleontologist Certificate signed by MOR's Dr. John Scannella. For those aged 10+, watch two showings of Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival in the Taylor Planetarium. Enjoy a book signing with festival VIP Dr. Jingmai O'Connor, paleontologist and author of When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies, and author and illustrator Ted Rechlin. Join in on a special Hager Auditorium presentation by paleontologist Evan Sonnenberg of Triebold Paleontology to learn about 3D scanning and printing. In an exclusive members-only reveal, Evan will unveil a rare mosasaur, Plioplatecarpus peckensis. Many of the weekend’s world-class paleontology guest speakers will be present to meet. 5:30 p.m. | Welcome and museum front doors open 5:45 and 6:30 p.m. | Dino-themed planetarium show 7 p.m. | Special Presentation in the Hager Auditorium Paleo Passport Station participants may include: MSU’s Dead Lizard Society MOR’s Paleohistology Department Montana Dinosaur Trail Carter County Museum (Ekalaka) (MOR's Sister Museum) Montana Dinosaur Center (Bynum) Montana Bureau of Land Management Kathryn Abbott - Science Educator Idaho Museum of Natural History Makoshika State Park Rudyard Depot Museum MOR's Paleontology Collections Department Collect passport stamps at all stations to receive a Jr. Paleontologist Certificate signed by MOR's Dr. John Scannella upon completion. DINNER and KEYNOTE with Dr. JINGMAI O’CONNOR Saturday, March 29, 2025 6:30 p.m. Inspiration Hall inside MSU's Norm Asbjornson Hall RSVP is required via this link Member: $50/youth, $65/adult Non-member: $60/youth, $75/adult MSU Student: $50/student Step back in time for an unforgettable Dinosaurs and MOR! evening with Dr. Jingmai O’Connor, paleontologist, author, and Associate Curator of Fossil Reptiles at Chicago's Field Museum. Join us for a delicious buffet dinner and enjoy her captivating talk, "Archaeopteryx - The Icon of Evolution." Discover the secrets of this legendary fossil and its role in revealing the connection between dinosaurs and modern birds. There will be a fundraising live auction and special appeal to support the museum's paleontology mission. Reserve your seat now for a night of discovery, wonder, and inspiration! Inspiration Hall is in Norm Asbjornson Hall at the intersection of W. Grant and S. 7th. Avenue. Paid parking is available in the attached parking garage. Virtual Fossil Friday Friday, March 28, 2025 9 - 9:30 a.m. Free and open to the public Via Zoom Love fossils? We do, too! Join Outreach Program Manager Ashley Hall via Zoom on Fridays to dig deep into the evolutionary history of fantastic fossil specimens, hear from a diverse array of paleontologists from across the world, and learn how fossils help us understand the larger picture of life on Earth. Bring your curiosity and questions! This program is geared towards K-12 classes, homeschoolers, and the public. All Access Paleo Lecture Series Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, 2025 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Museum General Admission Included Hager Auditorium Click to Purchase the 1-Day Pass for Saturday Click to Purchase the 1-Day Pass for Sunday Member: $40/youth, $50/adult Non-Member: $55/youth, $65/adult MSU Student: $40/student Click to purchase the 2-Day Pass Member: $70/youth, $85/adult Non-Member: $80/youth, $100/adult MSU Student: $70/student Over two days, 18 renowned paleontologists will present on topics ranging from trilobites to T. rex to Sabre-toothed cats! Each presentation will be 30 minutes long with a Q and A, making it an informative and engaging experience for all attendees. The speakers are subject to change without notice. Throughout the weekend, there will be multiple opportunities to get books signed, bid on paleontology-themed collectibles, fossil casts, unique pieces of paleoart, and more! Please see below for the 2025 Dinosaurs and MOR! All Access Paleo Lecture Series Speakers. Family Weekend Saturday and Sunday, March 29 - 30, 2025 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | All Ages Included with membership/admission Enjoy paleo-passport activity stations throughout the Siebel Dinosaur Complex and view Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival in the Taylor Planetarium. Some passport stations will have touchable material, microscope stations, and short activities. Step into the world of SUE: The T. rex Experience to uncover the mysteries about the life of this fearsome fossil. Paleo Passport Station participants may include: MSU’s Dead Lizard Society MOR’s Paleohistology Department Montana Dinosaur Trail Carter County Museum (Ekalaka) (MOR's Sister Museum) Montana Dinosaur Center (Bynum) Montana Bureau of Land Management Kathryn Abbott - Science Educator Idaho Museum of Natural History Makoshika State Park Rudyard Depot Museum MOR's Paleontology Collections Department Collect passport stamps at all stations to receive a Jr. Paleontologist Certificate signed by MOR's Dr. John Scannella upon completion. Saturday, March 29 Speaker Schedule 8:45 – 9:20 a.m. | Check-in/Hager Auditorium Opens 9:20 – 9:30 a.m. | Opening Remarks by Scott Williams and Dr. John B. Scanella 9:30 – 10 a.m. | Dr. Kat Jordan-Burmeister, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, The Long Death: How We Understand ‘Dead Clades Walking’ with Proetide Trilobites 10 – 10:30 a.m. | Dr. Christian Sidor, Professor of Biology, University of Washington, Antarctica Before Dinosaurs: Triassic Fossils from the Bottom of the World 10:30 – 11 a.m. | Break 11 – 11:30 a.m. | Dr. Kimi Chappelle, Assistant Professor, Stonybrook University, Jurassic Start: Getting To Know Some of the World's Oldest Dinosaur Eggs and Babies 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Panel Discussion with Ashley Hall (MOR), Kathryn Abbott, Kallie Moore (UM), Ted Rechlin, and David Strassman (moderator), Claws, Chaos, and Cinema: The Science vs. Fiction of Jurassic Park 12 – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch Break 1:30 – 2 p.m. | Dr. Mark Goodwin, University of California-Berkeley, Understanding Pachycephalosaurs: An Inside Look at “Dome-Headed” Dinosaurs 2 – 2:30 p.m. | Dr. Cathy Whitlock, Regents Professor Emerita, Montana State University, Paleoecology, Climate Change, and Yellowstone 2:30 – 3 p.m. | Break 3 – 3:30 p.m. | Dr. Sabre Moore, Executive Director, Carter County Museum, The Little Museum that Big Museums Visit: Carter County Museum as a Rural Epicenter of Paleontology and Citizen Science 3:30 – 4 p.m. | Greg Liggett, Bureau of Land Management, Billings, MT, The Role and Significance of Federal Lands in the Field of Paleontology 4 – 4:30 p.m. | Dr. Paige Madison, Paleoanthropologist, Science Writer, The Real Middle Earth: How Fossil Hobbits Revised the Human Story 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Mesozoic Mixer in the Lower Lobby. The public is welcome to Meet and Mingle with your favorite paleontologists after a great day of presentations. There will be light refreshments and a cash bar. Sunday, March 30 Speaker Schedule 8:45 – 9:20 a.m. | Check-in/Hager Auditorium Opens 9:20 – 9:30 a.m. | Opening Remarks 9:30 – 10 a.m. | Dr. Randy Irmis, Curator of Paleontology, Natural History Museum of Utah, When the Rains Come Down in Gondwana: Climate Change and the Origin of Dinosaurs 10 – 10:30 a.m. | Dr. Chris Organ, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Science, Montana State University, Cretaceous Chromosomes: Unraveling the Mysteries of Dinosaur Reproduction 10:30 – 11 a.m. | Break 11 – 11:30 a.m. | Dr. Jordan Mallon, Research Scientist, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian Exploits of the Sternberg Family of Dinosaur Hunters 11:30 – 12 p.m. | Dr. James Napoli, Post Doctoral Researcher, Stonybrook University, Underestimating Dinosaurs: The Paleospecies Problem 12 – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch 1:30 – 2 p.m. | Eric Metz, Paleontology Collections Manager-Registrar, Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University, Swimming with Snake Whales and Lizard Eels 2 – 2:30 p.m. | Dr. Sarah Keenan, Associate Professor, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Making and Breaking our Vertebrate Fossil Record: Taphonomic Insights into Bone Preservation 2:30 – 3 p.m. | Break 3 – 3:30 p.m. | Dr. Josh Bonde, Nevada State Paleontology, Nevada State Museum, Paleo-tripping across the Silver State 3:30 – 4 p.m. | Dr. Holly Woodward, Professor of Anatomy, University of Oklahoma Center for Health Studies, Stop-and-grow: Flexibility was key for Theropod Icons Allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus 4 – 4:30 p.m. | Dr. Ashley Reynolds, Postdoctoral Fellow, Canadian Museum of Nature, Growing up Sabre-toothed Dino Play Workshop (Ages 2-5) Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, 2025 9 – 10 a.m. | Redstart Classroom Registration is required $15/member child, included for member caregiver $25 non-member child, $20/non-member caregiver Dino Play Workshop for Saturday, March 29 has SOLD OUT. Thank you! Dino Play Workshop for Sunday, March 30 has SOLD OUT. Thank you! Sign your child up for this exciting dinosaur-themed early learning program full of unique prehistoric crafts and activities to captivate the minds of the museum’s youngest paleontologists! Children will dig for buried fossils, work together on giant dinosaur puzzles, and create their own paleoart masterpieces to take home. To maximize space, we ask that each family limit their adult attendance to one caregiver per child. Capacity: 16 child participants. NOTE: Museum general admission for non-members (typically $13/child and $20/adult) is included in workshop pricing, so we hope you will stay and spend your day exploring the museum. Upon arrival, please proceed to the Dinos and MOR! Will Call station, located in the main lobby, to check in before heading to your workshop location. Prehistoric Palettes Workshop (Ages 6-12) Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, 2025 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Redstart Classroom Registration is required $15/member child, $25/participating member caregiver, included for non-participating member caregiver $25/ non-member child, $30/participating non-member caregiver; $20/non-participating non-member caregiver Click to purchase tickets for March 30 Explore the prehistoric giants that roamed Montana millions of years ago! Customize your very own glass of paleo punch and follow our simple instructions to complete a sauropod masterpiece. Children may be dropped off after being signed into the class by caregivers, or they may be accompanied during the class by a caregiver who has paid general admission. Capacity: 20 participants. NOTE: Museum general admission for non-members (typically $13/child and $20/adult) is included in workshop pricing, so we hope you will stay and spend your day exploring the museum. Upon arrival, please proceed to the Dinos and MOR! Will Call station, located in the main lobby, to check in before heading to your workshop location. The class cost includes a canvas and all other needed art supplies. DIY Dinosaur Terrarium Workshop (Ages 13+) Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, 2025 1 – 3 p.m. | Redstart Classroom Registration is required $30/member, $45/non-member Click to purchase tickets for March 29 Click to purchase tickets for March 30 Get ready for a hands-on adventure where all ages 13+ can become junior paleontologists and gardeners! In this interactive program, they will create a dinosaur terrarium by choosing plants, rocks, and tiny dinosaurs like T. rex and Triceratops. Along the way, they will learn about the Cretaceous period and how plants, rocks, and terrain shaped the world of dinosaurs. Once finished, they will take home their unique terrarium, an imaginative and educational piece of art! Capacity: 25 participants. NOTE: Museum general admission for non-members (typically $13/child and $20/adult) is included in workshop pricing, so we hope you will stay and spend your day exploring the museum. Upon arrival, please proceed to the Dinos and MOR! Will Call station, located in the main lobby, to check in before heading to your workshop location. The cost includes all supplies. Make and Take Fossil Cast Workshop (Ages 13+) Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, 2025 3 – 4 p.m. | Redstart Classroom Registration is required $40/member, $55/non-member Unleash your inner paleontologist in this hands-on workshop, choose a real fossil to mold, and create a detailed plaster cast with expert guidance. Once finished, take home a unique fossil replica as a keepsake. Whether you are a fossil enthusiast or seeking a fun, creative activity, this workshop is a great way to connect with the past in a new way. Capacity: 25 participants. NOTE: Museum general admission for non-members (typically $13/child and $20/adult) is included in workshop pricing, so we hope you will stay and spend your day exploring the museum. Upon arrival, please proceed to the Dinos and MOR! Will Call station, located in the main lobby, to check in before heading to your workshop location. The cost includes all supplies.

For one weekend a month from June through September, MLC will open its observatories to the public at sunset. Each evening will start with a presentation from a guest astronomer, after which you’ll have the opportunity to use your newfound knowledge to better appreciate the night skies as we gaze through MLC’s state-of-the art telescopes. Each evening’s presentation will be different. Members of MLC’s staff and volunteers from the Helena Astronomical Society will be on hand to operate the telescopes and answer questions in the observatories.

Food, fresh produce, crafts— all products are handcrafted or homegrown! Sundays from 9am-1pm Father’s Day through Labor Day

Event Details: Join Montana Shakespeare in the Parks for FREE a performance of Shakespeare’s "As You Like It." Pack a picnic, grab your friends, and enjoy this world class performance! Performances are FREE, and seating is first come, first served. We ask that tall chairs sit further back to allow those on blankets and in short chairs to see. Pre-show performance: Arrive early for a special pre-show performance! Outdoor location: Palmer Park (54632 MT 212 Charlo MT 59824) Inclement weather location: St. Ignatius High School (76 3rd Ave St. Ignatius MT 59865) There are two audio accessibility options available for each of our performances: 1. Personal FM receivers and headphones are available to borrow from the merchandise table. 2. A FREE app may be downloaded so that you can listen to audio from the show on your own personal device. (Please remember to bring your own headphones!) Follow these instructions: Download the AudioFetch app on your personal device (both iOS & Android compatible) - Connect your device to the WiFi network: Shakespeare! (no password required) - Open the AudioFetch app to listen to the audio!

Mattie

Join the UM Alum Association for a rejuvenating yoga session in Wa-Griz! Connect with Griz greats, fellow fans and alumni as we find our zen in the heart of Grizzly territory. Don't miss this unique opportunity to stretch and strengthen in the iconic Washington Grizzly Stadium. This is event is BYOM — bring your own mat! After Yoga in Wa-Griz, treat yourself to a first-time shopping experience inside the stadium! Be among the first to explore the brand-new line of vintage-inspired Griz apparel in retro copper and gold, with multiple vendors set up in the north endzone. As a special perk, yoga participants receive an exclusive 30-minute shopping window before doors open to the public at 11:30am. Don’t miss this VIP opportunity to grab the latest styles before anyone else! 10 a.m. | Sunday, August 24 Washington Grizzly Stadium Cost: $15 Student Cost: $10 One-hour yoga class taught by registered yoga teacher and alum, Alley Fontenot One post-yoga drink ticket (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) 30 minute closed shopping window following yoga for participants. Event is open to individuals aged 16 and older Gates open at 9:30 a.m. Check in at the North Gate - Compound Lot.

Following Yoga in Wa-Griz, enjoy exclusive early access during the launch of the brand new collection of vintage-inspired Griz apparel in classic copper and gold. The special vintage-inspired apparel line celebrates the 30th anniversary of Griz football's 1995 national championship! Multiple vendors will be set up in the north endzone with styles you won’t want to miss. Doors open to the public at 11:30 a.m. Be the first to claim your favorites and elevate your Griz game-day look!

Welcome Art Lovers! We invite you into our working studios to see demonstrations, works in progress, and finished art pieces. Use the tour book at https://www.artistsofpolson.com/ to guide you from place to place. The Studio Tour is all free of charge. We’d love to see you! Along the tour you can expect to meet the artists and discuss their tools and techniques and their inspiration! The self guided tour will take you through and around the Polson area. Roadside signage will make it easy to find each studio. Numbers on the signs correspond to each studio’s circled number in the tour book to guide you along the way. We are excited to to visit with you! August 23 + 24 10am - 5pm

Lander Schwab’s Magic Show! All Ages Sunday, August 24 Doors: 1:30pm $11.40 to $22.80 Zootown Arts Community Center Sunday, August 24 // Door at 1:30 PM // Show at 2 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Join us for Lander Schwab‘s magic show with close up magic and an audience inclusive magic show where every audience member is included. There will be a diversity of magic!

Future Artist Management Presents Roads of Ruin Tour w/ Plague of Aces, Dank Crypt, & Bloodless All Ages Sunday, August 24 Doors: 7pm $11.40 to $22.80 Zootown Arts Community Center Sunday, August 24 // Door at 7:00 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter When passion meets necessity, legends are born. Michael’s call to Dominic Ferraro was the spark that ignited **Bloodless**—the band they always knew the world needed. **Bloodless** formed out of a need for something missing in modern metal. In a landscape cluttered with gimmicks, they sought to deliver music that resonates with the raw reality of life. Bringing a fresh, unfiltered sound to the genre, Bloodless promises to return metal to its purest essence. This isn’t just another band; it’s the love child of every metal group you’ve ever headbanged to. Brace yourself for **Bloodless**—a new era in metal! Dank Crypt spawns from the harsh depths of Havre, Montana. Formed in September 2022 by Drew Torgerson, and long time friends Trever Berger and Travis Berger. Following a short run of shows, with influences spanning from Sludge metal / punk rock/ thrash metal/ Doom metal / and everything in between; Dank Crypt released a demo track of their song Snow Owl Eats At Daytime in August of 2023 and it was featured on Weedian’s “Trip to Montana” compilation. Debut EP “Crypt Scripture” Was released on April 20, 2024. Plague of Aces is a raw and relentless punk/rock band hailing from Great Falls, Montana. Formed in 2023, the group delivers high-energy original material with an edge, blending gritty punk attitude with a rock-driven backbone. While they occasionally throw in a few crowd-favorite covers, their core is built around writing and performing original songs that hit hard and stay stuck in your head. After navigating early tour setbacks due to management issues, Plague of Aces is back on track and actively booking shows across the region. With their debut EP out now and more music on the way, they’re hungry to hit the stage and bring their DIY spirit to venues big and small.

Join us for a unique sensory experience that blends the calming ritual of matcha with the elegance of Japanese floral design. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to whisk the perfect matcha latte, craft raspberry or salted honey cold foam , and create your own Ikebana-inspired flower arrangement. A serene, creative afternoon designed to nourish both palate and spirit. ✨Sunday August 24th 2025 ✨two time slots available- 10am + 2pm ✨$100-limited tickets available so grab yours while they last! Available on Eventbrite! ✨The Market Building -outdoor patio- 730 Boardwalk Ave, Bozeman Under 14 with Parent or Legal Guardian

Family fun is awaiting your entire family at this weekend long event. Food, exhibits, great live music in the park and of course, carousel rides. Best of all, it's free admission to the fair! Rodeo admission is $10/adults $5/youth.