Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Arts
In a town that is becoming known for its art, the
Holter Museum of the Arts
(12 E.
Lawrence St., 406/442-6400, 10am-5:30pm Tues.-Sat., noon-4pm Sun., free) is a fascinat-
ing place to spend some time. The building was built in 1914 and expanded in 1999 to add
6,000 square feet of art galleries. The museum's contemporary collection includes art in a
variety of media that is displayed in over 25 exhibitions annually, creating a unique voice
in the Northwest art scene. The museum makes art education a priority and has managed to
keep admission free.
Another cutting-edge artists workshop and gallery is the
Archie Bray Foundation
(2915 Country Club Ave., 406/443-3502,
www.archiebray.org
,
10am-5pm Mon.-Fri.,
1pm-5pm Sun. June-Aug., 10am-5pm Mon.-Fri. Sept.-May, free), an international hotbed
of ceramic art in what was once a brick factory. Hundreds of well-known artists have come
to work and exhibit here.
There are two marvelous theaters in town that host both musical and dramatic events.
The
Myrna Loy Center for the Performing Arts
(15 N. Ewing St., 406/443-0287,
www.myrnaloycenter.com
)
presents contemporary media and performing arts from its glor-
ious theater in the castle-like old county jail. The
Grandstreet Theatre
(325 N. Park Ave.,
406/442-4270,
www.grandstreettheatre.com
)
presents classic plays and musicals in a beau-
tifully restored Unitarian church.
Festivals and Events
Every Wednesday throughout summer, a different block of Helena comes to life for
Alive
at 5
(406/447-1535,
www.helenachamber.com
)
, a fun and family-oriented event that com-
bines live music, food, and drink for a fantastic summer evening.
Each summer in late June, the
Mount Helena Music Festival
(406/447-1535,
www.downtownhelena.com
,
$18 in advance, $20 at the gate) brings a diverse group of mu-
sicians to Helena for a celebratory weekend outdoors under the sun and stars.
Once each summer, the Helena Symphony joins Carroll College in presenting
Sym-
phony Under the Stars
(406/442-1860,
www.helenasymphony.org
)
on the hillside at Car-
roll College.
In late July-early August, Helena puts on the annual
Last Chance Stampede and Fair
(98 W. Custer Ave., 406/457-8516,
www.lewisandclarkcountyfairgrounds.com
) at the fair-
grounds. In addition to big country-music concerts, the fair holds a rodeo, a carnival, food,
and a variety of entertainment.
