Montana has 5 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky in Billings on November 27 to Noon Year's Eve Party in Helena, on December 31. 3 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 5 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Montana for 2026, in Helena, Billings, Bozeman and Missoula
- First: 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky, Billings, November 27. Runs latest: Noon Year's Eve Party, Helena, through December 31
- Free: Holidays on Higgins 2026, East Helena Kids Holiday Market Shopping for Ages 5 - 15 and Noon Year's Eve Party
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Montana Christmas train rides page.
Montana Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 5 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Helena, Billings, Bozeman and Missoula
- Season
- November 27 to December 31, 2026
- Free events
- 3
- Kinds of events
- tree lighting, holiday parade, holiday event and holiday crafts
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each Montana Christmas event for kids happens
The first is 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky in Billings on November 27; the last runs to December 31. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big SkyBillings · Nov 27
- 46th Annual Christmas StrollBozeman · Dec 5
- Holidays on Higgins 2026Missoula · Dec 5
- East Helena Kids Holiday Market Shopping for Ages 5 - 15East Helena · Dec 12
- Noon Year's Eve PartyHelena · Dec 31
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Montana? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Helena
2 confirmed events for kids in Helena, including nearby East Helena, soonest first.
East Helena: East Helena Kids Holiday Market Shopping for Ages 5 - 15
Holiday eventFreeLewis & Clark Library · East Helena
- Host
- Lewis & Clark Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Lewis & Clark Library, East Helena Branch (Community Room), 16 E Main St, East Helena, MT 59635 (near Helena)
- When
- Saturday, December 12, 2026, 10 am to 1 pm
- Cost
- Free to attend; gifts cost $1 or less, cash only
- Ages
- Ages 5 to 15
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The East Helena Branch of the Lewis & Clark Library turns its community room into a holiday shop just for kids on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 10 am to 1 pm. Children ages 5 to 15 can browse and pick out holiday gifts for family members and friends on their own.
Every item is priced at $1.00 or less, and only cash is accepted, so send your child with a few small bills or coins. The library created the market so children who want to give gifts, but struggle to find them at a reasonable price, have another place to shop. Items come from community donations, which the branch accepts December 7 to 10 while the library is open, so families can also help stock the tables ahead of time.
Parent tip: Bring small bills and coins, since the market is cash only and items are $1 or less. Donations are accepted December 7 to 10.
See dates and details from Lewis & Clark Library (opens in a new tab)Helena: Noon Year's Eve Party
Holiday craftsFreeLewis & Clark Library · Helena
- Host
- Lewis & Clark Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Lewis & Clark Library, Helena Main Branch (Large Community Room), 120 S Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT 59601
- When
- Thursday, December 31, 2026, 11 am to 12:30 pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages, children
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Lewis & Clark Library takes over its Helena Main Branch on Thursday, December 31, 2026, to ring in the new year at noon instead of midnight. The Noon Year's Eve Party runs from 11 am to 12:30 pm in the library's large community rooms and is free and open to everyone.
The highlight is a balloon drop at noon in the middle of the library, and the party also includes snacks, music and crafts. The library pitches it for families with young children who need to be asleep long before midnight, as well as anyone who would rather not stay up late or drive at night. It makes a relaxed way to end the holiday break with little ones, with no tickets to buy and a downtown location on Last Chance Gulch.
Parent tip: Arrive before noon so children are in place for the balloon drop.
See dates and details from Lewis & Clark Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Billings
1 confirmed event for kids in Billings, soonest first.
Billings: 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky
Holiday paradeDowntown Billings Alliance · Billings
- Host
- Downtown Billings Alliance (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Downtown Billings parade route, 2nd Ave N and N 32nd St, Billings, MT 59101
- When
- Friday, November 27, 2026, 6:30 pm
- Cost
- No tickets or fees listed
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Christmas Under the Big Sky is the 41st edition of the annual downtown Billings holiday parade, held on Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving. The parade steps off at 6:30 pm and features more than 60 festive floats, making it one of the city's biggest holiday kickoff traditions for families.
Santa rides at the very end as the parade finale, so stay until the last float passes if your children are hoping to wave to him. Downtown Billings lists the starting point near 2nd Avenue North and North 32nd Street by Granite Tower, and in recent years the route has looped along 2nd Avenue North, North Broadway and 3rd Avenue North. Late November evenings in Billings are cold, so plan on warm layers, hats and blankets, and arrive early to find a good curbside spot along the route.
Parent tip: Santa is the final entry, so plan to stay to the end. Parade staging and line-up details are posted by Downtown Billings in November.
See dates and details from Downtown Billings Alliance (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Bozeman
1 confirmed event for kids in Bozeman, soonest first.
Bozeman: 46th Annual Christmas Stroll
Tree lightingDowntown Bozeman Association · Bozeman
- Host
- Downtown Bozeman Association (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Historic Downtown Bozeman, 222 East Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 4:30 to 7:30 pm
- Cost
- Not listed
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The 46th Annual Christmas Stroll fills Historic Downtown Bozeman on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. The Downtown Bozeman Association describes it as an evening of festive activities, great food and fun, and it opens with a lighting ceremony for the downtown holiday decorations.
Families can have their pictures taken with Santa Claus, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, join in carol singing and vote on entries in the Gingerbread House Contest display. Local nonprofits host winter activities along the way, and food vendors set up for the evening. In past years, Santa photos and wagon rides required a small stroll button purchase, so check the Downtown Bozeman website closer to the date for this year's details, the Santa location and any button price. Dress warmly, since most of the stroll happens outdoors on Main Street.
Parent tip: Check downtownbozeman.org closer to the date for the Santa photo location and whether a stroll button is needed for photos and wagon rides.
See dates and details from Downtown Bozeman Association (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Missoula
1 confirmed event for kids in Missoula, soonest first.
Missoula: Holidays on Higgins 2026
Tree lightingFreeMissoula Downtown Partnership · Missoula
- Host
- Missoula Downtown Partnership (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Downtown Missoula (North Higgins Avenue) and Missoula Public Library, North Higgins Avenue, Missoula, MT 59802
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 11 am to 7 pm
- Cost
- Free admission; some daytime activities may have a small fee
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holidays on Higgins fills North Higgins Avenue in downtown Missoula with a full day of seasonal fun on Saturday, December 5, 2026. More than 30 local businesses and organizations host family-friendly arts and crafts and other daytime activities, and the evening festivities run from 3 to 7 pm with live caroling, Irish dancing, music, a hay bale and fire area, and a s'mores bar.
Santa arrives at the Missoula Public Library by carriage and meets families on the second floor from 11 am to 3 pm. Photos with him are free, but there is no professional photographer, so bring your own camera or phone. Free carriage rides run from noon to 3 pm and line up on East Pine Street. At 6 pm Santa and the mayor ride a fire truck ladder up to light the tree in front of the North Higgins train station.
Parent tip: Get in the Santa line at the library by 2:15 pm, since Santa leaves at 3 pm to check on his reindeer. Bring your own camera for photos.
See dates and details from Missoula Downtown Partnership (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in Idaho, Christmas events for kids in Utah and Christmas events for kids in Wyoming list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonMontana Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in Montana in 2026?
We confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Montana for 2026 on each host’s own page: 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky in Billings (November 27), 46th Annual Christmas Stroll in Bozeman (December 5), Holidays on Higgins 2026 in Missoula (December 5), East Helena Kids Holiday Market Shopping for Ages 5 - 15 in East Helena (December 12) and Noon Year's Eve Party in Helena (December 31). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Helena, Montana?
For families in and around Helena, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: East Helena Kids Holiday Market Shopping for Ages 5 - 15 (in East Helena, Sat, Dec 12, 10 am to 1 pm, free to attend; gifts cost $1 or less, cash only); Noon Year's Eve Party (Thu, Dec 31, 11 am to 12:30 pm, free). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Helena section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Billings, Montana?
For families in and around Billings, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky (Fri, Nov 27, 6:30 pm, no tickets or fees listed). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Billings section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Bozeman, Montana?
For families in and around Bozeman, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: 46th Annual Christmas Stroll (Sat, Dec 5, 4:30 to 7:30 pm, not listed). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Bozeman section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Missoula, Montana?
For families in and around Missoula, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Holidays on Higgins 2026 (Sat, Dec 5; Santa 11 am to 3 pm, tree lighting 6 pm, free admission; some daytime activities may have a small fee). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Missoula section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Montana?
Yes. 3 of the 5 events here are free: Holidays on Higgins 2026 in Missoula, East Helena Kids Holiday Market Shopping for Ages 5 - 15 in East Helena and Noon Year's Eve Party in Helena. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in Montana this December?
Santa appears at 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky in Billings (November 27), 46th Annual Christmas Stroll in Bozeman (December 5) and Holidays on Higgins 2026 in Missoula (December 5). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Are there kids' Christmas events in Montana on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes: Noon Year's Eve Party in Helena (through December 31).
How much is 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky in Billings?
No tickets or fees listed. 41st Annual Holiday Parade: Christmas Under the Big Sky is on Friday, November 27, 2026, 6:30 pm at Downtown Billings parade route. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is 46th Annual Christmas Stroll in Bozeman?
Not listed. 46th Annual Christmas Stroll is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 4:30 to 7:30 pm at Historic Downtown Bozeman. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Holidays on Higgins 2026 in Missoula?
Free admission; some daytime activities may have a small fee. Holidays on Higgins 2026 is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 11 am to 7 pm at Downtown Missoula (North Higgins Avenue) and Missoula Public Library. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is East Helena Kids Holiday Market Shopping for Ages 5 - 15 in East Helena?
Free to attend; gifts cost $1 or less, cash only. East Helena Kids Holiday Market Shopping for Ages 5 - 15 is on Saturday, December 12, 2026, 10 am to 1 pm at Lewis & Clark Library, East Helena Branch (Community Room). Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Noon Year's Eve Party in Helena?
Free. Noon Year's Eve Party is on Thursday, December 31, 2026, 11 am to 12:30 pm at Lewis & Clark Library, Helena Main Branch (Large Community Room). Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Montana?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Montana Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
