Today, Dec. 7

• Upper Swan Valley Historical Society annual Frostbite Festival, 1-4 p.m., handbell choirs, craft making, raffle, door prizes, visit from Santa, refreshments. Swan Valley Community Hall, mile marker 42, Montana 83.

• “The Light of the World Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ” open house, 2-8 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1104 Fourth Ave. E., Polson. Nativity exhibit; Christmas message 6-7 p.m. Free admission. 

• Missoula guitarist and songwriter John Floridis performs a benefit concert for Neighbors in Need, 5 p.m., Whitefish United Methodist Church, 1150 Wisconsin Ave. Free will donations encouraged. Call 862-3418.

Monday

• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m., at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• West Valley School board meets 5 p.m., school library.

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family Support Group meets 6 p.m., Pathways, 200 Heritage Way, Kalispell. Call 854-2323.

• The Flathead Conservation District meets at 7 p.m., 133 Interstate Lane, in Evergreen. Call 752-4220.

• Flathead Audubon meets at 7 p.m., in the United Way conference room, Gateway Community Center, U.S. 2 West, Kalispell. Dan Casey will discuss the annual Christmas Bird County. Enter from west side of building. Free. All welcome.

• Columbia Falls School board meets at 7 p.m., administration offices boardroom, 501 Sixth Ave. W.

• The Rev. Canon Bradley S. Wirth reads from his original “A Christmas Offertory,” 7 p.m. All Saints Episcopal Church, 2048 Conn Road, Columbia Falls. Refreshments follow. Offering taken to benefit Humane Society of Northwest Montana, Spay and Neuter Task Force, Friends of the Flathead County Animal Shelter and Spay and Neutering services on Blackfeet Reservation. Call 862-2863.

Tuesday

• Red Cross blood drive, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., U.S. Forest Service.

• Kalispell Women’s Connection Christmas tea, 11:30 a.m., Victory Baptist Church, 1830 Montana 35, at intersection with Helena Flats. Cost $8 per person. Pianist Allan Dunbar plays carols. Speaker is Judy Johnson. Call Jan, 212-3763, or Rosainne, 257-8098 for lunch and free child care reservations. Affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries.

• Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce Christmas luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Valley Hospital Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. Awards presented. Choral performance. No reservations required. Luncheon, $12. Call Carol Pike, 892-2072.

• Daughters of the American Revolution, Chief Ignace Chapter, meet at noon for lunch at Sherryl Main’s home. Main will present a Christmas program afterward. Call Jan Olson at 837-4732.

• Health Insurance Marketplace offers free assistance to enroll or renew coverage, 1-5 p.m. Dec. 9, North Valley Professional Office Building, Whitefish. Call 758-2165.

• Flathead Municipal Airport Authority meets at 4 p.m., Glacier Park International Airport board room.

• Kila School board meets at 5:30 p.m.

• Flathead Area Secular Humanist Association Skeptics in the Pub gathering, 5:30 p.m., Kalispell Brewing Co., 412 Main St., Kalispell. Free. Open to public.

• Kalispell Public Schools district board meets 6-8 p.m., Kalispell Middle School Library.

• Smith Valley School board meets at 6 p.m. in the library.

• Autism Support Group meets 6:30-8:30 p.m., Child Development Center, 1725 Montana 35, Kalispell. Parents, caregivers and professionals welcome. Call Tim, 257-8758.

• Whitefish School board meets 7 p.m., board meeting room, 600 E. Second St.

• West Valley Fire District trustees meet at 7:30 p.m., West Valley Fire Station on Farm to Market Road.

Wednesday

• Kalispell Chamber of Commerce luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell. Major employers in key industries discuss Flathead economy. Luncheon tickets $19. For reservations, call 758-2803.

• Charity Flowers of Stumptown Art Studio leads a holiday centerpiece art class at 12:30 -1:30 p.m. Whitefish Community Center. Cost $16. All materials provided. Call 862-4923.

• Water rights negotiating session 1 p.m., KwaTaqNuk Resort, Polson. Call 406-444-5700.

• Immanuel Lutheran Communities free presentation, “Coping as a Caregiver with the Holidays,” 1 p.m. Buffalo Hill Terrace, 40 Claremont St., Kalispell. To register, call 752-9624.

• Red Cross blood drive, 1-5 p.m., Keller Williams, blood mobile.

• Calling All Angels Christmas tea event, 3 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Kalispell. For tickets, call Amanda Creamer, 871-2393. Benefit for Intermountain’s Providence therapeutic youth group home for children. For tickets, call 871-2393.

• Parkinson’s disease support group meets 3-4:30 p.m., The Summit, Kalispell. All welcome. Call Lois, 871-3767 or Inga, 756-5514.

• Women of the Moose Christmas dinner 5-7 p.m., Whitefish Moose Lodge, 230 10th St. Turkey, ham and all the trimmings. Public invited. Call Carol Ott, 406-260-2493.

• Evergreen School board meets 6:30 p.m., administration boardroom.

• Bigfork County Water and Sewer District meets 7 p.m., 108 Harbor Heights Blvd., Bigfork. Public welcome.

Thursday

• Red Cross blood drives: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Three Rivers Bank, blood mobile; noon to 4 p.m. Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell.

• Deer Park School board meets 6:30 p.m. at the school.

• West Valley Naturalists meet 7 p.m., West Valley School library, Kalispell. Topic is winter birds of the West Valley. Free. Everyone welcome. Call Jeanine Buettner, 755-4733.

• Mission Mountain Audubon meets 7 p.m., Polson City Library meeting room. Owl expert Denver Holt presents a program titled, “The Population Decline of Long-eared Owls in Western Montana.”Free. All welcome.

• Local Institute of Noetic Sciences community group meets 7 p.m., Bohemian Hall, 125 Blanchard Lake Road, Whitefish. Topic is “The Dances of Universal Peace.” Join in simple, joyous dances. All welcome. Call 871-9259.

Friday

• Red Cross blood drives: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Montana Department of Transportation, blood mobile; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Blackfeet Community College, Browning.

• All-day live music event featuring the band 26z and various other guest artists and bands, 9 a.m. today to 2 a.m. Dec. 13, VFW, 330 First Ave. W., Kalispell. Bring an unwrapped new toy or donation for Toys for Tots to be entered in holiday raffle. Call 752-2611. 

• Kalispell Vet Center third annual open house, 1 to 4 p.m., Meridian Office Complex, 690 N. Meridian Road. Refreshments and music by Flathead Valleyaires barbershop. Bring a nonperishable food items for veterans food pantry. Call 257-7308.

• Whitefish Christmas Stroll, 5:30-9 p.m., downtown. Tree lighting ceremony 6:15 p.m., followed by Santa’s arrival. Activities, specials, entertainment, shoppers’ drawing. Call 862-3501.

• Sparrows’ Nest Northwest Montana awareness and fundraising camp out, 7 p.m. today to 7 a.m. Dec. 13, 204 Seventh Ave. W., Kalispell. Public invited to sleep on lawn in sleeping bags or donate. Proceeds go toward providing shelter for homeless youth in Flathead County. Call 249-3363.

A look ahead

• Breakfast with Santa, 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 13, Whitefish Moose Lodge, 230 W. 10 St. Kids ages 10 and under eat free. A present for each child. Public welcome. Call 862-2669.

• St. Matthew’s Parish third annual Cookie Carousel, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 13, school gym, 602 S. Main St., Kalispell. Homemade cookies, candies available for purchase. Carousel Coffee Shop serves coffee, tea and hot cocoa. All welcome. Call 752-6303.

• Wreaths Across America event, 10 a.m., Dec. 13, Montana Veterans Home. Gov. Steve Bullock will give the keynote speech followed by a brief reception; public will then car caravan to veterans cemetery to place wreaths on graves.

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 13, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• 25th annual Christmas at Our House free community dinner, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 13, National Guard Armory, 1840 U.S. 93 S., Kalispell. Free. All welcome. Call Joe Baker, 406-324-5164; or Janice McMichael, 871-7604.

• Family Friendly Flathead hosts a clothing giveaway and holiday event, 11 a.m. Dec. 13, Flathead Electric Cooperative, Kalispell. Christmas crafts, art project, games. Free books and dental hygiene items.

• Rocky Mountain Rollers Good Sam Club meets 1 p.m. Dec. 13, Vista Linda Restaurant, Somers. Call 862-2117. 

• Big Arm Association hosts “The Grinch at Big Arm School,” 2-4 p.m. Dec. 13, Big Arm Historic School. Fun children’s games, arts and crafts and snack. The movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” will be shown. Call Nancy Foster, 406-846-5064.

• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 15, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• AARP Smart Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 16, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 863-3627.

• Red Cross blood drive, 2-5 p.m. Dec. 16, Lakeside QRU.

• Kalispell Brewing Company Benefit Brews Night, 5-8 p.m. Dec. 16, 412 Main St. $1 of each pint benefits Flathead CARE.

• Flathead Area Secular Humanist Association hosts Whitefish Skeptics in the Club, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Casey’s Bar, 101 Central Ave., second floor lounge. Open to everyone.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)/Local Advisory Council Christmas meeting 6 p.m. Dec. 16, The Summit, Kalispell. Bring a dish to share and White Elephant gift. Call 406-309-0199.

• Columbia Falls Historical Society meets 7 p.m. Dec. 16, Old Chapel building, Montana Veterans Home, Columbia Falls. Public invited. Call 892-8954 or 892-3722.

• Red Cross blood drive, noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 17, Troy Baptist Church.

• Kalispell Public Schools Policy Committee meets 8:30-10 a.m. Dec. 18, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. Dec. 18, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Red Cross blood drive, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Libby VFW.

• Kalispell Public Schools Technology Committee meets 8:30-10 a.m. Dec. 19, administration offices, 233 First Ave. E.

• Glacial Forum and Stand Up America present Kate Vanemoer on the topic, “Montana at the Crossroads: The Proposed CSKT Water Compact,” 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Sykes’, 202 Second Ave. W., Kalispell. For dinner reservation call 257-4304.

• Red Cross blood drives Dec. 19: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. KRMC.

• Big Arm community potluck and Christmas sing-along, 6 p.m. Dec. 19, Historic Big Arm School. The Sisler family will lead the caroling. Call Nancy Foster, 849-5064.

• Wai Mizutani and Friends Christmas recital with guest Idar Auinaga, 7 p.m. Dec. 19, John Paul II Church, 195 Coverdell Road, Bigfork. Free admission; offering taken for youth ministry.

• AARP Smart Driver Safety class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 20, The Summit, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 751-4500.

• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 22, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 23, Park Side Credit Union, Whitefish.

• Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 24, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 26, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Third annual Cowboy Christmas Ball, 8 p.m. to midnight, Dec. 27, Chapel Building, Montana Veterans Home, Columbia Falls. Tickets at door or may be reserved by calling 892-0178.

• Red Cross blood drive, 1:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 29, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Red Cross blood drives Dec. 30: noon to 5 p.m. Eureka Baptist Church; noon to 5 p.m., “Leaders Save Lives” at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 31, at the center, 126 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.

• First Night Flathead Dec. 31, Kalispell. Free family activities including hat decorating, face painting, jewelry making 1-4 p.m. Kalispell Center Mall; Commencement Parade. Musical performances 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at various downtown venues. Button $12 in advance; $15 at door. Children 12 and under free. Call Patrice Manget, 406-253-2471.

• Jay Asher, author of “Thirteen Reasons Why,” will give a presentation at 10:15 a.m. Jan. 23, at the Whitefish Middle School Performing Arts Center, as part of a 50 States Against Bullying suicide prevention campaign. Public invited.

• Flathead Lake International Cinemafest (FLIC) Jan. 23-25, Polson.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. Jan. 22, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Health Insurance Marketplace offers free assistance to enroll or renew coverage 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 24, North Valley Community Center, Columbia Falls. Call 758-2165.

• Health Insurance Marketplace offers free assistance to enroll or renew coverage 1-5 p.m. Jan. 29, North Valley Professional Office Building. Call 758-2165.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. Feb. 26, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. March 26, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. April 23, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. May 28, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.

• Flathead Special Education Cooperative Executive Council meets 10 a.m. June 11, Linderman School, 233 First Ave. E, Kalispell. Call 257-1857.