🤠 Top weekly events & a Café Aurore giveaway

TOGETHER WITH

Howdy, Bozeman!

Congrats to our Bridger Brewing giveaway winner — Jill Shinn! 🎉 We just sent you an email with details on how to claim your gift card.

There are a TON of exciting things going on this week, with lots to do outside while the weather’s still nice.

I’ll be attending Last Best Comedy’s Roast of Yellowstone National Park tonight, so come say hi if you’re downtown!

In today’s edition:

• 🧑‍🌾 The Bozeman Maze is officially open

• 🎉 MSU Homecoming Parade, a Bigfoot hunt, and a “Hot Ones” Forum for Bozeman’s mayoral and city commissioner candidates

• 🤠 Top local events this weekend

• 🥐 A Café Aurore giveaway 🥖

— Sam Buenrostro

P.S. For free entry into this week’s giveaway, reply to this email with the word “FRENCH”.

And for a BONUS entry, reply with a shoutout to someone who made your week better 🙂 Include their name and what you appreciate about them, and we’ll share some of the top answers in next week’s newsletter (your answers will be anonymous!)

Here are a few of last week’s wholesome responses:

TOGETHER WITH THE BOZEMAN MAZE 🧑‍🌾

The Bozeman Maze is open, which means fall has officially arrived!

Get lost in thousands of hay bales, hop on a hayride or the mini-train, go crazy in the corn bins, or just hang out and enjoy the cider and snacks.

This is one of my favorite Bozeman fall traditions, and I can’t recommend it enough!

🗓️ Regular hours are:

• Wednesdays + Fridays from 6:00pm-9:00pm

• Saturdays from 10:00am-9:00pm

• Sundays from 10:00am-6:00pm

• And a few special bonus dates

📍 1340 E. Valley Center Road

For more information…

Check out the maze’s website here, and follow them on Instagram @bozemanmaze

See you out there!

Want to promote your business, event, or project to 3,500+ locals who read Howdy Bozeman?

🧘 If you or someone you know is navigating grief, loss, or big life transitions, Emily Potter offers a weekly by-donation yoga class on Thursdays at 9:00am, to provide a grounded space to move through grief with breath, stillness, and care. You can find out more info and sign up for a class here.

☕️ La Camionnette Coffee is rebranding as The Little Pink Coffee Trailer! They have the same great drinks, vibes, and exceptional customer service - just a new name to better match their identity. Check ‘em out @thelittlepinkcoffeetrailer.bzn

🇹🇭 After a lot of hard work, Thai Basil just opened a new location at 290 W Kagy - Thai Basil Express! Get all the details here.

🥐 Café Aurore is now open downtown! The team behind Aurore French Bakery just opened their new café in the Baxter Hotel (105 W Main), serving up their signature French pastries. See all the delicious things they’re up to @cafeaurorebozeman

🛍️ Montana Thrift & Co. has rebranded to Wild River Thrift. Celebrate their grand opening at 8440 Huffine Lane as they begin this new chapter! Details.

Before we get to this week’s events…

This week’s featured local artist is Maren Stubenvoll @stubecreative

Maren creates playful, bold, and human-centered art, often with a little humor and a lot of color.

In 2023, she left her corporate job to pursue art full-time… and dang, we’re grateful she did!

You can check out her work or commission a piece at stubecreative.com

(Remember, you can always email me if you have an interesting project you’d like to share with Howdy Bozeman - I’d love to see what you’re working on.)

Now, on to this week’s exciting events!

Wednesday 9/24

✨ [REMINDER] Celebrate MSU Homecoming Week at the traditional Lighting of the 'M' at Story Mill Park from 7:00pm-8:00pm! Enjoy music, popcorn, and beverages while students place LED lights around the iconic M. Details.

🎵 Rock'N Bingo at It Will Always Be That Way Lounge from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Play this unique twist on bingo with songs instead of numbers, featuring music from all genres. Free to play with prizes to win. Details.

🎨 Celebrate the inaugural ArtWeek Park County, today through Sunday, 9/28! This countywide arts celebration features artist lectures, workshops for all ages, fine art exhibits, and culminates with a live auction of the region's best art at Livingston Depot Center on Saturday, September 27th. Visit their main site here for the full calendar of events.

Thursday 9/25

🌽 Don't miss the last Belgrade Farmers Market of the season at Lewis & Clark Park from 4:00pm-7:00pm! Stock up on fresh local produce and artisan goods one more time until summer sets. Details.

🎵 Check out the quirky original sound of the Ben Larson Band at Tune Up Basement Bar from 9:00pm-11:00pm. This Philipsburg-based group blends country storytelling, bluegrass, and brass band influences into songs about modern rural Montana life. Details.

🎬 Join Tinworks for Free Movie Night featuring “Memoir of a Snail” at the Rialto at 7:00pm! This monthly screening connects to their exhibition “A Kin to Clay” on view at the Tinworks Art studio through October 18th. No registration required, popcorn available for donations. Details.

Friday 9/26

🏈 The Bozeman Hawks take on the Bozeman Gallatin Raptors at Van Winkle Stadium at 7:00pm! Don't miss this exciting varsity football matchup between Bozeman’s two high school teams. Details.

🌲 Join Wild Montana’s “Keep it Wild Block Party” at MAP Brewing’s back patio from 5:00pm-8:00pm celebrating Montana's wild places! Enjoy lawn games, swag, raffles, and learn about ways to take action protecting our last best place. Details.

🎉 Don't miss MSU's Friday Night Festival and first-ever drone show at Dyche Field from 7:00pm-9:15pm! There will be food trucks, live music, and lawn games from 7:00pm-9:00pm, followed by a 12-minute show where 200 drones will create MSU-themed images in the sky including a bobcat head! Details.

Saturday 9/27

🥳 The MSU Homecoming Parade starts at 10:00am on Main Street in downtown Bozeman! Make sure to grab a spot early to celebrate with the community as the parade makes its way through the heart of town. Details.

👑 It’s the Sunset Showdown Drag Show at the Emerson Center from 8:30pm-11:30pm. Get ready for boots, wigs, and some fierce performances! 18+. Details.

🧌 Join the Clarkston Fire Service 3rd Annual Bigfoot Hunt from 5:00pm-11:00pm for an outdoor adventure supporting the volunteer fire department. There will be food trucks, a cash bar, silent auction, and prizes. Buy your tickets early for what’s sure to be a wild evening! Details.

🎬 Watch the original Jumanji movie (1995) under the big sky at Bodhi Farms' Adventure Movie Night. Doors open at 5:00pm, and the movie starts at 7:00pm on their grassy lawn. Bring blankets or low camp chairs, and enjoy popcorn, brats & hot dogs, and s’mores by the fire. (There’s also a costume contest with $20 gift card prize!) $12 tickets, free for ages 0-5. Details.

🧹 Help keep Hyalite beautiful at Friends of Hyalite's Fall Cleanup Day from 9:00am-12:00pm. Volunteer for projects like trail maintenance, parking lot cleanup, and day use area restoration, then enjoy a picnic lunch by the reservoir. Registration and details here.

🏈 The MSU Bobcats are back in action, after 2 wins in a row, to take on Eastern Washington at 2:00pm. A few tickets are still available here on SeatGeek.

Sunday 9/28

🏥 Stop by the Pediatric Health Fair at A Journey Home Campus (100 Discovery Drive) from 12:00pm-4:00pm, for pediatric provider connections, firetrucks, ice cream, and more! Details.

🎭 Experience Opera Montana's historic production of Cinderella at The Ellen Theatre! This magical retelling features humor, romance, beautiful melodies, stunning video projections, and is perfect for families. (Saturday & Sunday showings available). Details.

🎨 Enjoy a paint-and-sip with Ain’t a Better Way to Paint! Create a beautiful Mountain Aurora at Audrey's Pizza & FreeFall Brewery from 5:00pm-7:00pm, in this beginner-friendly class. All supplies are included, you just need to bring yourself (and maybe a friend or two)! Details and tickets here.

🚶‍♀️ Join the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Bozeman Pond Park starting at 11:30am with pre-walk festivities. Free registration required, with participants receiving colored flowers representing their connection to the cause. All funds support Alzheimer's Association care, support, and research efforts. Registration and details here.

🏃‍♂️ Challenge yourself at the Bobcat Trail Challenge 5K trail run at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center starting at 10:00am, in support of the MSU Ski team. Race solo or as a team on the hilly 5km XC ski loop, with prizes for fastest finishers by age and category, plus team competitions. Details.

🐕 Join MSU Pre-Vet Club's Dog Jog at Bobcat Lot 18 from 11:00am-3:00pm! Choose between a 1.56-mile or 3-mile race, and bring your dog or run solo. There are prizes for winners of both races, plus donations accepted to support the club. Details.

Monday 9/29

🎲 Join Open Play Boardgame Night at Rook's Games and More at 6:00pm! Bring your friends for an evening of tabletop gaming fun. Register for free here.

🍺 Support GVLT's Bikefill Community Bike Park at their Pint Night fundraiser from 4:00pm-8:00pm at MAP Brewing. Details.

Tuesday 9/30

🎸 Rock out with Sleep Theory on their Afterglow Tour at The ELM at 7:00pm, along withsupport acts Nevertel, Oxymorrons, and Mourning Eve. Tickets and details.

🖊️ Painting Pens 101: Learn color blocking with Posca pens at Wheelhouse from 5:30pm-7:30pm! This beginner-friendly class teaches you to transform a simple photo reference into bold, expressive artwork using painting pens. No prior painting or drawing experience required. Tickets + details here.

🐻 Learn essential wildlife safety skills at FWP's free Teen Wildlife Safety Class at Belgrade Public Library. Discover what to do when encountering bears and other wildlife, plus take home a cute teddy bear. 20 slots available for grades 6-12, RSVP required. Details.

🌶️ Get to know your local mayoral and city commissioner candidates at the Bozeman Hot Ones Candidate Forum at Gallatin Labor Temple from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Watch candidates answer spicy questions while eating even spicier wings, with free food for everyone attending. Details.

Wednesday 10/1

🎷 Enjoy one of Bozeman’s top jazz groups - Eddie T & Jazz Friends - at Tune Up Basement Bar from 9:00pm-11:00pm. Details.

💗 Kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the Second Annual PNKBZN Promenade! Meet at Rocking R Bar at 4:30pm and take a spirited stroll through downtown Bozeman decked out in your most fabulous pink attire to support Montanans impacted by cancer. Details.

Meet L'Amour, a sweet 2-year-old girl looking for a new home. She needs a little time to feel safe with new people, but gives her whole heart once she trusts you. 🐶

Meet Nala, a gorgeous 1-year-old girl with striking green eyes, who’s ready to find her special person to share a home with. 🐈️

Visit Heart Of The Valley Animal Shelter to meet L’Amour and Nala, between 12pm-5:30pm, Tuesday through Sunday.

And give us a shout if you’ve adopted a dog or cat from one of our previous Howdy newsletters, we’d love to hear how it’s going!

This week, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to Café Aurore!

The giveaway runs from today until next Tuesday, 9/30, at 11:59pm, and we’ll announce the winner in next week’s newsletter.

All you have to do to be entered into this week’s giveaway is be subscribed to this newsletter, and reply to this email with the word “FRENCH”!

If someone forwarded this email to you and you’re not subscribed, click here to subscribe for free.

If you made it to the end, let me know what you thought of today’s newsletter - I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I’ll see you next week, and in the meantime, see what we’re up to on Instagram @howdybozeman 👋

P.S. If someone forwarded this to you, subscribe to Howdy Bozeman below, and stay tuned for next week’s newsletter.