By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
Local pride and engagement will highlight the week of Monday, Oct. 6 to Friday, Oct. 10, between Big Sky Community Week and Big Sky School District Homecoming.
Community Week is in its fourth year and is hosted by the Big Sky Resort Area District and Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. Organizers hope to see another year of strong attendance, and emphasized first-time attendees are welcome at all events. For every event an individual attends, they can scan a QR code for a raffle entry. Prizes are gift cards including $1,000 and separately $500 to Conoco, Hungry Moose and Ace Hardware, $200 to Country Market and East Slope Outdoors, and $100 to Hero Snow Coffee, Blue Moon Bakery and JP Woolies.
“It’s a wide variety of events,” Jenny Christensen of BSRAD told EBS, noting that some are light and fun, while others are dense with information. “We try to plan something for everyone and try to make every event as approachable as possible.”
The schedule is similar to past years, but organizers continue to build on successful events from the past. Community Cocktails on Monday, Oct. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. now has a new family focus, inviting kids to work on arts and crafts through the Arts Council of Big Sky’s Artventure program.
Popular daily workout classes at BASE have been expanded to also include a pair of classes each hosted by Big Sky Fitness Fusion, Santosha Wellness Center and Moving Mountains, all free to attendees with advance registration required.
“We’re excited that we got such interest from all the gyms to participate,” Christensen said. Classes include Pilates, barre, yoga, strength and conditioning.
In partnership with the Coordinating Council of Big Sky, Pizza with a Purpose will be a discussion regarding wellness district efforts on Thursday, Oct. 9 from 12 to 2 p.m. at Big Sky Chapel.
The most widely informative event will be State of the Community, featuring key community and economic leaders for a series of short discussions on social services, funding and philanthropy, health and safety, and economic development.
The State of the Community will take place Tuesday, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, and will be live-streamed on YouTube for those unable to attend.
For those keeping an eye on local and county government, the Madison-Gallatin Joint County Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday morning, Oct. 8 from 9 to 11 a.m., hosted by BSRAD.
Finally, the Community Appreciation Celebration will feel laid back, with family-friendly activities and live music hosted by local organizations at Len Hill Park. It’s scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 9 from 4 to 6 p.m., although a few light events are scheduled Friday, including the Big Sky Community Food Bank’s Great Pumpkin Giveaway food drive.
Organizer Liz McFadden of the chamber said Community Week will be a success if it brings the community together.
“I hope that people maybe learn something new at an event that they wouldn’t normally go to,” McFadden said. “And maybe even meet somebody new—somebody that is out of their circle in Big Sky.”
Christensen said in the three years of Community Week, it’s been a pleasant surprise to see how many locals attend events.
“And we see a lot of new faces which is amazing,” she said. “We just hope people learn something new, meet someone new.”
Big Horn Homecoming coincides
During the same week, Lone Peak High School will host its Homecoming festivities, including home games for varsity teams, a parade and pep rally, carnival and dance.
“I love how this town comes together for Homecoming week,” LPHS Athletic Director John Hannahs told EBS. “The support from local businesses with window decorating and having the community show out to the pep rally and sporting events to support our athletic programs means so much to the school and especially the student athletes.”
To begin the week, the JV-only volleyball team will host West Yellowstone on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 5 p.m.
Next, on Wednesday at 6 p.m., the annual parade and pep rally will run through Town Center and Len Hill Park. Another display of Big Horn pride, the window decorating contest will be settled Wednesday evening.
On Thursday, the Big Horn varsity soccer teams will host Laurel High School: boys at 4 p.m., girls under the lights at 6.
The annual carnival will take place on school grounds on Friday at 2:30 p.m., before the varsity football team hosts Harlowton at 7 p.m.
And on Saturday night, students will attend a “tropical getaway” Homecoming dance to wrap up a busy week in Big Sky.
