Hello Helena! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Trail system reopening after a wildfire, a Montana history celebration, and Cirque Ma'Ceo + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
A hometown scholar's opportunity: Helena High graduate Lyla Ackerman, a University of Montana rising junior, was selected for the inaugural First Interstate Bank Smithsonian Internship in the Smithsonian’s first rural internship class -- meet the new intern.
Reopened after a brief closure: Mount Helena’s trail system reopened after a small wildfire closure. Investigators couldn’t determine the cause. With July 4 nearing, remember fireworks are prohibited on state and local lands -- check the trail update.
Managing the walleye population: Montana FWP and Walleyes Unlimited are urging Canyon Ferry anglers to keep small walleye to ease crowding and help grow bigger fish, a management push affecting Helena-area outings -- see the walleye advice.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Press start, Helena: When the week’s dragging and you want some old-school button-mashing with none of the cleanup, 406 Game Zone is your go-to local arcade for quick hits of fun this week, easy friend nights, and kid-bribe credit that absolutely counts as “quality time”.
Your easy outdoor fix: Give your brain a breather at Memorial Park, where the Centennial Trail swings by, the bandshell lawn begs for a blanket, and the kids can conquer the playground while you eye the hoops. When the heat hits, the pool and waterpark make procrastinating chores incredibly easy.
Smarter strain shopping: White Pine MT makes it easy to find your perfect fit with terpene-forward menus, thoughtful education, and staff who actually listen to how you want to feel. Swing by this week, nerd out on aromas, then head home with something that matches your Monday or your movie night.
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04 — Our recommendations
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🚗 Airflow Club of America 61st National Meet @ Centennial Park | Wednesday (6/24) at 9:00 AM – Take a break from the grind and wander the Airflow Club of America’s 61st National Meet, a rolling museum of Chrysler and DeSoto streamliners. Expect honest chrome, sweeping fenders, and stories that run richer than the carburetors. No neon, no fluff, just beautiful machines.
🎤 Mike Killeen @ Great Northern Carousel | Thursday (6/25) at 11:30 AM – Your lunch break just got promoted to recess at the historic carousel, thanks to Out to Lunch series with free tunes, a food truck, and rides that beat doomscrolling. This week Mike Killeen supplies the soundtrack, you supply the alibi, everyone calls it cardio.
🏛 Montana History Celebration @ Montana Heritage Center | Thursday (6/25) – Helena is throwing a multi-day Montana history celebration with community partners, evening tours, and tales your granddad swears he witnessed. Think part field trip, part neighborhood reunion, zero pop quizzes, and you might learn why the main drag is called Last Chance.
🧭 Early Explorers - Summer Schedule @ ExplorationWorks | Friday (6/26) at 10:30 AM – Summer Fridays at 10:30am are for tiny lab coats, crumbs, and learning. Early Explorers gives preschoolers hands-on science led by pros, while you pretend coffee counts as a hobby. Free for members, included with admission for non-members, space is first come, and it fills fast.
🎪 Cirque Ma'Ceo @ Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds | Friday (6/26) at 7:00 PM – The Big Top is back in town, with Cirque Ma’Ceo’s Year of the Horse serving thunderous hooves, jaw-dropping acrobatics, and that old-world circus romance we secretly love. Think rodeo’s sophisticated cousin, fewer nachos, more gasp-worthy trust between human, horse, and gravity.
🐦 Summer Bird Walks @ Birds & Beasleys | Saturday (6/27) at 7:30 AM – Birds & Beasleys hosts free, family-friendly Summer Bird Walks, an easy way to enjoy Montana while spotting locals with feathers and learning a few fun facts. Whether your binoculars are vintage or imaginary, you will get outside, pretend you knew what a nuthatch is.
🏛 Living History @ Montana State Capitol | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – Think you know Montana’s past? Swing by the Capitol Rotunda for living history with the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Association, authentic 19th‑century gear, chats about frontier service, and a one-stop meet-up of local history groups. It’s free, fascinating, and smells less like horses than you’d expect.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Helena report Weather forecastToday — High: 78°F — Low: 53°F — Precip: 8%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 0 to 8 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northwest wind 0 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tomorrow — High: 76°F — Low: 53°F — Precip: 76%
A chance of rain showers before noon, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South southwest wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. West northwest wind around 5 mph. This house is wildSet on 10-plus landscaped acres outside Helena, this custom 2005 home delivers 3,295 square feet of warm Montana style. Rich cherry wood runs throughout, the G-shaped kitchen brings double ovens and peninsula seating, and five bedrooms add room to roam. A walk-out basement, spa-like primary bath, newly built deck, and 40x40 heated shop complete the package.
Take a peek inside → |
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