Road Trip Around Montana – Symphony Under The Stars
 | Author:
Brenda Phillips
Brenda Phillips: MT43 News Office Administrator |
Symphony Under the Stars
Brenda Phillips
The third Saturday in July is the weekend to be in Helena for the Symphony Under the Stars. Helena Symphony, Carroll College and Intrepid Credit Union have just celebrated the 20th Anniversary of this fun, family-friendly activity. This year the symphony featured the music of Tina Turner. The memories were brought back with songs like Proud Mary, What’s Love Got to Do With I, Tommy: Overture & Pinball Wizard, Son of a Preacher Man and more. To top it all off the evening ended with fireworks with upbeat background music of Disco Inferno.
It is estimated that there were about 15,000 folks who came together on the quilted hill of Carrol College to enjoy family and friends and great symphony music. We have been blessed for the last 3 years to have our grandchildren, who all play a musical instrument, come down from Great Falls to enjoy the symphony. Everyone comes in Friday or early Saturday to put blankets on the hill and grounds to reserve their spot. The hillside then looks like the biggest patchwork quilt you have ever seen. The blankets are held down by canned food items that are collected at the concert by many volunteers. This year over 17,000 lbs. of food were collected for Helena Food Share. There are food vendors available and lots of people bring picnics and snacks to share with friends and family.
It took us a couple of years to figure out the best place to park because it is crowded. It is a bit of a walk to get across the campus but there are handicapped options available if you have limitations. The show doesn’t start until 8:30 but we have enjoyed arriving early and spending time with the grandkids on a nice July evening. The fireworks at the end of the night are some of the best in the state and the symphony music just enhances the experience. There is no charge for the concert but we donate to the red bucket brigade so that this tradition can continue.
So, if you have never been to the Symphony Under the Stars, you should put it on your calendar for July 2025.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Brenda Phillips
Image 1 Caption: Saturday afternoon at Carroll College - Quilted Grounds
Image 2 Caption: Quilts on the hill are being held down by canned food for Helena Food Share.
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 3 Caption: Saturday afternoon at Carroll College - Quilted Grounds. Look at all those blankets!
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 4 Caption: Helena Sunset over Symphony Under the Stars
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 5 Caption: Sunset at Carroll College - Symphony under the Stars
