The Jake Five: People will come, Ray (to these events in the Billings area) (2024)

Listen to the voice in the corn field and get out of the house this weekend. Here's a list of things to do in and around Billings.

'Brigadoon' at NOVA

NOVA Center for the Performing Arts' season is about to close, but they've got a heck of a show to go out on. It's not just a really fun word to say— "Brigadoon" is a musical romp about a couple who find a mysterious Scottish village that only appears every 100 years. Expect the accent work to be impeccable. There are performances June 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets, which'll run you $21 ($16 for senior/military, $10 for students) are at novabillings.org. Or you can order them at the NOVA box office, because imagine how much fun you'll have saying that name out loud.

Stealing the golden idol at the Babco*ck and Art House

The good folks at the Babco*ck Theatre are blowing some dust off an old, under the radar flick called "Raiders of the Lost Ark." The movie stars Harrison Ford (that one-trick pony from "Star Wars') as a college professor (boring) and archeologist (colonialist) and it comes from the minds of journeymen directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. I mean I guess we'll see. The Babco*ck braintrust at least must be confident about the thing, because they're showing it Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

If you've ever wanted to be in a crowded room full of crying men, boy are you in luck. "Field of Dreams" shows on Sunday at 3 p.m., a prime Father's Day spot for a Dads Rock classic. The 1989 supernatural sports drama comes from a very different time— before steroids and strikes destroyed our confidence in America's greatest game and back when people thought banning books in schools was a bad idea. But its age has not dimmed its status as a masterpiece, a moving and sentimental story of what this country can and should be, and such a monumental achievement that it made the phrase "have a catch" sound not only not stupid, but sort of profound.

And since it's Pride Week in Billings, it only makes sense to end the week on Thursday at 7 p.m. with "But I'm a Cheerleader." Jamie Babbit's 1999 comedy about a girl forced into unsuccessful conversion therapy was an early mainstream movie to address LGBT issues, and it's become a cult classic, inspiring the music video for MUNA's "Silk Chiffon" and the excellent Missoula punk rock band But I'm a Cheerleader.

Over at Art House, "Ezra" is still showing, and they're adding the Polish drama "Treasure" and "Tuesday," a movie where Julia Louis-Dreyfus is visited by death in the form of a bird (sounds fun!).

Rounding out everything, on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Forward Montana and the Black Heritage Foundation of Billings are presenting a free showing of "Rustin" at Art House. Colman Domingo scored an Oscar nomination for playing Bayard Rustin, the civil rights leader who was instrumental in planning the March on Washington. If you're unfamiliar with him, it's because his status as a gay man led to him leading from behind the scenes, and widespread recognition didn't come until after his death in 1987.

The Battle of Poker Flat program at Dover Park

You've likely heard of Yellowstone County's most notable military action, the Battle of Canyon Creek (check out the Yellowstone County Museum's new exhibit to learn more about that one). But just a few years earlier there was another skirmish fought here. The Battle of Poker Flat or Baker's Battle was fought on near present-day Billings on Aug. 14, 1872, between a railroad survey crew and their solider escort, and 1,400 warriors from the Minneconjou, San Arc, Oglala, Brule, and Hunkpapa tribes. Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse fought in the battle, four years before they annihilated Custer's forces at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Learn more about the Battle of Poker Flat during a program at Dover Park on Saturday, June 15 at 9 a.m. Historian Dave Eckroth, who co-wrote a book about the battle, will present, shining a light on an overlooked moment in local history. The battle was fought on the northern end of what is now the park. Meet at the Dover Activity Center just inside the park's entrance.

Livin' Large in Lavina

If you're looking for fun this weekend, just hop on Highway 3 and take it all the way to Lavina, the tiny town along the Musselshell River about an hour north of Billings. Lavina is pretty but usually rather sleepy. But that will not be the case on Saturday, June 15 as the town comes to life for Livin' Large in Lavina, an all-day party. Start out with a pancake breakfast at the Lavina Volunteer Fire Department from 7-10 a.m. Then you can get a tour of Lavina's multiple historic buildings (including the gorgeous Adams Hotel), and there'll be a car show, food trucks, face painting and other activities. Night ends with a street dance featuring Cimarron from 7-10 p.m.

Treaty Oak Revival at the Billings Skate Park

Thursday is really the night for live music downtown this week, as country rockers Treaty Oak Revival are playing just across the train tracks from Alive After 5. Originally set for a date at the Pub Station, the group sold out that venue so quickly the show was flexed to one of the coolest venues in the whole state: the Billings Skate Park. And it's shaping up as one of the biggest and most crowded shows to ever play the venue. Grab a $44.50 ticket at thepubstation.com.

Honorable mentions

If you like your tunes lyric-first, head to "Song and Story" at Thirsty Street on Friday at 7 p.m. Hear sets from some of the area's best singer-songwriters, including Kerry Sherman, Jenna Greenwell and Parker Brown. $10 tickets are at thirstystreet.com/song-and-story.

Country rocker Rob Leines is at the Pub Station on Friday at 8 p.m. $15 tickets at thepubstation.com.

The Minnesota rock and roll band the Hilldales are playing Thirsty Street on Saturday, June 15 at 7 p.m. No cover.

If you like outlaw country, you'll want to see Erin Viancourt at the Pub Station on Sunday, June 16 at 8 p.m. $15 tickets are at thepubstation.com.

One more big country show this week with Emily Nenni at the Pub Station on Wednesday, June 19 at 8 p.m. $17 tickets are at thepubstation.com.

If you haven't made it to Alive After 5 yet this year, end that streak with pop stylings from Billings mainstay Arterial Drive, who are outside Thirsty Street for downtown Billings' biggest party on Thursday (huh), June 20 at 5 p.m. (double huh). As always, Alive After 5 is free, but you'll need to pony up $3 for a wristband to drink.