Pulp Picks 🤩

PERMFORMANCE

Cirque Italia: Water Circus Silver

Pirates, mermaids and mimes performing feats of strength and grace are on display at the Cirque Italia, a traveling circus taking over the Southgate Mall parking lot this weekend. I always enjoy acrobats displaying incredible maneuvers midair while dressed up in sparkly outfits, especially since I cannot do so much as one proper pull-up. This tour is the “Water Circus Silver,” which features soaring fountains and water jets amidst the performers.

—Kate Whittle

Cirque Italia offers multiple seatings Fri., May 9, through Mon., May 12 @ the Southgate Mall. $15 - $65.

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OUTDOOR + RECREATION

Marshall Mountain Revival Trail Run

As a mountain biker — and by that, I mean in the same sense that a teddy bear qualifies as a bear — I’ve found Marshall Mountain to be an even more incredible outdoor playground lately, thanks to the Missoula Mountain Bike Coalition’s trail improvements and the addition just last fall of a much-needed, easier climbing trail. Marshall’s swooping, flowy, purpose-built downhill trails offer incredible views and excellent huckleberry picking in late summer. The best flow trails such as Hello Kitty are also usually off-limits to hikers to prevent collisions, so the new Marshall Mountain Revival Trail Run presents a rare chance to experience these trails on foot. The race, organized by the same group that puts on the legendary Rut 50K in Big Sky, includes a free “Sprouts” run for kiddos as well as 5-mile, solo 25K and team relay courses for adults. For the most part, it's not a beginner-level event. Even the 5-mile division gains more than 1,600 vertical feet, roughly equivalent to climbing the ‘M’ Trail twice. (The new climb trail is easier, definitely not easy.) But knowing how many trail runners pass me while I’m riding my bike uphill, I predict plenty of competitive moms will show up and kick butt.

—Kate Whittle

Sun., May 11, registration ends at 8 AM @ the Marshall Mountain Recreation Area. 

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MOTHER'S DAY + MUSIC + FOOD & DRINK

Mother’s Day at the Jack

The Jack Saloon outside Lolo is a longtime watering hole with rustic charm, strong drinks and a bar food menu. Its Mother’s Day celebration features live music from Billy G on the patio in the afternoon and a free carnation to all mothers while supplies last. Soak up the smell of fresh pine trees and let the kiddos run around the ample outdoor space while Mom kicks back with fried green beans and a whiskey ginger.

—Kate Whittle

Sun., May 11, from 2-5 PM @ The Jack Saloon

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MOTHER'S DAY + CRAFTS

Mother’s Day Paint Your Own Bath Bomb Drop-in Session

Sometimes moms like to have brunch plans on Mothers Day, and sometimes they just want to be left alone for a few hours. No matter what your mother — or a mother in your life that you appreciate — prefers, the Mother’s Day Paint Your Own Bath Bomb Drop-in Session at Golden Leaf Studios fits both those energies. On Saturday before this revered holiday begins, you have the chance to drop by the Golden Leaf Community Space to make your own bath bomb masterpiece. You can bring your mom along and make bath bombs together, or come by yourself or with friends to make bath bombs for your mothers to grant them some relaxation on Mother's Day. 

—Quinn Stromberg

Sat., May 10, from noon to 4 PM @ Golden Leaf Studios (Southgate Mall). $10.

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SCIENCE + PRESENTATION

Stellar Evolution: How Stars Build Our Universe

If you’re interested in the stars, space, and how our universe works but don’t know much about them, then the How Stars Build Our Universe show is for you. Even if you do know all about stars and are just looking for a place to geek-out about said stars, then you should go to the show. Presented by Jake Fischer, the presentation will begin at the same point the universe did: with the Big Bang. It will dive into all the life lifecycle of stars — their origin, evolution, influence, and ensuing end — and how they make up and shape the universe as we know it. The show will likely last 50 minutes to reserve time for a Q&A at the end, so bring any questions you have. Stars are vital to the creation and the development of the universe, but there’s much more to it than that.

—Quinn Stromberg

Fri., May 9th, at 6 PM and 7 PM @ UM'S Payne Family Native American Center Planetarium. $10.

More info and tickets

For more happenings around town, visit MissoulaEvents.net

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