Sunday Missoula Alternatives if the Super Bowl is Not Your Thing

For sure, it is a major social event, attracting over 115 million viewers in the United States alone last year.

There is the party preparation and a wonderful reason to gather friends and family, many of whom might only show up for the food, fellowship, Taylor Swift sightings and to see the commercials and halftime show. And the day after? Well, that's another story all together, statistically the most called-in-sick-to-work day on the calendar each year in the U.S.

But while it consumes the Sunday of so many, there are plenty of folks in search of "Big Game" backup plans. Of course you are more than capable of finding other things to do on your own, but we just wanted to share a few thought-starters. From butterflies to black bears to books to Beauty and the Beast, we poked around a bit, and came up with four (in Super Bowl vernacular, that's IV) happenings in Missoula this Sunday that might have you saying, "All those poor fools glued to their TVs today, and we get to be doing this instead."

Full disclosure: we did not say these were all free events. And if you still want to watch   the game, it kicks off at about 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time, giving you the opportunity to do both in some cases if you choose.

 BUTTERFLY HOUSE

The Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sundays from 12pm-4pm. Walk-ins are welcome Tuesday – Friday and daily admission tickets can be purchased online. They recommend you purchase tickets in advance here for Saturdays and Sundays.

SUPER BOOK SUNDAY

Join Draught Works Brewery and Fact and Fiction for Super Book Sunday from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. This annual fundraiser benefits the 2024 Montana Book Festival.

How it Works:
1. Buy a canvas tote from MT Book Festival (Available in $10, $15, $25, and $35 sizes!).
2. Fill it with as many books as possible!
3. Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest bags!

Draught Works is located at 915 Toole Avenue, Missoula.

  RATTLESNAKE STORIES ALONG THE CREEK (TOLD IN THE LIBRARY)

Get a glimpse into the lives of wild animals living amongst us right in town! Students and staff from the University of Montana Wilderness Institute will share photos and stories from 4 years of game camera surveys along Rattlesnake Creek. Hear about moose in
surprising places, beavers eating unexpected things, and find out
what our local black bears are up to day and night. Stories begin at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in the Missoula Public Library, 4th Floor.

DISNEY DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL, MCT CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

CHECKING TICKET AVAILABILITY SOON HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Experience the magic of Disney's The Descendants: The Musical, where the teenage offspring of Disney's most notorious villains find themselves torn between good and evil. Our apologies if tickets to the 4:00 p.m. Sunday performance have already sold out.