Local foundations set New Year's Eve fundraisers

Kris Kringle’s day may be over this year, but a new year is just around the corner and while many households prepare their own celebrations to ring in the 2024, so are local organizations.

Among those organizations is the Havre Education Foundation which is inviting people to “Ring in the New Year with your friends, amazing food and delicious drinks, all while supporting Havre students and teachers.”

This will be the foundation’s second annual New Year’s Celebration, and will start at 6 p.m. Dec. 31 with cocktails and appetizers at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line.

Dinner beings at 6 p.m., prepared by Chef Sarah Manuel, with a farm-to-table meal with local, organic and seasonal ingredients, a flyer about the event said.

Dessert will be served at 8:30 p.m. and Beaver Creek Golf Course will provide a no-host bar.

The fundraiser is $1,200 for a table of eight, or $1,400 for an all-inclusive ticket that includes drinks.

People can reserve at table by calling Krystal at 406-399-1217, Kyle at 406-262-0906 or emailing [email protected].

“Cheers!” the flyer added. “We’ll wrap up the evening with a champagne toast."

Another local organization getting ready to celebrate the coming of 2024 is The Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation, holding a New Year’s Eve Gala also starting at 6 p.m. Dec. 31 in the Blaine County Fairgrounds Commercial Building in Chinook.

The semi-formal event, which will feature valet parking, a full bar onsite, and cocktail hour starting at 6 p.m., will have live music from the Dan Harmon Band of Kalispell, which will play 80s- and 90s-style country music, a press release from the organization says.

The professionally catered dinner starts at 7 p.m. with Chef Shaina from Bow and Marrow in Havre serving prime rib, chicken thighs in a cream sauce, mashed potatoes, a dinner salad, seasonal vegetable, and a dinner roll that evening.

Followed by a countdown to the arrival of the new year.

All proceeds will go toward fixing Chinook’s aging pool and park facilities.

A select number of tickets will be sold for the gala. The price for individuals is $60 — or for a table for eight people $480. Tickets are available to purchase online at https://chinookfriends.org or at First Bank of Montana or American Garage in Chinook.